Today I’m going to talk about 5 reasons Nelson is one of the best places in New Zealand. After living in the wonderful sunshine capital, i can’t help but feel pure excitement to sing the praises of this wonderful little town nestled at the top of The North Island.
1: Accessibile hikes:
New Zealand is world-famous for its hikes and great walks. The only issue is the best ones require a vehicle to access. The same can be said for most of the best hikes that are associated with most towns across New Zealand. While Able Tasman still requires a car to reach; incredible walks like the center of New Zealand, and the Brook are a simple stroll from most places in town. The center only takes 40 minutes, giving an incredible view. The Brooke offers hiking for days, with INCREDIBILE sights, trails, and fresh air. There are walks along the river, through gardens, up various surrounding hills, and through local rivers. ALL ACCESSIBLE BY FOOT. So pack some beers, wine, and weed for hikes in Nelson, because no one needs to drive.
2: Dynamic Art Space
One of the 5 reasons Nelson is one of the best places in New Zealand is because its art space is one of the best in New Zealand. With so many festivals in the area, local artists, fans, and those inspired by performances drift through and linger. Many wind up living here, and even without the festival crowd, a beautiful sunny beach invites hundreds to fire spin, perform, and enjoy on the sandy beaches. Talented buskers are Common in the CBD and circus groups are easy to find.
For a town with a small population, there is a lot going on, and people are happy to share their space, and time to teach you.
3: The Sun Shine
After spending almost a year in dreary Dunedin, and depressing Christchurch, coming to the sunshine capital, and seeing why it lives up to its name is refreshing. Everyone’s in a better mood, and its significantly warmer, meaning more free time is spent at the beach instead of indoors. The valley that surrounds Nelson catches and holds the clouds, blowing them North into Abel Tasman. Because of this, Nelson gets to hold onto the majority of its sunlight.
4: It’s Touristy And Authentic
Unlike other major tourist spots like Queenstown, or Wanaka, Nelson has a very genuine vibe to it. You meet Kiwi’s here, and foreign influence is at a minimum. Nothing beats the local experience, and Nelson is one of those towns where going local is easy. It helps that Nelson has a long list of pool things to do, meaning a seemingly unlimited amount of options to do with local friends to learn about the country.
5: The Parties
Despite being a tiny town, Nelson has some wild parties. The clubs and bars are always packed, while hostels like Paradiso have a reputation of being hostels to go to if seeking to party hard and make tons of friends. The town has a major festival (Bay of Dreams) hosted in the heart of it, with a different festival every weekend. Seemingly as many open door house parties as Dunedin, with none of the clicqeness, and groups always on the piss at the beach and in the parks.
Plus the constant sunshine has everyone in a good mood and high spirit.
These are a brief overview of