Luxury holidays in Nelson

Blessed with the brightest climate in New Zealand, Nelson serves up a sunny slice of classic Kiwi life. Seaside villages and crafty coastal towns buzz with artisan markets, quirky galleries and linger-longer café culture. Intrepid souls have three national parks to roam – explore alpine lakes, palm forests and craggy marble mountains, or don the Lycra and hit some of the country’s most scenic cycling trails. Rest up afterwards on your pick of the golden beaches, then stop by a local vineyard for a bottle (or case) to ease you into evening.
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When to go

With a climate like Nelson’s, there’s no bad time to visit. The summer months from December to February are especially balmy, but the famous Nelson sun can still be enjoyed in the quieter springs, mild autumns and crisp winters.

Getting there

  • Planes

    Touch down at Nelson Airport from domestic cities including Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. If you’re coming from further afield, connections via these cities from most major Australian hubs are available. From the airport, it’s under 10 kilometres to Nelson city centre, 30 kilometres to Mapua and 50 kilometres to Motueka.

  • Boats

    Ferries cross the Cook Strait from Wellington in the North Island to Picton in the South. Take your car on the ferry or hop on a handy bus to Nelson city centre.

  • Automobiles

    Most of the must-sees in Nelson city are within walking distance of each other, but you’ll want to hire a car or bring your own (you can cross over from the North Island with it on a ferry) to explore the region’s national parks and sunny seaside towns.