Nelson & Bays

A quick 48-hour stopoff across the strait to Nelson was 
enough to give Vivienne Haldane the break she was looking for.

Peter Janssen’s magnificent book, A New Zealander’s Guide to Touring Natural New Zealand, is structured geographically around itineraries – 22 in the North Island and 25 in the South. Each takes in several sites within one area, describing their natural beauty and listing good short walks or detours that show off the scenery at its best. In this extract, he covers the road trip from Motueka to Farewell Spit.

The Nelson Tasman region, at the top of the South Island, has so much to offer, it’s worth planning an extended stay. Here are 8 great things to do while you’re there...

The route appeals greatly for cyclists sampling food and drinks along the beautiful Tasman Bay coast

MCD follows Jackie on her travels across the country

With beautiful golden, sandy beaches and sunny, cloudless days, Heather Whelan thought Golden Bay was well named as a holiday destination