Image courtesy Nelson Tasman Tourism.

Nelson itineraries

Over the years one of the major comments from guests is: "if only we had known there was this much to see and do in Nelson, we would have planned to stay longer."

Check out this video for a great overview of the Nelson region:

Here's a suggestion for a 3 night/2 day stay in Nelson, a great 'base' from which to enjoy the whole Nelson/Tasman district:

Arrival.Most guests arrive around 4:00pm. Settle in, have a cup of tea or coffee and then enjoy a 20 minute walk up to the Geographical centre of New Zealand (directly in front of us) for one of the best 360 degree views of the Nelson area, or take a short drive to our local beach and have a swim. Come back, relax with a glass of wine, make arrangements for dinner, Hopgoods is our favourite (reservations essential) or order a gourmet antipasto platter and a bottle of house wine and relax in your own private deck/sunroom, or the Brookside garden.

Incidentally, for wine lovers planning to travel from Picton by bus to Nelson, why not arrange for Rod of Vintage Wine Tours to collect you around midday from Picton, visit 2-3 Marlborough wineries, before driving you to the Baywick Inn via Havelock and Pelorus Bridge. Min. 2 / Max. 4 passengers from $180 p.p.

Image courtesy Nelson Tasman Tourism.

Day 1 Drive to Abel Tasman National Park, Kaiteriteri. Take the 60 minute 10:30am Abel Tasman Sea Shuttle (book here) ride up the coast to Bark Bay. Disembark, walk a leisurely 7.5kms to Torrent Bay, to picnic and swim until the return boat trip back to Kaiterteri. Or take an earlier boat and sea kayak along the beautiful coast. Choose either the 'sea shuttle co. or Wilsons Abel Tasman

Day 2 Discover Nelson, art galleries, artists studios, garden walks, historic house walk, and of course some retail therapy. Drive 30 minutes to the little seaside village of Mapua, here visit a few studios and pick up some 'smoked fish' from the Smokehouse, a fresh bun and a lemon tart from the Naked Bun, and now take the back route to Neudorf Vineyards, one of the top wineries in New Zealand, have a tasting, and your picnic lunch in their vineyard garden. Travel a few kms to the studios of Katie Gold and Owen Bartlett, 2 of Nelson's best known potters, a few kms down the road have a small tasting at either Kahurangi Estate vineyard or at Waimea Winery, Nelson's second largest winery. On your way back, stop at the World of Wearable Art & Collectable Car Complex, it is NOT to be missed.  

Picnic at Mapua - Image courtesy Nelson Tasman Tourism.

 

Day 3 - For the active ...
New to Nelson is the 43km Dun Mountainbike Trail, one of New Zealand's New Great Rides and one of the most accessible back country alpine cycle trails in the country. It loops between the Brook Valley and the Maitai Valley and is a grade 3 mountain bike ride. The Dun Mountain rises to 1129m and is one of the most distinctive mountains around Nelson. This newly upgraded trail was opened on 12 November 2011 and is the third great ride to be completed under Nga Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trail.

 

The Baywick Inn is one of the few B&B's located right on the city section of the Dun Mountain Trail and there is no need to bring your bike. We work closely with www.gentlecycling.co.nz, Gentle Cycling company. Pick up from the Baywick Inn. From half day to multi day hires they have got it covered. From modern streetbikes and hip city cycles, they are sure to meet all your biking experience needs.

For those who want an easier ride the TASMAN'S GREAT TASTE TRAIL is an Easy-to-ride, with a gradient similar to the Otago Central Rail Trail, the trail caters for a wide range of cyclists and walkers. As stages of the trail are completed there will be the choice of day rides or a series of overnight stops.http://www.nzcycletrail.com/great-taste-trail

When completed in 2013, the whole trail - including a section in the Motueka River Valley - will cover a distance of 162-175km and will run from Nelson Airport, to Richmond, out to Tapawera, along the Motueka River Valley to Riwaka, and then back to Richmond through Motueka and Mapua. http://www.heartofbiking.org.nz/trails-and-rides/

For those who have more time, there is golfing, sailing, horse trekking, skydiving, 4WD adventures, wellness and spa treatments,sea and river fishing, bush walks,biking trails, and of course, every Saturday morning is one of New Zealand's best markets, only a 5 minute walk from the inn.