Jazz in the Park

The Nelson Jazz & Blues Festival has just finished for 2011.  Each year at the start of January, Nelson is host to a huge number of jazz and blues bands.  The event starts with Jazz in the Park which is held at Fairfield Park.  This year the day was beautiful with clear blue skies and [...]

Nelson Summer Festival 2010-2011

Nelson celebrates the Summer season with a fantastic Summer Festival.  The Festival starts with the Lantern Spectacular at the Centre of New Zealand.  Each year, I take my kids who love the annual walk up the hill where they are greeted by magical and whimsical creatures along the way.  This year they loved the colourful [...]

The Gentle Cycling Company

I recently had the great pleasure of going out with The Gentle Cycling Company to experience their Moutere Country Ride.  The Gentle Cycling Company offers a range of self-guided single day tours where you can explore beautiful countryside using a network of cycleways and quiet country roads.
The bikes and helmets could not be faulted!  The [...]

Day 4: Awaroa – Whariwharangi

1:40pm, Start crossing Awaroa Inlet (low tide = 2:13pm)
2:25pm, Start walking from the other side
4:15pm, Depart Totaranui
7:10pm,  Arrive Whariwharange Hut (in the dark!)

 
Dinner last night was another amazing affair thanks to Gourmet Trampers!  Moroccan Beef with Couscous and Yoghurt Dressing!  Sue concurred!
This morning is my rest day.  The low tide is not until 2:13pm so I have [...]

Abel Tasman Coachlines

I’ve recently returned from walking in the Abel Tasman National Park for 5 days, which was a fantastic experience and one that I thoroughly enjoyed!
I used Abel Tasman Coachlines to get from Nelson to Marahau and back again.  On the first morning, the bus was on time and the driver friendly and courteous.  We had [...]

Day 3: Bark Bay – Awaroa

10.00am, Depart Bark Bay
11:45am, Arrive Tonga Quarry
12:10pm, Depart Tonga Quarry
12:40pm, Arrive Onetahuti Beach
1:00pm, Arrive Beach Crossing (low tide = 1:30pm, cross, have a break)
1:15pm, Leave Beach crossing
3:30pm, Arrive Awaroa via Awaroa Lodge (which was closed) (time approx)

 
I woke to rain this morning – sometimes quite heavy.  I didn’t rush with breakfast and set off at 10:00am.  It was wet, but the overhead [...]

Day 1: Marahau – Anchorage Bay

7.30am, Depart Nelson with Abel Tasman Coachlines
9.05am, Start walking!
10.40am-10.50am, Break at Apple Tree Bay
1.00pm, Arrive Anchorage Bay
3.15pm-4.45pm, Walk to Te Pukatea Bay and Pitt Head via the Loop walk

With the biggest storm on the planet hitting the country, a too colourful Metvuw and a very changeable Metservice, I left home at 6.45am to be greeted by snow on the [...]

Walking in the Abel Tasman National Park

I’ve recently returned from walking or tramping in the Abel Tasman Coastal Track, which was the first time I have walked a multi-day tramp on my own.  Many of our guests have asked me if I’ve walked it – and up until now, I could only answer “I’ve walked a part of the Track – but not [...]

Nelson’s Saturday Market

If you are in Nelson on a Saturday, not to be missed is the Nelson Saturday Market, held in Montgomery Carpark from 8:00am to 1:00pm.  Not only will you find a wonderful array of local produce – fresh fruit and seasonal vegetables, freshly baked bread, cheeses, smoked fish, homemade peanut butter and much more, but [...]

Nelson’s Boulder Bank

The Boulder Bank of Nelson stretches for 13km from The Glen to Nelson.  Boulders from The Glen have been swept along by sea currents over a period of 10,000 years to form this internationally renowned geological feature, one of very few of its type in the world.
The bank originally extended all the way to Haulashore [...]