Tailor-made Nelson & Marlborough: Introduction

With its endless bays and inviting coastline, it is easy to comprehend why this region has for centuries provided a safe haven for travellers. The gentle waterways and year-round sunny climate combine to create a mellow, luxuriant ambiance, appropriate for an area where the focus is on the finer things in life.

The Marlborough Sounds, reaching out into the Cook Strait, are a maze of flooded valleys, now hiding some of New Zealand’s most isolated and tranquil retreats. Inland, the township of Picton serves as the gateway to the South Island, greeting the Interislander ferry as it arrives from Wellington. Just south is Blenheim, and the world-renowned Marlborough wine region, where many an hour can be whiled away sampling the delights of the local wineries and restaurants. A dish of fresh green-lipped mussels accompanied by a glass of chilled sauvignon blanc is certainly a local highlight!

To the west the land stretches through the contrasting national parks of Nelson Lakes, Kahurangi and Abel Tasman, with the latter famed for its blazing golden sands and long sunny days, a true walker’s delight. From Maori warriors to European explorers and intrepid travellers, all have been welcomed and sheltered in this idyllic paradise.

Selected Highlights

Our specialists have travelled the length and breadth of the country to research the best places to stay and things to do. Here they list a few of their favourite “unmissables”.

Explore the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi national parks

Nelson is surrounded by the stunning and diverse scenery of both the Abel Tasman and the Kahurangi National Parks and is therefore a must for any keen...  [more]

Explore the tip of Farewell Spit

Encircling the northern side of the beautiful Golden Bay lies New Zealand’s largest sand bar, home to a host of native birdlife and a wetland of...  [more]

Browse for art in Nelson's many galleries and workshops

Nelson is a real haven for artists, and throughout the city you will find galleries, workshops, innovative cafes and historic buildings. Grab a copy...  [more]