Luxury Nelson and Abel Tasman Tours made for you
Get outdoors
Explore Abel Tasman National Park
Delve into the arts
Marvel at Nelson's galleries
Taste delicacies
At local wineries and markets
From the thriving art scene of Nelson, to the country’s smallest national park, this region has a lot to offer
New Zealand’s sunniest region has a diverse geography ripe for exploring from golden sand beaches to dense forests, the clearest fresh water lake in the world and secluded, enticing rivers. At the heart of it all is a creative, easy-going city deemed one of New Zealand’s most liveable.
The area boasts a thriving art scene with galleries and stalls to explore throughout Nelson city. Each weekend one of the country’s best markets is held just off the main street, selling everything from freshly picked cherries in summer, wood crafts, regional wines, fresh produce, vintage ware, every cuisine you can imagine and sublime coffee. It’s well worth a visit to get a taste of the laidback life lead by Nelsonians.
The region’s biggest attraction is the Abel Tasman National Park, the country’s smallest national park that frequents the front pages of tourist brochures with its dream-like golden sand beaches, emerald green waters and friendly fur seal population. Hike, boat or kayak into one of its many beaches and coves. The main gateways to the park are the small seaside town of Kaiteriteri which has boomed with extravagant houses of the rich and famous and the more rustic, low-key settlement Marahau.
While the Abel Tasman is the star of the region, Nelson area offers endless outdoor pursuits from swimming or fly fishing in its numerous and secluded rivers, to excellent hiking trails particularly in Nelson Lakes where you can head in over several days to reach what has recently been recognised as the clearest freshwater in the world at the Blue Lake.
Highlights
Explore Abel Tasman National Park. Embark on hikes, boat rides or kayak to one of its many beaches and coves.
Go hiking and fly fishing in Nelson, where you’ll find the clearest freshwater in the world at the Blue Lake.
Peruse the markets of Nelson, where you’ll find wood crafts, regional wines, fresh produce and vintage ware.
Abel Tasman may be New Zealand’s smallest national park, but its landscapes are among the country’s most diverse. I recommend kayaking around the golden coast’s emerald waters, watching for dolphins and New Zealand fur seals. Or enjoy a guided walk along the southern section of the Abel Tasman Coast Track, where swathes of coastal forest cascade down into the sand.
Rosanna Convey
Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in Nelson and Abel Tasman
There are many incredible places to stay in Nelson and Abel Tasman. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our travel designers:
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Where to go in New Zealand
Auckland
New Zealand’s largest cosmopolitan centre is a lively mix of culture, cuisine, music and art with ample green spaces and easily accessible beaches.
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Bay of Islands
Equally beautiful and historically significant, the bay is peppered with 144 vastly untouched islands that are renowned for their inviting clear waters, subtropical climate and diverse marine life.
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Christchurch
Curious travellers will relish all the new eclectic hubs to discover in a city and region that is full of surprises, friendly locals and an inspirational community spirit.
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Coromandel
A classic Kiwi beach holiday destination made up of petite coastal towns, velvety white-sand beaches and native rainforests teeming with birdlife.
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Dunedin and Coastal Otago
Dunedin is a university town and there is a good selection of lively restaurants and bars. It is also a great base from which to explore the Otago Peninsula with its rugged landscape, beautiful beaches and wildlife.
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Hawke's Bay
The North Island’s wine country is one of New Zealand’s warmest, driest regions with golden colours stretching across arid plains.
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Kaikoura
With the swelling Pacific Ocean on one side and the snowcapped Kaikoura Range on the other – Kaikoura is a quaint peninsula village that is a base for discovering some of New Zealand’s best wildlife.
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Lake Tekapo and Aoraki Mount Cook
New Zealand’s highest peak, Aroaki Mount Cook, is an arresting sight dominating the skyline of the national park which surrounds it.
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Marlborough Sounds and Wine Region
Hop from vineyard to vineyard on the wine trail in this diverse, sun-drenched plateau and sample some of the country’s finest wines, most notably the internationally renowned Sauvignon Blanc.
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Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park
With the snowy-peaked Southern Alps sloping down into deep blue waters and lushly forested shores bursting with wildlife, the spectacular Fiordland National Park area in the south-western corner of the South Island is known for its stunning vistas.
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Queenstown and Wanaka
Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s most picturesque towns, sitting on the tip of the crystal clear Lake Wakatipu. It’s a bustling hub of international and local visitors come to seek out one of the endless thrills on offer here from skiing, white water rafting, canyon swinging, jet boating, mountain biking and bungy jumping.
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Rotorua and Taupo
Steaming mud pools, erupting geysers and Maori traditions all make Rotorua and Taupo a special area to visit – one that is distinctively unique to the rest of New Zealand.
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Wellington
Nestled on rolling green hills that spill down to a charming harbour, New Zealand’s capital is an epicentre of culture and creativity – renowned for its arts, gastronomy, heritage and bohemian character.
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West Coast and the Glaciers
The narrow strip of coastline squeezed between the Southern Alps and Tasman Sea plays host to some of New Zealand’s most dramatic landscape, which is quite some claim.
Discover moreMeet your Australasia team
When to visit
New Zealand is a good choice year-round, with each season offering its own highlights. Temperatures stay generally mild, ranging from around 10–15°C (50–59°F) in winter to 20–25°C (68–77°F) in summer.
December to February is one of the best times to visit, with warm summer weather that’s ideal for the beaches of the Bay of Islands, coastal walks in Abel Tasman National Park and cruises on Milford Sound.
Hiking and sightseeing
December – February
New Zealand travel guides
Plan your trip to New Zealand
Whatever you want from your adventure in New Zealand, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
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We craft trips deeply personal, delightfully surprising and entirely one of a kind. Every Jacada journey begins in conversation with a travel designer, a specialist in their destination of expertise. Behind each journey is a wealth of insight, gathered over years of on-the-ground exploration.
Once you’re booked, you’ll meet your concierge. Based in the region you’re visiting, they’ll take care of all the details so your mind is at rest. They make the trip truly special – and truly yours.
