Why go
- City in the South Island, New Zealand.
- Served by Nelson Airport (NSN).
History
Nelson is a city and unitary authority on the eastern shores of the Tasman Bay at the top of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the oldest city in the South Island and the second-oldest settled city in the country; it was established in 1841 and became a city by British royal charter in 1858.
Restaurants & places to go
Ice Cream · Self-Serve Frozen Yoghurt Opening hours: 11:00-21:00 · 166 Hardy Street, Nelson · yogis.co.nz
Restaurant · Stylish restaurant offering a variety of fresh oysters, as well as hearty and interesting tapas-style dishes Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:30-22:00… · urbaneatery.co.nz
Cafe · Café next to Queen's Gardens Opening hours: Mo, We-Su 08:00-15:00 · 208 Bridge Street, 7010 · thesuter.org.nz
Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Su-We 10:30-22:00; Th 10:30-23:00; Fr-Sa 10:30-00:00 Features: takeaway, vegetarian options, air conditioning · 49 Vanguard… · dominos.co.nz
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 07:30-18:00; Sa 07:30-17:00; Su 07:30-16:00 Features: takeaway · muffinbreak.co.nz
Pita, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-20:00; Su 10:00-16:00 Features: takeaway, step-free access · 244 Hardy Street, Nelson, 7010 · pitapit.co.nz
Donut, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00 Features: air conditioning · donutking.co.nz
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: 10:00-21:00 Features: takeaway, step-free access · 35 Halifax Street · burgerking.co.nz
Mexican, International, Cafe · Opening hours: Tu-Fr 11:30-22:00; Sa 11:30-00:00; Su 00:00-03:00 Features: outdoor seating, vegan options · 8 Church Street,… · eastst.co.nz
Asian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-We 16:00+; Th-Sa 11:00+ Features: step-free access · 296 Trafalgar Street, Nelson, 7010 · hawkerhouse.co.nz
French, Restaurant · Opening hours: We-Sa 17:00-23:00 Features: step-free access · 241 Hardy Street, 7010 · leplonc.co.nz
Indian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 17:00-21:30; Mo-Fr 11:30-14:00; Sa-Su 12:00-14:00 Features: step-free access · 269 Hardy Street, Nelson · littleindia.co.nz
Chinese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo,Su off; Tu-Sa 17:30-22:00 · wafubistro.com
Bubble Tea, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Th, Su 11:00-19:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-20:00 Features: step-free access · 191 Hardy Street, 7010 · wucha.nz
Seafood, Fish, Fish And Chips, Coffee Shop, Grill, Local, Restaurant · Opening hours: Su-Th 10:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 10:00-21:30 Features: outdoor seating · 62… · anchorrestaurant.co.nz
Vietnamese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 17:00-22:00; Su off · 126 Hardy Street · greenbamboo.co.nz
Kebab, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00 · richmondmall.co.nz
Thai, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:30-14:30, 17:00-21:30 · 322 Wakefield Quay, Nelson, 7010 · nahm.co.nz
Turkish, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-21:30 · 161 Hardy Street, 7010 · nysa.nz
Italian Pizza, Pizza, Italian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-00:00 Features: step-free access · 91 Trafalgar Street · stefanos.co.nz
Japanese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 12:00-14:30 Features: step-free access · kirbylane.nz
Sushi, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-14:00,16:30-20:00; Sa-Su 17:00-19:30 Features: step-free access · kirbylane.nz
Italian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-14:15,17:00-20:00 Features: vegan options, step-free access · whatgnocchi.com
Chicken, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-22:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, vegan options, step-free access, air conditioning · 9A Beach Road
Sandwich, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-21:00; Sa,Su 09:00-21:00 Features: takeaway, vegan options, step-free access, air conditioning
Juice, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:30-17:00 Features: step-free access · tankjuice.co.nz
Fish And Chips, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo off; Tu-Th,Su 16:30-19:30; Fr-Sa 16:30-20:00 Features: step-free access
Regional, Restaurant · Opening hours: 16:30-23:00 · 90 Hardy Street, Nelson
Middle Eastern, Cafe · Features: step-free access · kirbylane.nz
Argentinian, Cafe · Features: step-free access · kirbylane.nz
Noodle, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
American, Fast Food · Opening hours: We-Sa 13:00+ · 137 Bridge Street, Nelson, 7010
Dumpling, Fast Food · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 11:30-14:30,17:00-20:30 Features: vegetarian options
Food Court · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-18:00 Features: outdoor seating, step-free access · 105 Bridge Street, Nelson · kirbylane.nz
Fish, Fast Food · Fish fast food · 2/201 Songer Street
Fast Food · fast food · 20 Polstead Road, Nelson, 7011
Ice Cream · Opening hours: Mo-Fr,Su 11:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-17:00 Features: step-free access, air conditioning · 85 Montgomery Square
Restaurant · Opening hours: We-Mo 10:00-22:00; Tu off · 300 Trafalgar Street, Nelson · eightplates.co.nz
Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-16:30 · 132 Collingwood Street, Nelson, 7010 · instagram.com
Pizza, Restaurant · Opening hours: Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00 · 27 Hardy Street, 7010 · pizzahut.co.nz
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-18:00; Sa 08:00-17:00; Su 08:00-16:00 Features: takeaway · gloriajeanscoffees.com.au
Burger, Fast Food · Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, step-free access · 111 Rutherford Street · mcdonalds.co.nz
Mexican, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-14:00; Tu-Fr 16:30-20:30 Features: vegan options, step-free access · kirbylane.nz
Asian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa-Su 09:00-16:00 Features: takeaway, step-free access · akisushinelson.co.nz
Indian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-14:00, Mo-Su 17:00-21:00+ Features: outdoor seating · 94 Collingwood Street, Nelson · theindiancafe.co.nz
132 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
Nelson Airport (NSN) 3.4 km to the centre
Nelson, NSN, NZ — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 1 airline (Air New Zealand) · direct flights to 4 destinations incl. Auckland, Christchurch, Palmerston North, Wellington (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 4 direct destinations
- Air New Zealand NZ (Dash 8-300, ATR 72, BEH) · 4 routes: Auckland*, Christchurch*, Palmerston North*, Wellington*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Motueka Airport (MZP) 29 km to the centre
TAS, NZ — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Where to stay
139 Cleveland Terrace, Maitai, Nelson 7010, New Zealand · baliwithatwist.traveleto.com
225 Waimea Road, Bishopdale, Nelson 7011, New Zealand · pihoparetreat.nz
23 Examiner Street, Nelson 7010, New Zealand · ahhouse.co.nz
Centre 159 Rutherford Street, Nelson 7010, New Zealand · palazzomotorlodge.co.nz
214 Rutherford Street, Nelson 7010, New Zealand · chelseapark.co.nz
4 Duncan Street, Port Nelson, Nelson 7010, New Zealand · harbourside.co.nz
49 Brougham Street, Nelson South, Nelson 7010, New Zealand · joya.co.nz
41 Whitby Road, Britannia Heights, Nelson 7010, New Zealand · wheelhouse.co.nz
26 Waimea Road, Nelson South, Nelson 7010, New Zealand · admiralsmotorinn.co.nz
16 Muritai Street, Tāhunanui, Nelson 7011, New Zealand · apexmotorlodge.co.nz
10 Weka Street, The Wood, Nelson 7010, New Zealand · tasmanbaybackpackers.co.nz
80 Tahunanui Drive, Tāhunanui, Nelson 7011, New Zealand · tuscanygardens.co.nz
113 Nile Street, Nelson 7010, New Zealand · theprincealbert.co.nz
70 Beach Road, Tāhunanui, Nelson 7011, New Zealand · tahuna.nz
40 Waimea Road, Nelson South, Nelson 7010, New Zealand · thehotelnelson.co.nz
6 Point Road, Monaco, Nelson 7011, New Zealand · monacoresort.co.nz
226 Vanguard Street, Nelson South, Nelson 7010, New Zealand
1 Point Road, Monaco, Nelson 7011, New Zealand · honestlawyer.co.nz
108/110 Collingwood Street, Nelson 7010, New Zealand · questapartments.co.nz
23 Beach Road, Tāhunanui, Nelson 7011, New Zealand · beachcomber.co.nz
114 Rutherford Street, Nelson 7010, New Zealand · thepalace.co.nz
59 Rutherford Street, Nelson 7010, New Zealand · accentshostel.nz
8 Bridge Street, Nelson 7010, New Zealand · bridgebackpackers.co.nz
131 Bridge Street, Nelson 7010, New Zealand · downtownaccommodation.co.nz
Indoor
Indoor
7 Bail Street, Stoke, Nelson 7011, New Zealand · boutiquemotel.nz
7 Trafalgar Street, The Wood, Nelson 7040, New Zealand · thesailsnelson.co.nz
36 Golf Road, Tāhunanui, Nelson 7011, New Zealand · arcadianelson.co.nz
5 Paru Paru Road, Nelson 7010, New Zealand · palmsnelson.co.nz
42 Gladstone Road, Richmond 7020, New Zealand · parksidemotel.co.nz
52 Tahunanui Drive, Tāhunanui, Nelson 7011, New Zealand · tudorlodgenelson.co.nz
47 Muritai Street, Tāhunanui, Nelson 7011, New Zealand · nelsonmotel.co.nz
36 Golf Haven Way, Annesbrook, Nelson 7011, New Zealand · greensmotel.co.nz
31 Collingwood Street, The Wood, Nelson 7010, New Zealand · riverlodgenelson.co.nz
21 Trafalgar Street, The Wood, Nelson 7010, New Zealand · kingsgatemotel.co.nz
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
October – March
The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.
Shoulder season
April – May, September
Milder and quieter, with better value.
Worth avoiding
June – August
The southern winter — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Nelson Airport (NSN). Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: NSN has direct flights to 4 destinations on 1 airline (incl. Auckland, Christchurch, Palmerston North, Wellington).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Nelson, New Zealand. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Trains & rail
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Intercity coach
Intercity coach