In our ‘Complete Guide’ series, we’re going to be visiting some of New Zealand’s most popular tourist destinations and getting the inside track from our GO Explore followers on the best places to stay, eat, drink, sunbathe and more. Instead of just finding out what the guidebooks tell you, find out what the locals and the travellers think when it comes to the best place to get an ice cream, the best fish and chips and the best cocktail you’ll ever taste! We’ll also give you some great tips on the best rental cars for your adventure so you can travel around the region in comfort and style!

The next in our series of Complete Guides takes us to the regions of Nelson and Marlborough at the northern tip of the South Island. Regarded by many as one of the most unspoilt regions of New Zealand, Nelson enjoys a year round sunshine and is known as one of the sunniest places in the country. The Abel Tasman National Park is without a doubt one of the most spectacular national parks in the country, renowned for its golden beaches, sculptured granite cliffs and world-famous coastal track. The top of the South Island is a stunning place to spend some time at any time of the year and our complete guide will give you the low down on the best places to stay, eat, drink as well as letting you in on some of the best activities and top places to visit here. Let’s get GOing!

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:

Rent the perfect car for your adventure

Recommended vehicle for exploring Nelson and Marlborough

TOYOTA CHR

3 year(s) old

Explore Nelson and Marlborough in style in the Toyota CHR featuring Bluetooth handsfree, 5-star ANCAP Safety Rating and steering mounted controls.

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5 Seats

1 large bag

1 small bag

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