We’ve been living and working in Nelson for a month now and have been enjoying the sunshine in one of New Zealand’s sunniest towns. Nelson is a gateway to some of the best beaches in New Zealand, along with the popular Abel Tasman National Park.
The city itself is also well worth checking out with many galleries, breweries, wineries and outdoor activities to keep anyone happy. We loved the many parks and walks located a stone’s throw from the city centre and have spent quite a few days checking out all the fun and free things the city has to offer.
We’ve compiled a list of our top 10 free things to do in Nelson. Make sure you add them to your travel itinerary so you don’t miss out on the budget friendly fun!
Be sure to check out our Instagram to see all of our favourite things to do whilst travelling Aotearoa!
Pics Peanut Butter Tour
New Zealand is very proud of their peanut butter. Pics is good old-fashioned peanut butter made from fancy superfood peanuts and salt, nothing else goes into a jar of pics peanut butter. You can do a free tour of the factory run during the week and although we don’t buy Pics peanut butter (it’s a bit beyond our vanlife budget) we highly recommend the tour.
It’s a fun tour around the factory with lots of peanut puns that made Tiff laugh out loud and Nathan roll his eyes. You can see the production line and make your own peanut butter. At the end of the tour, you get to taste all the products for free too. Be sure to book online in advance as tour spots fill up fast.
Centre of New Zealand
There is some debate about whether this is still considered the centre of New Zealand. The summit of Botanic Hill was used by Nelson’s chief surveyor in the 1870s to create a geodetic survey of New Zealand. For this reason, it became the ‘Centre of New Zealand’. However, the true centre of the country was found to be a point in the Spooners Range in 1962.
Regardless of this fact, you’ll still find a cool monument to the Centre of NZ at the top of Botanic Hill. The walk to the top is rather steep but not too long and well worth the effort. The views over Nelson are 360 degrees from the top and there are plenty of benches to sit and catch your breath whilst you admire the views.
Queens Garden & Suter Art Gallery
A cute little botanic garden not far from the Centre of New Zealand. It was opened in 1892 to celebrate the jubilee of Queen Victoria. The gardens are constructed around the Maitai River and feature some great bridges and gazebos. We loved the hidden Chinese Garden here the most. Once you’ve wandered through the gardens, be sure to admire the artwork in the small but well curated Suter Gallery located next to the Queen’s Gardens.
Grampians Short Hike
The Grampians are the hills rising behind the town of Nelson, named after a mountain range in Scotland. A steep climb through lush forest and across a few paddocked grasslands will reward you with views out over the bay of Nelson. There are many tracks you can take through the Grampians Reserve. We opted for the Grampians’ Walkway and the Tawa Track and particularly enjoyed the views on the walk down! To access the park, it’s best to park on Collingwood Street and walk up the hill to the start of the tracks.
Picnic On Moturoa, Rabbit Island
Moturoa is the largest island in the Waimea Estuary and is a great picnic spot all year round. It’s even better in the warmer months when you can go for a dip in the ocean. The island is accessible via a road and has many picnic spots and trails for a day out. Bring a bike and you can cycle around the island. Keep an eye out for the cheeky Weka and don’t leave any picnics unattended or you may just lose some food to the birds!
Catch A Sunset At Tahunanui Beach
Whether it’s high or low tide, this beach is always so calm and full of people taking a stroll, stand up paddle boarding and swimming in the water. No matter what time of year you visit Nelson, make sure you come down to the beach and watch the sun slip behind the mountains. We’ve been lucky enough to have accommodation across the road from the beach and haven’t had a disappointing sunset stroll yet. If you are a fan of fish and chips, check out the fish and chip shop across the road and take your food down to the water to watch the sunset in summer.
Māpua Wharf
If you’re looking for a great place for lunch or just some quirky shops and galleries to explore, then this is the best spot in Nelson. Māpua Wharf is a vibrant little shopping area with a brewery, cafes, wineries, artisan shops, a gallery, and a museum. There’s plenty to see here with lunch options for every budget. Even if you don’t spend a cent, it’s a fun place to wander around and explore. It also has great views across to rabbit island.
Miyazu Japanese Gardens
We were pleasantly surprised at the size of these gardens. The bridges and design of the gardens are really impressive, with paths leading you around to different hidden sections. It makes the gardens feel even bigger. Make sure you wonder down every turn to explore the true beauty of this garden. We think the best time of year to visit is autumn, when the changing leaves bring a little extra wonder to the beautifully designed gardens.
Day Trip To Rotokura, Cable Bay
A true slice of paradise. This quiet little town is only a 20 minute drive from Nelson, yet it’s not on many people’s list. Make sure you don’t miss this one. The beach is pristine, with small rocks instead of sand. The best way to see the bay is to climb up the Cable bay walkway. The full track takes 3.5hrs one way. However, just climbing to the viewpoint on the hilltop will give you a great vantage point to view the surrounding area. It’s a steep climb to the top, so bring some water and some snacks to enjoy along with the view. There is also a campground here if you choose to stay the night.
The Nelson Market & City Centre
The Nelson Markets are held every Saturday and are bustling with people and a wide variety of stalls. It’s a great place to get your fruit and veg for the week with farmers selling local produce. The food stalls will make your mouth water and there are plenty of cool craft stores to check out. Take your keep cups and grab a coffee to go whilst wandering the stalls and choosing something to nibble on. Once you’ve explored the markets, have a wonder through the city centre. There’s an abundance of secondhand clothing stores here along with the cathedral to check out.
Keen for more inspo? Be sure to check out:
- 5 Free Things to do in Christchurch
- 10 Free and Cheap Things to do in New Plymouth
- Top 5 Free Things to do in Auckland
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