Photos

Photos of Nelson

Situated at the top of the South Island, glorious Nelson (regional population 87,000, Nelson City 44,000)
is rightly known as the "sunshine capital" of New Zealand, boasting around 2,500 hours of sun each year.

You can get to Nelson via air (35 minutes from Wellington, 80 minutes from Auckland, 50 minutes from Christchurch),
by road and if coming from the North Island, also using the Wellington/Picton ferries.

From Nelson, you can easily access three National Parks - Abel Tasman, Nelson Lakes and Kahurangi -
all offering spectacular views from numerous tracks graded to suit any level of fitness and ability, and age.
Also very popular are the kayak adventures along the coastline.

Nelson is home to numerous artisans, and the Saturday Market has to be seen to be believed!
Nelson is home to many vineyards....well worth sampling.

A Vessel entering Port Nelson via "The Cut". Haul-a-Shore Island is in the left of the picture.	Nelson Cathedral, top of Trafalgar Street
Queen's Gardens, central Nelson City, has many specimens of both native and exotic plants & trees. A very scenic picnic spot!!	Nelson's Marina area, a ten minutes walk from the CBD.
North side of Nelson City, as seen from Akerstan Street, Port Nelson.	The centre of Nelson's CBD, home to many trees!!
Trafalgar Street as seen from the cathedral steps.	A picturesque bridge in the Queen's Gardens

Photos of the West Coast

Westport, located on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand has a population 11,000.
It is in the middle of a remarkable area of coast and rainforest.

Originally founded during the gold rush, Westport is now renowned as a popular adventure tourist destination, with activities such as caving, underwater and black water rafting, tramping, jet skiing, whitebaiting, salt and freshwater fishing.

It boasts a temperate climate and abundant rainfall, giving rise to lush vegetation and sensational waterfalls.

You can go to Westport via air (55 minutes from Wellington) or road - rental car or bus-a three hour drive (226km) from Nelson
via the stunning Buller Gorge; a very scenic five hour drive from Christchurch via Arthurs Pass.

One of two scenic glaciers seen when driving to Westport from Christchurch	Looking across the river towards the Port of Westport.
Whitebait are the immature fry of our native trout. Basing themselves in "homes" such as this one, many a coaster has spent hours in search of this national delicacy.	The Municipal Buildings, Main Road, Westport.
The view from one of the many look-out points along the roadside.	A relic from the mining days!
An example of the beautiful beaches dotted along the country-side	The main road of Westport township.