• Nelson Wineries [7], visit and taste 23 wineries located around the district
• Nelson Walkways [8], over 22 walks around and in the surrounding district.
• Visit the Nelson Market. It operates all year round in the Montgomery Square carpark in the centre of Nelson on Saturday mornings from 8AM-1PM. Stalls overflow with local products - fresh organic vegetables, fruit and flowers, locally farmed organic salmon and many kinds of crafts including silk painting, jewellery, pottery, weaving and wood turning. There are also food stalls and many Nelsonians meet for a late leisurely breakfast at one of the many coffee stalls.
• Spend a few hours or several days in Abel Tasman National Park [9].
• Take part in one of the Creative Tourism workshops [10]: Art, Taste, Maori Culture or Nature.
• Skydive Abel Tasman [11]: this is one of the best places in the world to sky dive because the jump is on the border of the Alps and Abel Tasman. When you jump, you soar over snow capped mountains, and then hover over a marshy beach. It's so pristine and unique.

• WOW The World of Wearable Art and Collectable Cars [5], is a museum dedicated to the fashion show that was held in Trafalgar Centre over seven nights in September each year until 2004. (The shows are now held in Wellington, but the museum remains in Nelson.) Thousands of people come from all over the world to see the most amazing (and sometimes bizarre) fashions made out of all kinds of materials. There is literally no limit to the exhibiting designer's imaginations
• Suter Art Gallery [6], has a large collection with emphasis on works by such 19th century artists as Gully, Lindauer and Van der Velden
• Miyazu Japanese Garden, inspired by Nelson's sister city Miyazu in Japan, is a traditional Japanese stroll garden creating a tranquil environment. Look out for the cherry blossoms in spring
• Natureland, a relatively small and amateurish zoo that children like since the fences are low and the walks short with wallabies, monkeys, meerkats and a few other animals. There is also a small aviary. It has recently announced its imminent closure.
• The Centre of New Zealand - a short walk up a hill close to the city centre and reacheable from the Botanic Garden (where the first game of Rugby was played in New Zealand). Good view from the top and an interesting walk through exotic and native vegetation to get to the Trigonometrical Point and Marker at the top.
• The Nelson Webcam - Nelson webcam

By bus

InterCity Coachlines is New Zealand's national coach company and operates over 150 services to more than 600 destinations nationwide. Daily services connect in to Nelson from around the South Island.

Naked Bus stops in Nelson and offers $1 fares on most of their routes. Finding them can be difficult but rewarding.

By plane

Nelson Airport is the 4th busiest in New Zealand. It is serviced by Air New Zealand [3]. There are regular flights to and from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and other provincial cities.

Nelson is also served by Sounds Air [4] who run flights around the north area of the south island and onto wellington.

By boat

Frequent Cook Strait ferry services between Wellington and Picton with bus connections to Nelson.

By car

Two hours driving from Picton, 1 1/2 hours from Blenheim and six hours driving from Christchurch.

A variety of goods and produce are available at the Nelson Saturday Market. Don't sleep in too late as the market is usually over by 2pm.

Nelson has a wide variety of excellent cafes and restaurants using fresh local produce. Nelson is the largest fishing port in Australasia, so the fresh seafood is always great!

For the best Fish and Chips within 10,000 miles (according to the Wikimapia author, click the highlighted link to see the exact location right next to Guytons Fisheries Ltd on Wakefield Quay ...)

• Sticky Fingerz (135 Bridge St) opens late (after ~10pm) and stays open until the bars close. They offer fried chicken and chips and the hamburgers that are worth the price. $5-$10NZD

• Akbabas Turkish Kebab House (130 Bridge St, Tel 03 548-8825) is one of Nelsons most popular take-away restaurants. They offer wicked veggie and meat kebabs that come wrapped in flat tortilla-like bread. $7-$12

• My Pie (Rutherford Mews, Off Hardy Street) crafts gourmet meat pies that put plastic wrapped mass-produced pies to shame. If you have trouble finding their kitchen off Hardy you can find My Pie at the Nelson Saturday Market where they run a cart. $5

• The Hot Rock Gourmet Pizza Pasta Bar (8-10 Tahunanui Drive, Tel 03 546-4421) By the beach this award winning restaurant serves the region's only wood-fired gourmet pizza as well as delicious pasta, healthy salads, hearty ribs, mussels and wicked desserts. Casual and friendly - a must visit in Nelson. $15.50+

Many bars are located in the Central Business District on Bridge Street between Collingwood and Trafalgar Streets:

• The Maen Fiddler (145 Bridge St.) is an Irish pub with live music almost every day. They have a large outdoor garden area and a warm indoor area with a fireplace.
• The Oyster Bar (115 Hardy St.) has fancy drinks and a small menu of seafood items. Fresh oysters are available most of the time while the bar is open Thur-Sunday
• The Shark Club (132-136 Bridge St.) has heaps of American pool tables and billiard tables. Music is generally from the jukebox but DJs are invited to spin on occasion.
• Stingray (8 Church St.) has dance music and two bars. Open until 3am
• Phat Club (137 Bridge St.) generally has a cover charge which is enough to deter most tourists. This venue boasts the widest range of music including everything from jazz to hip hop to punk rock to house to electro to jungle to metal to.....