Top 10 Things To Do In Our Region
10 – Abel Tasman National Park
Renown for it’s golden beaches, Abel Tasman offers something for everyone, from high end luxury lodges and charter trips to sleeping under the stars. Accessible from Marahau and Kaiteriteri in the south, the National Park follows the coastline to Totarnui and Golden Bay in the North. Walk the famous track, enjoy the stunning beaches or explore some of the smaller islands and their wildlife by boat.
9 – The Great Taste Trail
Experience the regions hidden gems—cycle past orchards, hops and vineyards, sparkling coastlines and spend time exploring the townships many offering fine dinning, easy snacks and local produce.
The great ride is a total of 174km, but can be broken up into smaller sections. The majority of the ride is flat and easy on gravel tracks.
8 – Nelson Lakes National Park
Formed in 1956 and covering some 1000sqm, the two large lakes at the centre of the park are a hive of activity throughout the year. Offering stunning mountain views, with sparkling water in the summer, or snow covered mountains in the winter. Tramping, Mountain Biking, Kayaking, Boating and Holiday homes can all be found here.
(Don’t forget your insect repellent).
7 – Isel House and Park
Isel House is an integral part of Nelson’s History telling the story of one of Nelsons first families. The park and gardens offer flower filled walks and spacious lawns ideal for picnics. Situated in Stoke, there are several great places to grab a coffee, including the parks own Garden Window Café.
6 – Pelorus Bridge
Located about half way between Nelson and Blenheim— Pelorus is a must stop. One of the filming locations for The Hobbit—you can see why, with the crystal clear water and large rock formations. Several tracks and picnic spots can be found throughout the native bush.
5 – Farewell Spit and Wharariki Beach
The longest sandspit in NZ located at the most northern and western parts of the South Island. The spit is an internationally renowned bird sanctuary with over 90 recorded bird species. Wharakiki Beach is famous for its striking landscapes, caves, arches and constantly shifting sand dunes. Jump on an eco tour and explore, or get back to nature with a horse trek along the beach.
4 – World of Wearable Art & Classic Museum
Where else in the world can you see more than 60 wearable art garments and more than 140 vintage and classic cars in all shapes and sizes. Allow some time to view all the exhibit and make sure you grab a bite to eat and a locally roasted coffee from the WOW Café.
3 – The Nelson Market
For almost 40 years the Nelson Market has been a Saturday Morning icon of Nelson. Now operating out of Montgomery Square, offering the best that Nelson has to offer. Talk to the local artisans and the crafters who sell their products direct and learn how they have polished their skills. Or pick up local fresh produce, straight from farm to dinner table.
2 – Founders Park
A must see attraction just outside Nelson City centre. Home to several unique businesses, including its own brewery. Founders park is like stepping back in time. Take the kids for a ride on the rail cars, fly the plane and learn about Nelsons rich and diverse history. Check out their website as the park is often the home to many special events in the city.
1 – Nelson Restaurants and Cafes
Nelson is well known for it’s fresh local produce, craft beers and sunny vineyards. Make sure you grab a bite to eat or relax with a pint or two at any one of Nelsons favourite eateries. From inner city alfresco dining to sunsets over the beautiful Tasman Bay. Nelson certainly caters for even the fussiest of eaters.
The Weather
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Nelson and Tasman are known for their consistently sunny and temperate climates often leading the way with the most sunshine hours in New Zealand.
Due to the location of the mountains, the region can be quite sheltered from the colder southerly weather, but is often the first to be affected by northerly weather flows.
Temperatures are mild compared to the rest of the country with the closeness to the sea resulting in a lack of extreme cold and extreme hot. Although uncommon to see temperatures in the 30’s degrees Celsius it does happen from time to time.
Frosts can be common in the winter months, the further inland you move the more prevalent they tend to become – but are relatively less frequent than the rest of the South Island. Winter is a great time in Tasman, offering crisp mornings, blue sky days with snow capped mountains as backdrop.
Rainfall is fairly even throughout the year, the summer seasons tend to be the driest, however there have been instances of heavy rain in December and February in the recent past. The majority of the rain falls in the surrounding mountains, with the Waimea Plains being the driest area usually averaging 1000mm per year.
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Murchison’s weather is described as warm and temperate. Due to its inland location and the distance from any coast, Murchison is more often than not seen to be hotter in summer and colder in winter than its northern neighbour Tasman.
Frost can be common and snowfall on the surrounding mountains can make for pretty winter images – however foggy winter mornings can obscure these views until after lunch.
Rainfall can change from the township to the valleys that surround Murchison with an average rainfall being around 1600-1800 mm per year – just depending on exactly where you are in the region. On average there are over 150 days of rain per year with October being the wettest and February being the driest.
As Whitewater sports are a popular attraction in Murchison, it has become a home to many a rafter and kayaker with 7 grade 2-4 rivers in the surrounding area- the wet weather is well received.
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Marlborough is typically a dry climate – great for vineyards!
The region often experiences hot dry summers and cold winters, with winds predominately from the North West -whilst on the eastern coastline South Westerly and Nor Easterly winds are more common.
Like Nelson and Tasman, Blenheim and Marlborough are renown for their high level of sunshine hours, frequently competing for the title of Most Sunshine Hours in NZ.
The average rainfall on the flats is low at 674mm per year but significantly higher in the mountains/ high country sometimes even exceeding 2000mm per year.
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The hilly landscape and mountainous surroundings mean that several micro climates can exist in the Golden Bay Region.
Temperatures have been recorded in the low 30’s during summer and as cold as -2 or -3 in winter. Those cold nights usually bring crisp blue sky days.
Rainfall is higher than the Nelson Tasman area – not as a result of more wet days, just a greater amount of rain falling and due to the micro climates this can be different from one valley to the next.
Sea breezes are commonly seen in summer bringing a cool change in the afternoon caused from a north to south wind shift.
February and March are the most settled months of the year, while September to December can be unsettled and it’s not uncommon for a late snow dump on the mountains.
Schools in the region
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Collingwood Area School
Lewis Street, Collingwood
www.collingwood-area.school.nz
Years 1– 13Golden Bay High School
12 Waitapu Road, Takaka
www.gbh.school.nz
Years 9– 13Takaka Primary
9 Wadsworth Street, Takaka
www.takakaprimary.school.nz
Years 1-6Central Takaka School
44 Central Takaka Road, Takaka
www.centraltakaka.school.nz
Years 1-6Motupipi School
435 Abel Tasman Drive, Motupipi www.motupipischool.nz
Years 1-6 -
Motueka High School
Whakarewa Street, Motueka
www.motuekahigh.school.nz
Years 9-13Motueka South School
450 High Street, Motueka
www.motuekasouth.school.nz
Years 1-8Parklands School
9 Pah Street, Motueka
www.parklands.school.nz
Years 1-8St Peter Chanel Motueka
423 High Street, Motueka
www.spcmotueka.school.nz
Years 1-8Motueka Rudolf Steiner School
480 High Street, Motueka
www.motueka.steiner.school.nz
Private Years 1-6Brooklyn School
256 Umukuri Road, Brooklyn
www.brooklyn.school.nz
Years 1-8Riwaka School
School Road, Riwaka
www.riwaka.school.nz
Years 1-8Ngatimoti School
4 Greenhill Road, Ngatimoti
www.ngatimoti.school.nz
Years 1-6Upper Moutere School
Main Road, Upper Moutere
www.uppermoutere.school.nz
Years 1-6Lower Moutere School
8 School Road, Lower Moutere
www.lowermoutere.school.nz
Years 1-6Mahana School
15 School Road, Mahana
www.mahana.scholol.nz
Years 1-6Tasman School
417 Aporo Road, Tasman
www.tasman.school.nz
Years 1-8Tasman Bay Christian School
6 Williams Road, Tasman
www.tasbaychristian.school.nz
Years 1-8Mapua School
4 Stafford Drive, Mapua
www.mapuaschool.wordpress.com
Years 1-6 -
Appleby School
Moutere Highway
www.appleby.school.nz
Years 1-6Ranzau School
111 Ranzau Road, Hope
www.ranzau.school.nz
Years 1-8Hope School
316 Paton Road, Hope
www.hope.school.nz
Years 1-6Brightwater School
106 Ellis Street, Brightwater
www.cloud.brightwater.school.nz
Years 1-6Wakefield School
66 Edward Street, Wakefield
www.wakefield.school.nz
Years 1-6Dovedale School
Dovedale Road
www.dovedale.school.nz
Years 1-6Tapawera Area School
Main Road, Tapawera
www.tapawera.school.nz
Years 1-15Lake Rotoiti School
State Highway 63, St Arnaud
www.lakerotoiti.school.nz
Years 1-6Murchison Area School
61 Waller Street, Murchison
www.murchison.school.nz
Years 1-15 -
Richmond School
14 Cambridge Street, Richmond
www.richmondprimary.school.nz
Years 1-6Henley School
56A William Street, Richmond
www.henley.school.nz
Years 1-6St Pauls Catholic School
63 Salisbury Road, Richmond
www.stpauls-richmond.school.nz
Years 1-6Waimea Intermediate
Salisbury Road, Richmond
www.waimeaint.school.nz
Years 7 & 8Waimea College
Salisbury Road, Richmond
www.waimea.school.nz
Years 9-13 -
Nelson Central School
70 Nile Street, Nelson
www.nelsoncentral.school.nz
Years 1-6Hampden Street School
250 Hampden Street, Nelson
www.hampdenstreet.school.nz
Years 1-6Auckland Point School
111 Haven Road, Nelson
www.aps.school.nz
Years 1-6St Josephs Catholic School
1/18 Manuka Street, The Wood
www.stjosephsnelson.school.nz
Years 1-6Victory School
214 Vanguard Street, Victory
www.victory.school.nz
Years 1-6Nelson Intermediate
112 Tipahi Street, Nelson South
www.nelsonintermediate.school.nz
Years 7 & 8Nelson College for Girls Preparatory School
400 Trafalgar Street