The following questions are currently included on the site. Drill down to get the answers you want.

• I want to sell/buy a used car.  What are my options?
• I want to hire a tent and other gear for doing walks in the Abel Tasman National Park and your other National Parks. Where can I do this?
• Is it ok to leave my car at the base of a walk say in Marahau whilst we walk the Abel Tasman.
• Is the water ok to drink when I am out walking the tracks in the National Parks?
• Where can I see a Doctor, Dentist, Optometrist?
• I have had things stolen - where do I report this?
• What time are the banks open from and to?
• What about shop opening times?
• What about Internet, email and PC facilities?
• How do telephones work and the charges?
• What do kiwis usually do to celebrate Christmas? What about New Year?
• Do most backpacker hostels in Nelson Tasman have special celebrations for Xmas and NY?

• New Zealand's On-line Backpacker's Car Market - Free to list.  It is NZ-wide.
• Make up a really great Ad, photocopy it and place on boards in the hostels around town.  You'll need to have a contact phone number (or email address might do the trick).
• Put a big sign in your car and park it on the road - a place where lots of Backpackers might see it. Just watch out for parking tickets.  Also there is talk of a bylaw forbidding this ....
• Weekly newsprint called "Sell, Buy, Swap" is a good place to buy or sell your used car. It comes out every Thursday and you can pick one up in the supermarkets, dairys, service stations etc. It is free to place an advertisement. You can do this by emailing Sell, Buy Swap at selbuy@xtra.co.nz
• Take your car around the second hand car dealers (look in the Yellow Pages of the Phone book for dealers names).
• You could try the fortnightly car auction on Saturdays at 38 Quarantine Road. Viewing from 10.30am. Contact number is 03 547 2633. www.nelsoncarauctions.co.nz
• If you are in Nelson City try calling Richard on 021 0393 964.  He has been buying and selling used cars for Backpackers for a couple of years now.  If you are selling to Richard your WOF needs to be under a week old.

I want to hire a tent and other gear for doing a walk. Where can I do this?

Some Backpacker hostels will hire out gear or otherwise try outdoor shops.  In Nelson City you can hire gear from Rollos in Bridge St.

Is it ok to leave my car at the base of a walk say in Marahau whilst we walk the Abel Tasman?

There are car parks at the start of most of the major walks in the region. If you are going to leave your car make sure that you don't leave any valuable in it (obviously ...) or preferably don't leave anything in it at all (at least not visibly). This region is fortunate to not have had many problems with vehicles being broken into at the base of tracks. Some hostels and/or operators around the region will let you leave your car in their car park for a few days whilst you walk a track.

Is the water ok to drink when I am out walking the tracks in the parks?

Giardia (gives you a bad stomach and generally makes you feel pretty unwell) has been found in some of the streams in the park so it is best that you boil, filter or treat all water. In some of the Parks - e.g. at three of the sites on the Abel Tasman Coastal Track there is treated water available. However you are always going to need more. The simplest method (if you can handle the taste) is just to take a packet of water purification tablets - can by them at the supermarket or pharmacy and add them to your water bottle.

Where can I see a Doctor, Dentist, Optometrist?

In Nelson City you can go to City Medical on Rutherford St. Open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm - best to ring and make an appointment phone: 03 546 8881. A fifteen minute appointment will cost you around $95.  In an emergency head up to the Nelson/Marlborough Hospital on Waimea Road (go to Outpatients).  For a chemist in Nelson City try Prices 7 Day a week Pharmacy - Collingwood St Nelson City

There are lots of dentists and optomotrists in town and around the region. The best idea is to look up the yellow pages in the phone book and ring around to see who might be able to see you that day. It will be a bit hit and miss depending on who has a space.

I have had things stolen – where do I report this?

Fortunately Nelson has one of the lowest crime rates in the country but you never know - you can still get unlucky. To report stolen goods you need to go to the nearest Police Station and report it - you'll need to get a written report for from them if you later want to claim insurance.

What time are the banks open from and to?

Most open at 9.30am and close at 4.30pm. Banks are closed on Saturday and Sunday.

What about shop opening times?

Most shops open at 9am and close at 5 or 5.30pm - Monday to Friday. On Saturday they often open a bit later say at 9.30am and closing times vary - many close at 12.30pm but some not til 5pm. Some shops are open on Sunday.

What about Internet, email and PC facilities?

Most hostels throughout the region will have PC's that you can check your email on or surf the Net. In the main centres there are Internet kiosks which offer a wider range of services such as being able to print out.

How do telephones work and the charges?

The whole of the South Island region has 03 as a telephone suffix. If you are say in Nelson City and you phone within the city boundaries then you don't need to include the 03 but as soon as you want to phone say Mapua from Nelson then you need to use the 03. Free phone numbers are 0800

What do kiwis usually do to celebrate Christmas?  What about New Year?

Christmas amongst Kiwi families is celebrated on the 25th - Christmas Day. Christmas Eve is often a time when friends get together and go out to a pub. So the pubs are usually humming on the evening on the 24th. On the 25th all shops and supermarkets are closed and most families have a family meal at lunchtime although many are now opting for a dinner time celebration. Traditionally Kiwis did follow the English tradition of having hot turkeys and steam puddings - all the trimmings. Now you are more likely to see big groups of Kiwis at the beach having a barbecue, swimming and throwing a frisbee. We highly recommend this - something pretty different if you are from the Northern hemisphere.

What about New Year?  New Year is usually a celebration with friends. The pubs and bars are full and at midnight there is usually a countdown (but not always - Kiwis are a bit slack in this area). In Nelson City there is an annual music festival and often there are dance parties around the region.

Do most hostels have special celebrations at Christmas & NY?

Some of the smaller hostels will have a special celebration at both Xmas and New Year - ask when you are booking in if this is a priority for you. In keeping with Kiwi custom it may be a barbecue though some do do the full on turkey followed by hot steam pudding thing.