What Nelson Offers:

• The highest recorded sunshine hours in New Zealand
• A compact regional geography with three beautiful and very different national parks; Abel Tasman, Nelson Lakes and Kahurangi
• A huge range of outdoor activities including sea kayaking, seal swimming, rock climbing, white water rafting, mountain biking, skiing, nature tours... and much, much more
• Over 100 cafés, more than 20 wineries, boutique breweries
• Fresh local delicacies and produce - such as seafood, berries, apples and locally made gourmet foods
• More than 350 working artists with galleries and studios throughout the region
• The Nelson School of Music - New Zealand’s oldest music school
• A regional art gallery - The Suter Te Aratoi o Whakatu and a contemporary new Museum

The Nelson lifestyle is about:

• Strong family values and a sense of 'local' community
• Appreciating quality time and a slower pace of life
• National and international influences, cultures and customs
• A relaxed yet dynamic business environment and a diverse economy
• Sunshine and outdoor recreation

Shopping

Nelson city boasts more than 630 businesses in the inner city

Nelson is a great place for shopping with over 320 stores, award winning cafes and restaurants.   Visitors can enjoy an assortment of fashion boutiques, retail stores, jewellery, specialty stores, souvenir outlets, international chain stores, galleries and of course our famous Saturday Market.

Nelson's compact city centre allows for easy exploration by foot, and provides a relaxed shopping and browsing experience.   There are three large and accessible car parks to take the headache out of parking and help to make retail browsing a stress free experience. 

Typical Nelson city shop trading hours are:

• Monday - Friday 9.00 am till 5.30 pm
• Saturday - 10.00 am till 2.00 pm
• Some local and national chain stores are open until 5.30 pm on Saturday and many also open on Sunday.

For more information on shopping and businesses in Nelson CBD click

Could you live in Nelson?

Click 'Could you live in Nelson' to hear leading Nelson residents talk about lifestyle, education, youth, transport and connectivity, business, health, environment, art and sports and recreation.