A Rich and Varied Region

Nelson

Nelson city is the port and business centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. From Murchison in the south to Golden Bay in the west, there are many distinct communities, providing an appealing sense of ‘small town' familiarity, with the added interest of geographical diversity. As a visitor to the region, or as a local, there are as many reasons to explore the landscape as there are settlements tucked away in beautiful locations.

Nelson was founded in 1842. As one of New Zealand's earliest European settlements, the city is home to the oldest school of music and the oldest state secondary school, Nelson College. Nelsonians are proud of their heritage, but also take pride in being a rapidly expanding urban centre that combines creativity in comtemporary arts and crafts with an innivated commercial sector - all founded by the strength of primary production in the rural hinterland. Nelson is a popular lifestyle and holiday destination for international visitors and kiwi families.

The central business district of Nelson city has a compact layout and is flat and simple to navigate, making it easy and enjoyable to walk around. Sea views, historic buildings, civic parks, the Cathedral, the Maitai river, Rocks Road and Tahunanui beach are all striking features of the city.

With a population of around 43,000, Nelson is well served with health and hospital services, it has excellent educational facilities from early childhood to tertiary, extensive sports and recreation areas and a range of shops, theatres, galleries and restaurants; all boosted by a healthy tourism industry. The hinterland of farming, forestry and horticulture offers opportunities for a rural lifestyle in outlying townships.

Richmond

Richmond has a fast growing population, currently around 12,000, and falls within the boundaries of the Tasman District Council, one of New Zealand 's fastest growing districts with a population of 45,000.. Many Richmond residents commute daily to the city, a distance of 15km. Richmond has a number of primary schools, an established state co-ed college, a Catholic primary school and a Catholic co-ed college. To support a rapidly growing population, Richmond also has an expanding retail base, a large shopping centre, the region’s largest shopping mall, an aquatic centre, cafés, library, retirement complexes and health services.

The low mountain range rising behind Richmond forms part of Mount Richmond State Forest Park. River valleys with excellent swimming spots are popular for picnics, walking and mountain-biking.

Brightwater and Wakefield

Further west from Richmond lie Brightwater and Wakefield, both with growing populations sitting now at around 2,000. Many residents commute to work in Nelson city. These are strong communities with good primary schools.

Further south, Lake Rotoiti, Lake Rotoroa and the surrounding mountain ranges form the Nelson Lakes National Park, a popular area for alpine tramping, skiing, bird watching, boating and picnicking. The fishing is also excellent. Around 200 permanent residents live at the township of St Arnaud where there is a lodge style hotel, an outdoor education centre and a Department of Conservation office and nature recovery project aimed at restoring native bird life.

The Buller is a rugged and scenic river providing some of the best kayaking and rafting in the country. It flows from Lake Rotoiti through mountainous country to the Tasman Sea on the West Coast. The river valley is mainly native beech forest with some rimu and rata.

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Murchison

With a population of around 700. Outdoor adventure and tourism activities are becoming more important in this primarily rural economy. The town has an Information Centre, and a shopping centre with motels and cafés serving the Christchurch-Nelson travellers. There are many interesting walkways around Murchison to vantage points, old gold workings and through beech and podocarp forest; a fascinating history can be uncovered.

The Coastal Highway

The coastal highway from Nelson to Motueka passes through the main apple growing area of the region, past vineyards and olive plantations. It also boasts the strongest concentration of art studio/galleries, cafés and wineries. Rabbit Island offers a large picnic area and 11km of sheltered sandy beach with safe swimming.

At the southern end of Mapua is a picnic area and the Mapua wharf; once a busy part of the coastal shipping network but now home to cafés, a fish smoking business, art gallery, aquarium and boutique shops. Mapua is a growing residential area, with a population of more than 2,000. Mapua has its own school, medical centre and shopping mall. There are also jet boat eco-trips and tours that operate on the Waimea Estuary, the South Island 's largest natural estuary.

The coastal highway continues along through the settlements of Ruby Bay and Tasman, past the tidal flats of the Moutere Inlet. Kina Peninsula lies on the far side of the inlet. Both Kina and Ruby Bay are undergoing major change with many apple orchards being converted to other uses. There is a picnic ground and boat launching area at the end of the Kina Peninsula and a reserve at Ruby Bay for picnicking and camping.

The Inland Highway

The alternative route between Nelson and Motueka is the Inland Highway, which cuts across the Waimea Plains and the Moutere Hills, traversing the two major winegrowing areas in the region. There are now around 50 grape growers in Nelson and 33 wineries, producing award winning chardonnay, riesling, sauvignon blanc and pinot noir. For more information visit www.wineart.co.nz

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Motueka to Abel Tasman National Park

Motueka and smaller townships at Brooklyn, Riwaka, Marahau and Kaiteriteri add another 12,000 to the regional population. Surrounded by hop gardens and orchards, Motueka's size swells during the apple-picking season (February to May). Kaiteriteri beach is famous for its golden sands, attracting thousands of visitors over summer.

Marahau offers cafes and services for kayakers and other visitors heading into the Abel Tasman National Park. The Park's golden beaches and bush-lined valleys are accessed from the Abel Tasman Coastal Track, one of New Zealand 's Great Walks. The Motueka Valley is one of the main entry points to Kahurangi National Park.

Takaka and Golden Bay

About 1,200 people live in Takaka, the gateway to Golden Bay beaches and the northern entry to the Abel Tasman National Park. The total population of Golden Bay is 5,000, including rural areas and smaller townships.

Just out of Takaka is the famous clear water Waikoropupu (Pupu) Springs. Takaka is also the closest town to Paynes Ford, which has some of the best limestone crag climbing in Australasia . While dairy farming remains important in the local economy, tourism in growing, with cafés and craft outlets and homestays now serving many visitors to the region.

Golden Bay is known for its natural and healthy lifestyle and a strong sense of community.

Gold was discovered in the Collingwood area in 1856, sparking New Zealand 's first gold rush and making Collingwood a boomtown. Now, with a population of over 200, this seaside township has a general store, pub, tour operators specialising in guided trips to Farewell Spit.

There are a several primary schools in Golden Bay, high schools in Takaka and Collingwood and the usual medical services, including a hospital in Takaka.

Farwell Spit

Farewell Spit, or Onetahua in Māori, is an internationally important bird sanctuary with more than 90 species. Every spring, hundreds of thousands of waders, including godwits, knots, curlews and turnstones, arrive from Siberia to join other birds, whose permanent home is the Spit. To protect the birds, access to the Spit is restricted, but there are walking tracks to the base of the dune area and four-wheel-drive vehicles take regular trips out to the lighthouse.

Puponga Farm Park at the base of Farewell Spit combines farming with the protection of archaeological sites, rare native plants and natural features. There is a café, a former pa site at Puponga Point and dramatic West Coast surf beaches, including Wharariki.

Whanganui (Westhaven) Inlet is a large estuary on the West Coast, now protected as a reserve, with its surrounding coastal forests. The road continues along the shoreline of the inlet to the small settlement of Mangarakau.