Nelson Bays

Nelson Bays is the region at the top of the South Island of New Zealand. This region is famed for sunshine, art and craft and alternative lifestyles, and has a rugged farming backbone. The region includes Tasman Bay and Golden Bay, and is bounded by the Richmond Ranges, Kahurangi National Park and Nelson Lakes National Park. The Abel Tasman National Park is on the northern coast between Motueka and Golden Bay.

Regions of Nelson Bays

• Golden Bay, over the Takaka Hill from Nelson and a world away, with beautiful golden sand beaches, native bush and solitude
• Nelson Lakes has the largest native eels in New Zealand inside its National Park and good alpine skiing centred on Street Arnaud

Settlements

• Nelson (New Zealand) | Nelson – the region's only city, with many galleries, cafes and restaurants fringing its cathedral, and a big safe sandfly-free beach at Tahunanui
• Collingwood (New Zealand) | Collingwood – at the northern end of Golden Bay, gateway to Farewell Spit and Heaphy Track in Kahurangi National Park
• Kaiteriteri – beach town and popular holiday spot between Motueka and Abel Tasman National Park
• Mapua – small seaside town between Nelson and Motueka
• Motueka – the largest town outside Nelson and its satellites
• Murchison – some of the finest white water rafting and kayaking in the Southern Hemisphere
• Street Arnaud (New Zealand) | Street Arnaud – village that is the gateway to Nelson Lakes National Park
• Takaka – the largest town in Golden Bay]
• Wakefield (New Zealand) | Wakefield – village south-west of Nelson

More Destinations

• Abel Tasman National Park
• Kahurangi National Park
• Nelson Lakes National Park

Travel to Nelson Bays

By car

From the east, State Highway 6 is the main route leading from Blenheim (New Zealand) | Blenheim (and Picton (New Zealand) | Picton) through Renwick, Havelock (New Zealand) | Havelock and the Rai Valley before reaching Nelson (New Zealand) | Nelson. State Highway 6 continues south through Richmond, Wakefield (New Zealand) | Wakefield, Murchison and on to Westport (New Zealand) | Westport and the West Coast (New Zealand) | West Coast. State Highway 63 starts at Renwick and leads to Street Arnaud before rejoining State Highway 6 at Kawatiri Junction.

Travel on a Bus in Nelson Bays

In the main, both buses and shuttle services such as Atomic Travel in and out of the region follow State Highway 6. Nelson Lakes Shuttles specialise in providing transport for trampers, hikers, climbers, mountain bikers and skiers. They run on demand together with scheduled services to Street Arnaud and between Picton (New Zealand) | Picton, Blenheim (New Zealand) | Blenheim, Murchison as well as other tramping destinations further afield.

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Nelson Bays

• Nelson Airport - 41.29799, 173.22487 - One of the busiest airports in the nation with Air New Zealand and other airlines providing scheduled services.

• Takaka airstrip has scheduled Flights from Wellington on Golden Bay Air as well as charter operations.

How to get around in Nelson Bays

For those without transport and there is reasonable bus transport around the region.

Scheduled services

• Between Nelson (New Zealand) | Nelson, Stoke and Richmond – Nbus suburban buses are available, operated by Nelson Coachlines].
• From Nelson to Street Arnaud – Nelson Lakes Shuttles].
• From Nelson to Motueka, Kaiteriteri and Marahau (the eastern end of the Abel Tasman National Park) – Abel Tasman Travel.
• From Nelson to Motueka, Takaka, Collingwood (New Zealand) | Collingwood and the eastern end of the Heaphy Track in Kahurangi National Park – Golden Bay Coachlines].

On-demand services

• Trek Express - ☎ +64 3 540-2042 0800 128 735 +64 3 540-2042 - Specialising in transport to hiking tracks.

• Nelson Lakes Shuttles - ☎ +64 3 547-6896
• Tasman Helicopters - ☎ +64 3 528-8075 +64 3 528 8078

Stay Safe

Sunburn and sun stroke might be the greatest dangers in this region!

Travel Next

For those heading south to Christchurch and there are two options which take roughly the same length of time. State Highway 6 branches just after Murchison lending to Springs Junction. Turning east leads soon to the thermal spas (Muslim Friendly) complex of Maruia Springs before steadily climbing up the Lewis Pass on the Main Divide of the Southern Alps. Beyond too long the turn-off to the spa town of Hanmer Springs is reached, 1.5 hours from Christchurch. The alternative it to travel to Blenheim (New Zealand) | Blenheim and then south on State Highway 1 through the whale watching town of Kaikoura. Both routes take roughly 6 hours.

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