Nelson and Marlborough - Complete Guide

Popular places to stay in Nelson and Marlborough

The first thing to decide when you are planning a trip to the top of the South Island is where you want to stay. Not which hotel, but which of the stunning towns you want to base yourself for a few days or longer. The top of the South Island is definitely not short of places to stay whether you are coming to spend some time in the outdoors, sample some wine or just kick back and relax. Here are the top three places to stay according to our GO Explore fans:

Nelson
Nelson
Definitely the biggest city at the top of the South Island, Nelson is a great place to base yourself for exploring the region no matter what you have planned. From Nelson, Kaiteriteri is just a short 1 hour drive from where you can explore the Abe

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Definitely the biggest city at the top of the South Island, Nelson is a great place to base yourself for exploring the region no matter what you have planned. From Nelson, Kaiteriteri is just a short 1 hour drive from where you can explore the Abel Tasman National Park by water taxi or on a cruise. Alternatively, if you want to go and do some wine tasting, Marlborough’s wine capital of Blenheim is just over an hour and a half away by car. Nelson itself has a lot going on and there is plenty to see and do in the city making it a great place to head for a weekend away.
Picton
Picton
Picton is often bypassed by many visitors to New Zealand but it has so much to offer. Picton is the arrival or departure port for those crossing between the North and South Islands across the Cook Strait on the Interislander Ferry. It is so much m

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Picton is often bypassed by many visitors to New Zealand but it has so much to offer. Picton is the arrival or departure port for those crossing between the North and South Islands across the Cook Strait on the Interislander Ferry. It is so much more than a transit town and has so much to offer. The scenic waterfront location is a beautiful backdrop for this laid back town which is also the gateway to the Queen Charlotte Sounds, one of New Zealand’s hidden gems when it comes to walking and biking. You can also access the Marlborough Sounds from Picton making this a great place to head for the weekend or longer.
Kaiteriteri/Marahau
Kaiteriteri/Marahau
If you are specifically coming to explore the Abel Tasman National Park, Kaiteriteri or Marahau are perhaps the best places to base yourself. From either of these small towns, you can access the park by water taxi or cruise, taking you to the hear

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If you are specifically coming to explore the Abel Tasman National Park, Kaiteriteri or Marahau are perhaps the best places to base yourself. From either of these small towns, you can access the park by water taxi or cruise, taking you to the heart of the park from where you can access stunning walking tracks and remote, golden sandy beaches. If you are in a car, a short (but steep and windy) drive over Takaka Hill will take you around the park to the stunning area of Golden Bay – home of some of New Zealand’s most glorious beaches. Decisions, decisions!

Best accommodation in Nelson and Marlborough

Once you have decided which town you are going to base yourself in, it’s time to choose some accommodation. Whether you are looking for five star luxury hotels or a remote campground, you’re well catered for at the top of the South Island. With so many options to choose from, we asked our GO Explore fans for some of their top tips and this is what they came back with:

Grand Mercure Nelson Monaco Apartments - Nelson

GO Explore fans Rob and Sarah stayed in the Grand Mercure Nelson Monaco apartments back in December and were impressed. This boutique hotel offers some great apartment accommodation and is situated just a short 5 minute drive from Nelson airport as well as being a short drive from the city. Whilst there is a good restaurant on site the Honest Lawyer Country Pub just across the road is an absolute star! This is a 4-star resort and will be at the top end of our budget scale.

Palms Motel - Nelson

If you are looking for something a bit closer to the action, then the Palms Motel is a great option. Located just 100m from the main shopping area in Nelson, The Palms Motel is perfect for those who enjoy heading out into the city at night for a drink and a bite to eat. As well as a great location, the Palms also has a heated swimming pool, BBQ area and mini-kitchens in all the rooms catering for all budgets.

Chic Inner City Apartment - Nelson

One great thing about New Zealand is the range of accommodation options. For those who don’t know, Bookabach is a great place to track down accommodation in towns and cities throughout New Zealand. A bit of a precursor to Airbnb, Bookabach is great for bigger groups looking to cut down on the cost of your accommodation by renting an entire house with kitchen, laundry and living room as well as various bedroom configurations. This chic ‘Manhattan style’ apartment in the heart of Nelson is a great option for four people and its central location is perfect for those who enjoy the nightlife.

Picton Yacht Club Hotel

Whilst Picton has quite a lot of option in terms of places to stay, a favourite amongst our Go Explorers is definitely the Picton Yacht Club Hotel. Enjoying an awesome waterfront location, the Picton Yacht Club Hotel has a wide range of rooms and also has a pretty awesome outdoor swimming pool. The bar and restaurant both have great views over the water and it is just a short walk into town where you can easily access the bars and restaurants. Spot on.

Kimi Ora Eco Resort - Kaiteriteri

Tucked away amongst the bush with stunning panoramic views of Kaiteriteri beach and estuary, the Kimi Ora Eco Sanctuary is a good options for those wanting to stay on the doorstep of the Abel Tasman National Park. All of the self-contained apartments and chalets offer peace and seclusion with all the modern comforts. The resort features a European-styled spa centre, some great mountain biking trails and some fitness facilities so you don’t have to go far if you want to get out and explore.

Abel Tasman Lodge - Marahau

If you truly want to be on the doorstep of the Abel Tasman National Park, the Abel Tasman Lodge in Marahau is perfect. Located just 400m from the park, the Lodge provides the perfect accommodation option from which to explore the park. Water taxis, restaurants and cafes are just a short walk away and this place was recently voted as one of the top 15 small hotels in New Zealand. The Lodge has just 15 spacious chalets making this a cool and secluded place to stay.

Best places to eat out at the top of the South Island

From Nelson to Blenheim there are tons of great restaurants at the top of the South Island to picking the top ten is not that easy! Thankfully we had some help from our GO Explore fans who told us some of their top tips – let us know if you have any better!

Best beaches at the top of the South Island

New Zealand is blessed with some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and the top of the South Island is where you will find some of the most spectacular. From golden sandy beaches to remote, unspoilt spits, Nelson and the Marlborough region really are spoilt for choice. Here are some of our favourites:

Onetahuti Beach

Awaroa Inlet

Kaiteriteri Beach

Torrent Bay

Governors Bay

Wharariki Beach

Rabbit Island

Tata Beach

Cable Bay Beach

Best activities at the top of the South Island

The top of the South Island is absolutely packed with things to do. Heading to the beach is high on the list for a lot of people and visiting any of our top beach tips is a great way to spend the day, however if you are looking for something a bit more adventurous, here are some of the best suggestions from our GO Explore fans:

Kayaking

Seriously. If there is a better place in the world to go kayaking we are yet to find it. The Abel Tasman National Park is a kayakers paradise with calm and clear waters making for the perfect kayaking conditions. Add to this the beautiful and secluded bays that are dotted all around the park and you are in paradise. If you hire a car with GO Rentals, renting a kayak with Wilsons will save you 10% with our GO Play card. Winner.

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World of WearableArt and Classic Car Museum

OK so this one may not come under the ‘adventurous’ category but it’s still one of the best things to do on a visit to Nelson. Whilst the annual World of WearableArt (WOW) show may have moved to Wellington, the museum is still found in Nelson and you can track back and check out a huge collection of award-winning garments and works of art from the internationally renowned competition. Throw in a world-class collection of classic cars and you have all the makings of an awesome museum.

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Centre of New Zealand Walk

If you find yourself in downtown Nelson with a few hours to kill, it’s definitely worth checking out the Centre of New Zealand walk. Whilst Auckland may be the biggest city in the country and Wellington the capital, Nelson has the honour of being the geographical centre of New Zealand. Take the lovely walk up Botanical Hill which will take you to the marker identifying the exact location. There is a bit of a twist to this claim however and it’s definitely worth a read of our blog to find out more.

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Queen Charlotte Track

New Zealand has an absolute abundance of walking tracks, some of which are categorised as the ‘best in the world’. Often flying under the radar is the Queen Charlotte Track in Picton and we have no idea why. This place is absolutely stunning! The track is 70kms long and can be accessed for day walks and cycles from Picton or various points along the track by boat. You can of course choose to tackle the 70kms over multiple days, stopping off along the way to soak up the amazing surroundings of the Queen Charlotte Sounds.

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Wine Tasting

It would be wrong of us to talk about the best activities in the Nelson and Marlborough region without talking about wine tasting. Marlborough is New Zealand’s biggest wine producing region, made famous for the world-class, award winning sauvignon blancs which are the signature of the region. There are a number of ways to explore the wine region of Marlborough. From Blenheim you can jump on a number of tours but our favourite is the bike tour – peddling your way around the vineyards and enjoying the beautiful landscapes at biking pace. Wonderful.

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Water Taxi

If kayaking is not your thing, one of the best things to do on a visit to the Abel Tasman National Park is hop on a water taxi. After cruising around the clear waters of the park, you can then get dropped off on one of the stunning beaches and make your way back to base on one of the well-marked paths that run through the Abel Tasman National Park. It’s such a relaxing and fun way to explore the park and you will come across all sorts of wildlife along the way.

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Abel Tasman Coastal Path

Of course if you want to push yourself a bit harder, the best walking to be had at the top of the South Island is probably the Abel Tasman Coast Track. The track is 60km long and whilst it doesn’t feature as one of New Zealand’s ‘great walks’ if probably should! Highlights along the walk include the crossing of a 40m suspension bridge and the opportunity to spot some noisy fur seals! Your camera will never be far away as you pass from one beautiful beach and cove to another. A highlight is Cleopatra’s Pool – a natural rock pool with a moss-lined water slide – great fun!

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Cruise the Marlborough Sounds

If you are staying in Picton or Blenheim, one of the best things to do is take a cruise on the Marlborough Sounds. These beautiful and peaceful waters are spectacular and the wildlife that lives both in the water and in the skies above will blow you away. Dolphins are the most common animal spotted and there are tours that offer you the chance to swim with these amazing animals. One quirky cruise is to head out with Beachcomber Cruises on their Mailboat Cruise which sees you delivering the post to the outlying properties situated around the Sounds.

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Mussel Farm

If you are looking for something a bit different, a top tip from GO Explorer Lindsay is to take a trip to Havelock to check out the amazing mussel farms. New Zealand is famous for the giant green-lipped mussels and there is no better place to check them out and give them a sample than Havelock which is located midway between Picton and Nelson. If you are looking to give them a go, The Mussel Pot Restaurant and Café is the place to go.

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Nelson and Marlborough Travel Guide

Nelson and Marlborough Travel Guide

Popular places to stay in Nelson and Marlborough

Nelson

Nelson

Picton

Picton

Kaiteriteri/Marahau

Kaiteriteri/Marahau

Best accommodation in Nelson and Marlborough