Campervan Hire Nelson

Nelson City, Natural Playground

Facing the Tasman Bay, Central Nelson is neatly laid out on the banks of the Maitai River and is the second-oldest settled city in the country with a long history dating back to European settlement in 1841. With many Victorian-style houses and plentiful green areas, it is a good-looking place and home to boutiques, galleries, wonderful seafood restaurants and buzzing cafe culture. These are best experienced with a Nelson campervan rental as the flexibility and ease of transportation it offers allows tourists to better handle their schedules. Many Kiwis aspire to retire there, and it is the perfect location to begin an adventurous New Zealand campervan holiday.

Social Calendar

Despite its relatively small size, Nelson city festivals and events are a major attraction. They include a vast array of music and arts festivals, outdoor sporting events such as golf, harness racing and skydiving and even beach yoga. The climate obviously helps dictate the goodies on offer. If you love getting out there on a great location and friendly locals, Nelson is the place for you, so prepare your campervan hire to halt.

Eat Local

Fresh, local produce is a major selling point for Nelson’s dining scene! The city’s best restaurants make full use of the produce and meat from surrounding farmland, as well as the seafood which passes through the ports. These can also be hunted down at farmers’ markets – one of the top ten things to do. Fine dining is available, but casual, fresh and hearty fare is what Nelson does best - try the Beach Cafe and Bar, Gianni Pizza, the Playhouse Cafe and Paula’s Plate by New Zealand Masterchef contestant Paula Saengthian-Ngam. Be sure to park up your Nelson campervan hire and have a taste of these treats.

Nelson city and the surrounding areas are home to a number of boutique wineries, well known for their aromatic varieties. A bit further afield is the world-renowned Marlborough wine region - a leader in Sauvignon Blanc production. The city also has perfect conditions for growing hops, and craft breweries abound. In fact, Nelson has more of these per head of population than anywhere else in the country. Spend a day visiting these in your campervan for an unforgettable holiday experience- just make sure you have a sober driver before continuing on your campervan adventure!

What to Do In Nelson

There is a lot of art on offer in Nelson. A highlight is the World of Wearable Art Museum, which showcases the weird and wacky garments of this fashion festival now held in Wellington. The Sute Art Gallery is another famous place and one of the best places to visit. Wandering around the shops will also reveal many creations by local artisans and show you exactly ‘what to wear’. Escape your camper van Nelson and drop by this museum with your family and friends to witness this one-of-a-kind art.

A visit to the Nelson region is incomplete without a trip to the incredible Abel Tasman National Park. With inland forested mountains giving way to a coastline dotted with golden-sand coves, it is an area of great beauty and offers extensive recreation opportunities. Visitors enjoy kayaking tours, picnics, bushwalks and the much-loved Abel Tasman Coastal Track which takes 3-5 days to complete. Make your motorhome Nelson tour more memorable by coming here.

There are plenty of things to do in Nelson for a family with kids. Steer your rental campervan to see some zoo animals for the kids to learn and enjoy. Natureland is a small but charming zoo with low fences and a compact layout, perfect for the little ones. Tahunanui Beach near the Nelson Airport is excellent for safe swimming and is home to the Nelson Fun Park with hydroslides, bumper boats and mini golf. Older kids will likely enjoy horse trekking, paintball and quad bike tours offered by Happy Valley Adventures just out of town.

Recommended Holiday Parks and Campgrounds around Nelson

Aside from the Abel Tasman National Park, Nelson's popular and highly recommended parks and recreation venues include:

• Mapua Leisure Park

• Golden Bay / Takaka Holiday Park

• Nelson Lakes National Park

• Queen Charlotte Sound / Tōtaranui

• Kahurangi National Park

• Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve

• Abel Tasman Marahau Beach Camp

• Bethany Park

• Collingwood Holiday Park

Get Around

Downtown Nelson is easily walkable, and also easily driveable for those who have a car or motorhome rental. If you don’t have one yet, there are a lot of private campervan hire in Nelson from reputable rental companies so no need to worry where to get one. City buses are called NBuses, and they run services to Richmond, an outlying town considered part of Nelson - as well as four routes around the city itself. Local routes operate on a “Hail and Ride” system, where the bus will stop when hailed when it is safe to do so. Taxis are another option for transport, and if you are heading out of Nelson, intercity buses can take you almost anywhere - these include Abel Tasman Coachlines, Golden Bay Coachlines, Intercity and Naked Bus. Of course, campers for hire or a rental car provides the most freedom of movement.

Nelson, Sunshine Capital of New Zealand

Nelson’s temperate oceanic climate means cool winters and warm summers, and in practice, Nelson has one of the best climates in NZ, with an annual average of over 2400 hours of sunshine. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year, so winter has plenty of beautiful sunny days as well - perfect for those who like the cold. Get on your Nelson campervans and experience the cool great weather.