The map will help you get an understanding of the size and diversity of the Nelson Tasman area, which is made up of the main urban centre - Nelson City and five distinct regions - see information below the map.
For more information hover your cursor over the places of interest.
Everything is colour-coded from there on in so it's just a matter of going where your interests lie. The map highlights some of the major points of interest and driving times.
Check out the activities page for more specific information on all there is to do here. |
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Nelson/Richmond
Nelson City sits on the edge of the spectacular Tasman Bay. The city has a vibrant, active, bustling feel (check out the Saturday market), with a happening nightlife and lots of bars, cafes and craft shops. It has a long inner-city beach plus good river and hill walks with outlooks over the city to the Abel Tasman and Western Ranges. Most activity operators will pick up and drop from the city (including Abel Tasman operators) and there are good bus, boat and plane services from the city to other parts of the region and NZ. Richmond is adjacent to the city of Nelson and is the urban hub servicing the Tasman Region. |
Motueka/Moutere/Mapua
Motueka sits at the mouth of the Motueka River. The lush, green surrounding countryside is ideal for growing hops, grapes, apples, pears and kiwifruit. This means there is plenty of opportunities to pick up seasonal work. Just south of Motueka is the seaside village of Mapua with its popular cafes overlooking the water, a really great bakery, aquarium and a number of art & craft shops and outlets. |
Golden Bay
Wind your way over Takaka Hill from Motueka and you'll enter a little paradise called Golden Bay. The setting for NZ's first gold rush, it is a seductive place which attracts a wide range of people. Kahurangi National Park with its Heaphy Track (one of New Zealand's Great Walks) lies to the south west, Farewell Spit spans out to the north and the Abel Tasman National Park is its southern border. Artsy and different, it has lots of interesting things to see and do and is well worth the effort to get there. |
Abel Tasman
With subtropical weather, golden sands, turquoise waters, seals and dolphins, NZ's smallest National Park is a real gem for sea kayaking, sailing and walking all year round. The seaside villages of Marahau and Kaiteriteri lie at the southern end of the park and are good places to catch a water taxi or start a walking, sea kayaking, sailing or waka canoe adventure. Walk the Coastal Track past golden sand beaches, in 3-5 days. There are DOC Huts and camping grounds along the way. |
Nelson Lakes
This area covers the surrounding Nelson Lakes National Park and nearby town of Murchison. Murchison is situated on the Buller River, which is famous for its white water rafting and kayaking action. It is the southern gateway for the Kahurangi National Park. St Arnaud, an alpine village on the shores of the stunning Lake Rotoiti is a great base to explore the Nelson Lakes National Park. The National Park has a huge variety of hikes from easy lakeside walks to challenging alpine ridge traverses. |
| See the Essential
Guides for more information on these regions. |
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| Type in keywords to find your good time solution |
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| Nelson to... |
Abel Tasman
National Park
(Marahau) |
75 mins |
| Kaiteriteri |
60 mins |
| Motueka |
45 mins |
| Mapua |
30 mins |
| Richmond |
15 mins |
| Takaka |
2 hours | |
| Motueka to... |
Abel Tasman
National Park
(Marahau) |
30 mins |
| Kaiteriteri |
15 mins |
| Mapua |
15 mins |
| Richmond |
30 mins |
| Takaka |
75 mins | |
| Takaka to... |
Abel Tasman
National Park
(Totaranui) |
60 mins |
| Motueka |
75 mins |
| Nelson |
2 hours | |
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