Guidebook for Nelson
Food Scene
A authentic pastry cafe owned by Hungarians. Only open Monday-Friday
10 locals recommend
The Baker's Coffee Shop
105 Collingwood StA authentic pastry cafe owned by Hungarians. Only open Monday-Friday
Great bar and restaurant with awesome food! Matt Bouterey (the owner and Chef) is often around to chat to guests
44 locals recommend
Urban Oyster Bar & Eatery
278 Hardy StGreat bar and restaurant with awesome food! Matt Bouterey (the owner and Chef) is often around to chat to guests
Great little French restaurant with awesome galettes and crepes. Fast service, good prices and yum!
6 locals recommend
La Gourmandise
276 Hardy StGreat little French restaurant with awesome galettes and crepes. Fast service, good prices and yum!
GREAT food! For a special occasion as it's a little pricey but worth it if you're a foodie. They also have a nice bar.
66 locals recommend
Hopgoods Restaurant
284 Trafalgar StGREAT food! For a special occasion as it's a little pricey but worth it if you're a foodie. They also have a nice bar.
On the banks of the Maitai River - a good place to stop in as you're strolling or biking past. Good breakfasts and counter food. Nice outdoor seating overlooking the river.
18 locals recommend
River Kitchen Nelson
81 Trafalgar StOn the banks of the Maitai River - a good place to stop in as you're strolling or biking past. Good breakfasts and counter food. Nice outdoor seating overlooking the river.
Awesome Mexican restaurant run by Nicola and her partner. Great ambience, food and good drinks!
28 locals recommend
Nicola's Cantina
6 Church StAwesome Mexican restaurant run by Nicola and her partner. Great ambience, food and good drinks!
An excellent, family friendly cafe set in gardens. If you're game, you can also feed the eels (when they're not hibernating in the winter!)
48 locals recommend
Jester House Café
320 Aporo RdAn excellent, family friendly cafe set in gardens. If you're game, you can also feed the eels (when they're not hibernating in the winter!)
A great, family-run vineyard. You can take a picnic and relax in their grounds, while sampling a bottle of their wine with lunch.
19 locals recommend
Neudorf
138 Neudorf RdA great, family-run vineyard. You can take a picnic and relax in their grounds, while sampling a bottle of their wine with lunch.
The Kitchen
111 Bridge StGood selection of gluten free, refined sugar free, dairy free goods
The best coffee out - run by a cool dude Dylan. There's also very cool bikes and bike accessories here. In the weekend you can relax in their comfy bean bags.
6 locals recommend
Alton Street Cycles
28 Alton StThe best coffee out - run by a cool dude Dylan. There's also very cool bikes and bike accessories here. In the weekend you can relax in their comfy bean bags.
Tucked away in New St in the CBD this cafe/restaurant has a great lunch menu. Awesome mexican-inspired food. They are licensed and often have live music in the weekends. It's got a great outdoor area.
51 locals recommend
DeVille
22 New StTucked away in New St in the CBD this cafe/restaurant has a great lunch menu. Awesome mexican-inspired food. They are licensed and often have live music in the weekends. It's got a great outdoor area.
This cool little bakery is authentically Swedish and has great, reasonable breads and sweet treats. If you time it right, they have awesome filled rolls for lunches.
8 locals recommend
The Swedish Bakery & Cafe
54 Bridge StThis cool little bakery is authentically Swedish and has great, reasonable breads and sweet treats. If you time it right, they have awesome filled rolls for lunches.
Ikko Sushi
167 Hardy StExcellent sushi and Japanese food - only open Monday-Friday
Great gourmet burgers in an American Diner theme, Gluten free options too.
17 locals recommend
Burger Culture
279 Trafalgar StGreat gourmet burgers in an American Diner theme, Gluten free options too.
Set in a historic house and gardens where you can have high noon tea with fancy china on Sundays
16 locals recommend
Melrose House Cafe
26 Brougham StSet in a historic house and gardens where you can have high noon tea with fancy china on Sundays
When in Marahau call in for Happy Hour and sample great craft beer as well as a great dinner menu while looking out to the golden sands of the Abel Tasman .
16 locals recommend
Hooked on Marahau
229 Sandy Bay-Marahau RdWhen in Marahau call in for Happy Hour and sample great craft beer as well as a great dinner menu while looking out to the golden sands of the Abel Tasman .
If you love a great Gourmet Burger that you can hardly get your mouth around, this is the place for you!
Open nights only
13 locals recommend
The Fat Tui
219 Trafalgar StreetIf you love a great Gourmet Burger that you can hardly get your mouth around, this is the place for you!
Open nights only
A great stopping point when on route to Golden Bay or Abel Tasman. Award winning Craft Beer Brewery
11 locals recommend
Hop Federation Brewery
627 Main RoadA great stopping point when on route to Golden Bay or Abel Tasman. Award winning Craft Beer Brewery
Falafel Gourmet
195 Hardy StYummy felafels made by an Israeli family
A great place to eat, have a freshly made juice or real fruit ice cream. There's heaps of outdoor seating in a nice garden area. A brewery has also just opened next door so the options just got even better! Try their wood fired pizza's during the summer. Sometimes they have live music too.
66 locals recommend
Toad Hall
502 High St SA great place to eat, have a freshly made juice or real fruit ice cream. There's heaps of outdoor seating in a nice garden area. A brewery has also just opened next door so the options just got even better! Try their wood fired pizza's during the summer. Sometimes they have live music too.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great spot at the top of Trafalgar St - you can sit outside or cosy up in the nice couches inside. They also have nice asian/fusion style food.
24 locals recommend
Harrys Nelson Restaurant & Bar
296 Trafalgar StGreat spot at the top of Trafalgar St - you can sit outside or cosy up in the nice couches inside. They also have nice asian/fusion style food.
Good bar - nice drinks list, tucked away from the main part of town.
23 locals recommend
Rhythm and Brown
19 New StGood bar - nice drinks list, tucked away from the main part of town.
Great drinks list - the most incredible selection of gins! Awesome cocktails. And also it's an incredible restaurant.
30 locals recommend
Cod & Lobster Brasserie
300 Trafalgar StGreat drinks list - the most incredible selection of gins! Awesome cocktails. And also it's an incredible restaurant.
Awesome pub set in an old church and gardens. They serve a good selection of craft beer and you can order from nearby restaurants and bring your food there. Dog and mountain bike friendly!
43 locals recommend
The Free House Pub
95 Collingwood StAwesome pub set in an old church and gardens. They serve a good selection of craft beer and you can order from nearby restaurants and bring your food there. Dog and mountain bike friendly!
Craft Beer Depot
70 Achilles AveA good place tucked away down an alley serving craft beer.
Parks & Nature
Really close to town but within minutes you can be away from it all. It's a good slog up the hills but you're rewarded with fabulous views across the bay. There's a multitude of access points into the reserve, and lots of different trails to explore.
11 locals recommend
Grampians Reserve
Really close to town but within minutes you can be away from it all. It's a good slog up the hills but you're rewarded with fabulous views across the bay. There's a multitude of access points into the reserve, and lots of different trails to explore.
Another great trail with good views - and you can say you've been to the Centre of New Zealand! It's a lovely walk for late afternoon/evening as it gets great afternoon sun. For a longer walk hook into Sir Stanley Whitehead Park and cut across the hill, down the zig zag track. You'll then be opposite Founders Park which is a good place for a look. Walk back along Milton St (and stop in at Sprig & Fern for a beer or a wine on the way past!)
131 locals recommend
Centre of New Zealand Monument
Another great trail with good views - and you can say you've been to the Centre of New Zealand! It's a lovely walk for late afternoon/evening as it gets great afternoon sun. For a longer walk hook into Sir Stanley Whitehead Park and cut across the hill, down the zig zag track. You'll then be opposite Founders Park which is a good place for a look. Walk back along Milton St (and stop in at Sprig & Fern for a beer or a wine on the way past!)
You can walk from this trail in the city and follow it all the way up to the Waahi Taakaro Golf Course. Great for hiking, running and biking. It's mostly flat but you can really get away from it all in a relatively short time. In the summer there's great swimming spots all along the way.
Maitai Walkway
77 Trafalgar StYou can walk from this trail in the city and follow it all the way up to the Waahi Taakaro Golf Course. Great for hiking, running and biking. It's mostly flat but you can really get away from it all in a relatively short time. In the summer there's great swimming spots all along the way.
A great mountain bike park, 5 mins bike away from here! Also possible to go walking up here too.
18 locals recommend
Codgers Trails
135 Brook StA great mountain bike park, 5 mins bike away from here! Also possible to go walking up here too.
Silvan Forest Mountain Bike Park
216 Champion RdAnother great mountain bike park!
An hours drive will take you to this great mountain bike park.
24 locals recommend
Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park
37 Martin Farm RdAn hours drive will take you to this great mountain bike park.
Our local beach - about a 45 min walk from here, or a 20 min bike ride. You can paddle board, kite surf, walk, swim...
107 locals recommend
Tāhunanui Beach
Our local beach - about a 45 min walk from here, or a 20 min bike ride. You can paddle board, kite surf, walk, swim...
Great beach, with good walking and biking trails. you can also take the ferry over to Mapua from the end of the bike trail.
6 locals recommend
Great Taste Trail
Great beach, with good walking and biking trails. you can also take the ferry over to Mapua from the end of the bike trail.
A great day walk up to Mount Arthur with stunning views over Tasman Bay. 1hr drive west from Nelson.
9 locals recommend
Mount Arthur
A great day walk up to Mount Arthur with stunning views over Tasman Bay. 1hr drive west from Nelson.
A lovely horticultural park with an historic house on site. There's also a frisbee golf course and a cafe
15 locals recommend
Isel Park
16 Hilliard StA lovely horticultural park with an historic house on site. There's also a frisbee golf course and a cafe
Arts & Culture
There are always new exhibits in this museum. It's small by international standards but has a good permanent exhibition on local maori and european history.
60 locals recommend
Nelson Provincial Museum
Cnr Trafalgar St and Hardy StreetThere are always new exhibits in this museum. It's small by international standards but has a good permanent exhibition on local maori and european history.
The newly refurbished Suter Art Gallery is free to everyone and has great exhibitions. It's set in the Queens Gardens which is also a lovely place to visit. Also check out the Suter Cafe in the gallery.
105 locals recommend
The Suter Art Gallery Nelson
208 Bridge StThe newly refurbished Suter Art Gallery is free to everyone and has great exhibitions. It's set in the Queens Gardens which is also a lovely place to visit. Also check out the Suter Cafe in the gallery.
Craig Potton Gallery + Store
255 Hardy StAn iconic Nelson photographer
Red Art Gallery & Café
1 Bridge StGreat art - ever changing, and a great cafe!
This is a heritage park with a mini town set up with heritage stores (many of them operating businesses). There's also installations and exhibitions explaining early Nelson life. There's a great craft beer brewery and restaurant on site too.
56 locals recommend
Founders Heritage Park
87 Atawhai DriveThis is a heritage park with a mini town set up with heritage stores (many of them operating businesses). There's also installations and exhibitions explaining early Nelson life. There's a great craft beer brewery and restaurant on site too.
The World of Wearable Arts started in Nelson years ago and has since moved to Wellington. At the museum you can see lots of past costumes and read about the history of the event. There's also a really cool classic cars museum and a cafe too
74 locals recommend
World of WearableArt & Classic Cars Museum
1 Cadillac WayThe World of Wearable Arts started in Nelson years ago and has since moved to Wellington. At the museum you can see lots of past costumes and read about the history of the event. There's also a really cool classic cars museum and a cafe too
Shopping
KILT Clothing Nelson
227 Hardy StGreat NZ designer clothes store - but pretty reasonably priced.
Shine
253 Hardy StGreat jewellery and shoes, clothes
Great bookstore, owned and run by the lovely Stella and Thomas. They have an incredible knowledge of books and can get in most things that you want if they don't stock them.
VOLUME
15 Church StGreat bookstore, owned and run by the lovely Stella and Thomas. They have an incredible knowledge of books and can get in most things that you want if they don't stock them.
Page & Blackmore Booksellers
254 Trafalgar StAnother great independently owned bookstore.
Global Soap
117 Nile StAn excellent, family-run soap store - just down the road!
Tula & Niles - by Design
28 Nile StA very cool, quirky clothing store set in an old house.
A great little store - co-op, owned by local crafts people and artisans.
9 locals recommend
Little Beehive Co-Op
123 Bridge StA great little store - co-op, owned by local crafts people and artisans.
Iconic Nelson Market has food, crafts, produce and music. A must do! when in Nelson.
92 locals recommend
Nelson Saturday Market
23 Halifax StIconic Nelson Market has food, crafts, produce and music. A must do! when in Nelson.
Torpedo7
Cnr Rutherford StA great outdoor / bike / ski store with a bike mechanic in store too.
B-Rad Cycle Service
106 Hardy StreetSmall bike service store hidden down a little lane in the CBD.
Essentials
A great supermarket - they've got a great amount of local products and organics (as well as a huge amount of craft beer!)
38 locals recommend
FreshChoice Nelson
69 Collingwood StA great supermarket - they've got a great amount of local products and organics (as well as a huge amount of craft beer!)
Organic Foods Nelson
93 Collingwood StAn excellent, family-run organic bulk-food store at really reasonable prices.
Trafalgar Park Countdown
Halifax StreetA cheaper and bigger supermarket than Fresh Choice
Diamond Nails
253 Bridge StGood reasonable place to get a quick manicure or pedicure :)
Great little cottage for all your beauty and spa needs. You can book appointments online too which is super convenient. https://www.elliottbeauty.co.nz/
Mabin House Body & Skin Sanctuary
98 Nile StGreat little cottage for all your beauty and spa needs. You can book appointments online too which is super convenient. https://www.elliottbeauty.co.nz/
A great place to go to find out more information about all the activities that the Nelson Tasman region has to offer. You can also book your activities and travel from here.
30 locals recommend
Nelson i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
110 Trafalgar StA great place to go to find out more information about all the activities that the Nelson Tasman region has to offer. You can also book your activities and travel from here.
Entertainment & Activities
State Cinemas Nelson
91 Trafalgar St6 cinemas and cheap night Tuesday!
A lovely little village with a cool pottery store, a gallery and the regions oldest pub and some interesting German history.
12 locals recommend
Upper Moutere
A lovely little village with a cool pottery store, a gallery and the regions oldest pub and some interesting German history.
If you're in to kite surfing and SUPing then these guys are great. They also do lessons.
http://www.kitescool.co.nz/
Kitescool
13 Beachville CrescentIf you're in to kite surfing and SUPing then these guys are great. They also do lessons.
http://www.kitescool.co.nz/