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Nelson
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Abel Tasman National Park |
Golden Bay | Motueka
|
Murchison and the Buller River |
Nelson |
The Nelson Lakes National Park |
Rabbit Island
Nelson
Accommodation |
Cafes
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Beaches, parks and walks
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Things to do
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Skateboard
Parks
If you
think that Nelson gets more sunshine hours than
Wellington
you will not be surprised to learn, in spite of being in the South
Island, that Nelson is actually slightly further north than
Wellington in the North Island! With its warm weather and fertile
plains it is not surprising to find that the Nelson and Marlborough
districts were chosen as a wine growing region. A stop here should
include a sampling of some of the fine wines that come out of this
area.
There
is so much to do in the Nelson region, from swimming, tramping and
walking to just relaxing and enjoying the lifestyle that Nelson has
to offer.
If you
would like to go further afield from Nelson, try a drive, coachliner
or shuttle from here to
Greymouth
on the west coast of the South Island. Head south and your first port
of call is Havelock.
Or should you choose to go north-east of Nelson you will arrive
at Motueka, and then Takaka,
which has a wonderful farm park,
Bencarri Farm.
Travel another 25 kilometres and you
will reach
Collingwood
where you can get a great coffee.
Beaches, parks and
walks
- If your family loves adventure
activities then the Nelson region won't disappoint you.
There are three national parks in the region; Abel Tasman,
Nelson Lakes and Kahurangi. These parks have amazing
scenery, with mountains to climb, rivers for white water
rafting and lakes for kayaking or just view it all from
above as you plummet through the sky while tandem skydiving.
- If you are looking for a great
picnic area and a family day out then pack up a picnic lunch
and head off to
Rabbit
Island, a favourite picnic spot for the locals. There are
long sandy beaches, BBQ facilities and it's a great place
for the children to run around and have fun.
Rabbit Island is a
15-minute drive from Nelson. Access to the island is by the bridge that crosses the estuary behind the island.
A family day
out to Founders Historic Park should be on your list of
things to do in Nelson. The park is a ‘living’ museum
and gives the children a glimpse of how we used to live.
The park also has an adventure playground, café and a
decommissioned DC10 on site.
Playgrounds
around Nelson
The Botanical Reserve in Milton
Street, Fairfield Park in Brougham Street and Kawai Street
Reserve, Kawai Street, each has a playground.
The Lions Playground at Tahunanui
Beach Reserve also has a skateboard ramp and some great picnic
spots.
North Road Playground is in North
Road. Other playgrounds can be found at Pioneer Park on
Washington Road and Te Ata Place Reserve — also a good picnic
spot.
Stoke
Aldinga Reserve has a playground and
Manson Avenue Reserve has a good picnic spot and playground.
Marsden Recreation Ground in Songer Street and Ngaio Street
Reserve also have playgrounds.
Atawhai
Tresillian Avenue Reserve in Atawhai
has a playground and is good for picnics as well.
There are two skateboard parks
— Skate Bowl at Paru Paru Road and Tahuna Skate Ramp at
Tahunanui Beach Reserve.
Cafes
and Wineries
- Moutere Hills
Winery
- Eggers Road,
Sunrise Valley, Upper Moutere, Nelson.
-
Ph:
03 543 2288
- Web:
www.mouterehills.co.nz
- Open from Oct thru to Easter. Come in
and enjoy our relax atmosphere.... there's even a tractor and
playhouse for the kids.
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- Lambretta's Cafe Bar
- 204 Hardy Street,
Nelson.
- Ph: 03 545 8555
Scoot on down for
the best in coffee, pizza, counter lunches and smiles. Bambinos
welcome. Family-friendly with toys and highchairs, you can rest
assured that you will get a great cup of coffee while lapping up
Nelson's sunshine.
-
Bencarri Farm and Licensed Cafe
- McCallums Road,
Takaka.
www.bencarri.co.nz
- Ph: 03 525 8261
- A wonderful and safe environment to
take the family to see the animals and enjoy a relaxed bite to eat
at the cafe.
-
- Anatoki Salmon Farm,
230 McCallum Road, Anatoki Valley
- Phone +64 3 525 7251
www.anatokisalmon.co.nz
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Farewell Spit Visitor Centre and Cafe
- Puponga, Collingwood.
- Ph: 03 524 8454
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Things to do
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Location: 51 Fairfax Street,
Murchison
Fax:
03 523 9811
Freephone: 0800 748 377
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We offer
rafting and kayaking trips that will
enable people from all walks of life
to discover the adventure of white
water river travel in a safe and
enjoyable atmosphere. Surrounded by
an area known to be one of the
wettest in the world, this gives us
the chance to get out to many areas
in the search of that Ultimate
Descent. Since we are out there in
the wilderness daily, we like to
promote the appreciation and
conservation of the ecosystems which
give the Nelson, Buller and West
Coast regions their uniqueness. |
- Indoor Playgrounds
- Chipmunks
- 315 Hardy Street, Nelson.
- Ph: 03 548 7055
- Discover a great place to take
children to play while you sit and relax.
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- Attractions
- Natureland
- Tahunanui Beach, Nelson.
- Ph: 03 548 6166
www.natureland.co.nz
- Enjoy a relaxed zoological park
where children can experience getting close to animals.
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- Touch the Sea
- 8 Aranui Road, Mapua, Nelson.
- Ph: 03 540 3557
www.seatouchaquarium.co.nz
- A natural aquarium, created to give
the closest experience of a fascinating range of New Zealand's sea
life.
-
-
Bencarri Farm and Licensed Cafe
- McCallums Road, Takaka.
- Ph: 03 525 8261
www.bencarri.co.nz
- A wonderful and safe environment to
take the family to see the animals and enjoy a relaxed bite to eat
at the cafe.
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- Founder Historic Park,
87 Atawhai Drive, Nelson
- Phone +64 3 548 2640
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- Cable Bay Kayaks,
Cable Bay Road
- Freephone 0508 222 532
www.cablebaykayaks.co.nz
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- Happy Valley Adventures,
194 Cable Bay Road, Nelson
- Freephone 0800 157 300 or
+64 3 545 0304
www.HappyValleyAdventures.co.nz
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- ASB Aquatic Centre,
Champion Road, Richmond.
- Phone +64 3 543 9755
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- Hoglund Art Glass,
Lansdowne Road, Richmond
- Phone +64 3 544 6500
www.nelson.hoglund.co.nz
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- Stonehurst Farm Horse
Treks, corner Haycock and Clover Roads, Richmond
- Phone +64 3 542 4121
www.stonehurstfarm.co.nz
Ski Field
- Rainbow Skifield
-
www.skirainbow.co.nz
Email :
info @ skirainbow.co.nz
On-mountain Ph: 03 521 1861 Snow phone: 0832 22605
- The
Southern Alps of New Zealand are host to a number of superb
ski areas. One of the most beautiful is Rainbow Ski Area
near St Arnaud, high in the north of this great mountain
chain within the world famous Nelson / Marlborough lifestyle
region.
Accommodation
There is a range of accommodation to
suit most families.
Click here for our list of family friendly
accommodation for the Nelson region.
- LIBRARIES
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- Elma Turner Library
- 27 Halifax Street.
- Ph: 03 546 8100
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- Stoke Branch Library
- Corner Putaitai Street and Neal
Avenue.
- Ph: 03 547 3451
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- Tahunanui
- Nightingale Library Memorial
- 2 Beach Road, Nelson.
- Ph: 03 546 3236
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Murchison and the Buller
River
Accommodation |
Things to do
Heading south down State Highway 6 for around
one-and-a-half hours you will come across the tranquil town of
Murchison. For those that like a bit of adventure, white water
rafting that is, then the Buller River and Murchison are a perfect
mix. The Buller River runs from its source at St Arnaud to the sea
at Westport on the west coast, that's 176km of river. Add four
major rivers joining the Buller within 15km, north, south, east, and
west of Murchison, and your family have an action-packed day ahead
of them!
Accommodation
There is a range of accommodation to
suit most families. Full details of family accommodation will be
available on this website shortly.
Things to do
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Location: 51 Fairfax Street,
Murchison
Fax:
03 523 9811
Freephone: 0800 748 377
|
|
We offer
rafting and kayaking trips that will
enable people from all walks of life
to discover the adventure of white
water river travel in a safe and
enjoyable atmosphere. Surrounded by
an area known to be one of the
wettest in the world, this gives us
the chance to get out to many areas
in the search of that Ultimate
Descent. Since we are out there in
the wilderness daily, we like to
promote the appreciation and
conservation of the ecosystems which
give the Nelson, Buller and West
Coast regions their uniqueness.
- The Buller Gorge
Swingbridge Adventure and Heritage Park, Highway
6, Upper Buller Gorge
- Phone +64 3 523 9809
www.bullergorge.co.nz
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The Nelson Lakes National
Park
Accommodation |
Things to do
Situated in the Nelson Lakes National Park, which is just an hour’s
drive from Nelson and Blenheim, are lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa. These
lakes were carved out by glaciers and the surrounding area has the
most amazing, stunning alpine scenery which is great if your family
is into boating, hiking and walking.
Get the children to walk across the Buller Gorge Swing Bridge, if
they dare. It's 18m (60ft) above the Buller River and is the world’s
longest swing bridge (110m long). To add to the excitement it's
narrow, with wooden planks!
Older children and those young at heart might want to try the Comet
Line. Other activities in the region include gold panning and guided
walks.
Accommodation
There is a range of accommodation to
suit most families. Full details of family accommodation will be
available on this website shortly.
Things to do
There will be a range of family
activities on this website shortly.
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Motueka
Motueka is the gateway to the Abel Tasman National
Park and Golden Bay. In its hey day, Moteuka was the largest
producer of beer and tobacco, but it no longer holds this record!
Abel Tasman National Park is just a 20-minute car ride from Motueka.
If you are planning to visit over the summer
season it is advisable to book your accommodation early, as this
small town really comes to life during this time.
Abel Tasman National Park
The Abel Tasman National Park is a very accessible
and popular tramping area and is the home of the Able Tasman Coastal
Track. The walk is 51km and takes between three to five days to do.
You can enjoy this track in many different ways —
walking, catching one of the water taxis or kayaking. Really it's up
to you how you enjoy this area!
If you are planning on walking the track then
bookings are essential. But if you want to spend the day there,
there are a couple of great walks.
Torrent Bay to Bark Bay
This is a two-and-a-half-hour walk and takes you
along the stretch of coastline between Torrent Bay and Bark Bay. It
is so stunningly beautiful that you just won't want to leave.
Tonga Island Marine Reserve
The reserve is further on from Bark Bay and is a
full day trip, not really suitable for young or slow walkers, more
because of the distance that you have to walk rather than its grade.
If you do walk this part of the track be prepared to see the seal
colony and dolphins. Tonga Island is actually a small Island out
from the Onetahuti Beach.
- Abel Tasman Aqua Taxi,
Kaiteriteri and Marahu Wharfs
- Freephone 0800 278 282
or +64 3 527 8383
www.aquataxi.co.nz
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- Abel Tasman Seal Swim,
departs Kaiteriteri Beach
- Freephone 0800 252 925
www.sealswim.com
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- Tasman Sky Adventures,
Motueka Airport, off College Street, Motueka
- Freephone 0800 114 386
www.skyadventures.co.nz
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Touch the Sea, 8 Aranui Road, Mapua
- Phone
+64 3 540 3557
www.seatouchaquarium.co.nz
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Golden
Bay
Accommodation |
Things to do
Getting to Golden Bay means winding up and over the Takaka Hill from
Motueka on State Highway 60 and you should expect it to take longer
with children. It is well worth stopping at Takaka Hill near the
summit, where you can visit the Ngarua Cave which has preserved moa
bones in it. This is a guided tour only and fees apply.
Harwood's Hole is not something we recommend you try and climb down
with the children, but it is definitely worth a stop on your way to
Golden Bay. Harwood's Hole is the largest tomo in the southern
hemisphere and is 400m deep and 70m wide. The vertical drop into the
cave is 183m. It will take you 30 minutes to walk from the carpark
to Harwood's Hole. The carpark is situated on Canaan Rod, off
State Highway 60. Parents should watch children closely as there
have been accidents where people have got too close to the lip of
the hole. Only very experienced cavers should attempt to explore the
cave itself.
Accommodation
There is a range of accommodation to
suit most families. Full details of family accommodation will be
available on this website shortly.
Things to do
- Farewell Spit Nature
Tours, Old School Cafe, Puponga Road, Pakawau
- Freephone 0800 250 500 or
+64 3 524 8992
www.farewell-spit.co.nz
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