Nelson Bays

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Nelson Bays, a region at the top of the South Island of New Zealand, is famed for sunshine, art and craft and alternative lifestyles, and has a rugged farming backbone. The region includes Tasman Bay, the more central and populous bay, and the more remote Golden Bay to the north-west. It is bounded by the Richmond Ranges, Kahurangi National Park and Nelson Lakes National Park. The Abel Tasman National Park is on the northern coast between Tasman Bay and Golden Bay.

Regions

Golden Bay, over the Takaka Hill from Nelson and a world away, with beautiful golden sand beaches, native bush and solitude
Nelson Lakes has the largest native eels in New Zealand inside its National Park and good alpine skiing centred on St Arnaud

Settlements

Collingwood – at the northern end of Golden Bay, gateway to Farewell Spit and Heaphy Track in Kahurangi National Park
Kaiteriteri – beach town and popular holiday spot between Motueka and Abel Tasman National Park
Mapua – small seaside town between Nelson and Motueka
Motueka – the largest town outside Nelson and its satellites
Murchison – some of the finest white water rafting and kayaking in the Southern Hemisphere
Nelson – the region's only city, with many galleries, cafes and restaurants fringing its cathedral, and a big safe sandfly-free beach at Tahunanui
Onekaka – small town in the middle of Golden Bay
St Arnaud – village that is the gateway to Nelson Lakes National Park
Takaka – the largest town in Golden Bay
Wakefield – village south-west of Nelson

Other destinations

Abel Tasman National Park
Kahurangi National Park
Nelson Lakes National Park

Get in

By car

From the east, State Highway 6 is the main route leading from Blenheim (and Picton) through Renwick, Havelock and the Rai Valley before reaching Nelson. State Highway 6 continues south through Richmond, Wakefield, Murchison and on to Westport and the West Coast. State Highway 63 starts at Renwick and leads to St Arnaud before rejoining State Highway 6 at Kawatiri Junction.

By bus

In the main, both buses and shuttle services in and out of the region follow State Highway 6. Nelson Lakes Shuttles specialise in providing transport for trampers, hikers, climbers, mountain bikers and skiers. They run on-demand together with scheduled services to St Arnaud and between Picton, Blenheim, Murchison as well as other tramping destinations further afield.

By plane

Nelson AirportOne of the busiest airports in the country with Air New Zealand and other airlines providing scheduled services.
Takaka airstrip has scheduled flights from Wellington on Golden Bay Air as well as charter operations.

Get around

For those without transport, there is reasonable bus transport around the region.

Scheduled services

Between Nelson, Stoke and Richmond – Nbus suburban buses are available, operated by Nelson Coachlines.
From Nelson to St Arnaud – Nelson Lakes Shuttles.
From Nelson to Motueka, Kaiteriteri and Marahau (the eastern end of the Abel Tasman National Park) – Abel Tasman Travel.
From Nelson to Motueka, Takaka, Collingwood and the eastern end of the Heaphy Track in Kahurangi National Park – Golden Bay Coachlines.

On-demand services

Trek Express

phone: +64 3 540-2042
Specialising in transport to hiking tracks.
Nelson Lakes Shuttles

phone: +64 3 547-6896
Tasman Helicopters

phone: +64 3 528-8075

Stay safe

Sunburn and sun stroke might be the greatest dangers in this region!

Go next

For those heading south to Christchurch, there are two options which take roughly the same length of time. State Highway 6 branches just after Murchison lending to Springs Junction. Turning east leads soon to the hot springs complex of Maruia Springs before steadily climbing up the Lewis Pass on the Main Divide of the Southern Alps. Beyond too long the turn-off to the spa town of Hanmer Springs is reached, 1.5 hours from Christchurch. The alternative it to travel to Blenheim and then south on State Highway 1 through the whale watching town of Kaikoura. Both routes take approximately 6 hours.