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car needed in Nelson

Sydney, Australia
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579 posts
8 reviews
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car needed in Nelson
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HI

we are arriving in Nelson 2 nights before doing the abel tasman walk. I have never been to Nelson before but wondered do we need a car to trip around Nelson itself or is everything in walking distance?

thanks

Rarotonga, Cook...
Destination Expert
for Rarotonga, Waiheke Island, Southern Cook Islands, Auckland Central, New Zealand, North Island, Cook Islands
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28,517 posts
140 reviews
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1. Re: car needed in Nelson
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Hi Lynette,

I recommend hiring a car, which is what we did with a Nelson airport arrival. The city is spread out and you'll want to explore a wider area, including the heart of the city, the Queens Garden, art galleries and museums, Mapua wharf and harbour, and nearby beaches. Nelson has hills as well as flat land.

Edited: 7 years ago
Nelson-Tasman...
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for South Island, Nelson-Tasman Region, New Zealand, Tonga
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730 reviews
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2. Re: car needed in Nelson
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Where abouts are you staying in Nelson area? Nelson is made up of a number of suburbs such as nelson city, tahuna. (beach area), stoke, richmond and then greater area. Then it depends on your interests and what you want to see. If you stay in Nelson city you dont necessarily need a car - cafes, shops, restaurants, parks, museums, queens gardensm centre of nz are all in walking distance. And you can do wine tours on a tour so dont need a car. However, if you want to explore further afield then you will need a vehicle. It is 5km from the city centre to tahuna beach and this can be walked, or you can take a bus or bike.

Sydney, Australia
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579 posts
8 reviews
3 helpful votes
3. Re: car needed in Nelson
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Hi there

To be honest I haven't as yet worked out what we want to see in Nelson for the full day we are there. I have been researching the rest of our trip in nz.

The plan was to get to Nelson 2 nights before to shop for food for the walk. We will be driving so will have the car. It was just a question of whether we kept the car for that extra day. After we do the walk we will also have a full day then when we do not have a car.

What activities do you recommend doing with a 11 and 15 year old apart from tabuna beach?

We are staying at the Nikau apartments when we arrive for 2 nights and then at the quality in for two nights after.

Thanks for you help

Nelson-Tasman...
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for South Island, Nelson-Tasman Region, New Zealand, Tonga
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4. Re: car needed in Nelson
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Tahuna beach will have most of the interest for your kids. the beach, mini golf, hydroslide, bumperboats, fun park are all in tahuna. A walk up the centre of nz is worth while and a great viewing spot. Also becoming very popular is paddleboard hire from tahuna beach. in summer swimming up the maitai river is very popular.

Nelson-Tasman...
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for South Island, Nelson-Tasman Region, New Zealand, Tonga
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730 reviews
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5. Re: car needed in Nelson
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parking fairly easy. and even on a relly busy day you can get a carpark a few minutes walk away.

Sydney, Australia
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579 posts
8 reviews
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6. Re: car needed in Nelson
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Hi NZpoppy

what do you mean walk up centre of NZ?

Also is parking easy at Tahuna or easiest to catch a taxi or bus there?

Lynette

Dunedin, New Zealand
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for Dunedin, New Zealand
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7. Re: car needed in Nelson
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There's a wopping big car park near Tahuna beach. The centre (i.e. geographical middle) of New Zealand is in Nelson, up a hill.

8. Re: car needed in Nelson

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