Top Things to do in Nelson-Tasman Region
10 Things to Do in Nelson-Tasman Region That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Nelson-Tasman Region, New Zealand including Wharariki Beach Walking Track, Abel Tasman Coast Track, Nelson Lakes National Park, Wainui Falls Track, World of WearableArt & Classic Cars Museum, Ngarua Caves, Kaiteriteri Beach, Nelson i-SITE Visitor Information Centre, Jester House Cafe and Tame Eels, Queen's Gardens.
Restaurants in Nelson-Tasman Region
1. Wharariki Beach Walking Track
Overall Ratings
5 based on 170 reviews
Reviewed By Mark H
Car park is busy during the NZ Christmas holidays. However there are overflow car parks which suffice. Toilet at start of track along with cafe. Road in and out from Puponga is shingle and pretty rutted. Beach walk and beach can be windy. May need to take a jacket given wind chill. Little pools survive at low tide and are warmed by the sun and are a great place for little kids to sit in and play. Some bigger sand dunes close by for body boarding down as well. Beach is huge at low tide. Walk south from where the track comes onto the beach to see the arches in the rock formations out in the water. Really worth the trip out.
2. Abel Tasman Coast Track
Overall Ratings
5 based on 738 reviews
Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip. See website for the price of accommodation on this track.
Reviewed By Kim K - Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
Abel Tasmen Guides arranged a 3-day walking tour for us and we loved every minute. Our guide Viv was great! Walking through the forest, on the beach and through the tidal waterways was so diverse and such fun. The views were stunning. We met day hikers along the way, others who spent days hiking like us and others who were enjoying family time on some of the Beaches. Any way one gets there, the Abel Tasman is so worth it.
3. Nelson Lakes National Park
Overall Ratings
5 based on 111 reviews
Reviewed By 622suziej
Visited here on a beautiful winters day. Stunning Vista. The water taxis ride to whiskey falls is worth the money. Just beautiful scenery. Next time and in the summer I would love to do the walk around the lake.
4. Wainui Falls Track
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 138 reviews
Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip.
Reviewed By Paul_n_Cris - Melbourne, Australia
A well formed track that leads to the falls. At there falls the pool under the falls is quite difficult to access so not really suitable for swimming, but along the path you will find many places where a pool has formed and good for a dip. In some places there is even a small beach....BUT the water is bracing even in the middle of summer.
5. World of WearableArt & Classic Cars Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
The World of WearableArt and Classic Cars Museum is an iconic Nelson visitor attraction that celebrates two passions united by design. Amazing Wearable works of Art from the annual WOW Awards Show are displayed alongside one of Australasia's biggest private collections of rare, Classic Cars. The Museum also includes a Cafe renowned for it's tasty, healthy treats, a Retail Store full of NZ art and jewelry designs, and the ever-changing Reflections Art Gallery. Open every day 10am - 5pm (except Christmas Day)
Reviewed By Introvertica - Canada
This place consists of two different and completely unrelated museums. One offers bizarre, other-worldly, and often zany costumes--literally wearable art, although one would not wear any of them in ordinary circumstances. The other is a collection of classic cars.
This combination was perfect for my spouse and me. I was entranced by the wearable art; he loved the classic cars.
To me, most of the cars were things I had seen before, at other car museums and exhibits that my spouse has dragged me to. If you like that sort of thing, you will love this, with specimens from the late nineteenth century up to the late twentieth century. All of them are in impeccable condition.
But for a genuinely unique experience, spend your time with the wearable art. It is simply impossible to describe in words the imagination that has produced these costumes. Some are witty; some are silly; some are scary; some are beautiful; most are very attention-grabbing; and most are made of materials not often used for people's clothes--including various metals, plastics, and wood, in addition to fabrics of all kinds.
There are also videos on rotation in a small theatre, which portray the history of the World of WearableArt competition, and showcase some of the designers.
This exhibit is, in my view, completely worth seeing. Be prepared to be blown away, and expect to spend at least a couple of hours here, if you want to soak in the details of the costumes.
The only disappointment was the gift store. I would have been willing to buy some sort of souvenir, but there was very little on offer.
6. Ngarua Caves
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 146 reviews
Reviewed By JohnNZ-UK - Christchurch, New Zealand
Really enjoyed our tour around Ngarua Caves.
$20 each, tours start on the hour and you must be ready to go!
Our tour guide was great, spoke really well and had great information.
- Loved hearing about the Moa's and getting to hold a Moa bone!
- The Cave was made pitch black at one stage - which was amazing
- Our 3 year old loved it
- Our 1 year old got a bit scared and they turned back (Some babies/young kids would be fine, others like our little one was not so)
- There is a ladder to climb up at the end which would be a tight squeeze if you were a larger person...
Overall loved it and would do it again :D
7. Kaiteriteri Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 384 reviews
Reviewed By Dave D - Christchurch, New Zealand
The golden sand is as true to colour as the photos. Easy swimming at this time of the year with plenty of space on the beach even though a lot of people around
8. Nelson i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 168 reviews
Located on the corner of Trafalgar & Halifax Streets. Friendly, Knowledgeable and Enthusiastic i-SITE Travel Consultants. We can book your NZ Travel, Accommodation and Activities at no extra cost. Incredible i-SITE space incorporating the Nelson DOC Visitor Centre. Lots of incredible picture boards with display brochures and information on our region and beyond. Let us take the hassle out of booking your holiday in our beautiful region and across the country. Quick, easy, secure, cost effective. We also sell tickets to a range of local and national events.
9. Jester House Cafe and Tame Eels
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 162 reviews
The Tame eels at Jester House have been an attraction for 20 years. They are naturally occuring stream fauna in many streams in New Zealand but their numbers have deminished due to habitat destruction and over fishing.This is your chance to get upclose and handfeed these suprising creatures
Reviewed By curtley10 - New Plymouth, New Zealand
awesome place, feeding the eels was the highlight for the kids, and the rest of the grounds were fun to explore as well. a little bit pricey maybe nearly $100 for lunch (4 of us). Food was delicious though and the service awesome.Thanks for coming and enjoying the Jester House Experience, and your kids had such a great time feeding the eels, and you enjoyed your food and service. We hope we see you all again soon. :)
10. Queen's Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 216 reviews
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