Visiting Nelson on the South Island of New Zealand
From Picton to Nelson
The bus ride from Picton to Nelson was outrageously beautiful. About an hour outside of Nelson, the road turned into a hairpin-y, nausea-inducing ride through tree-covered mountains cradling fog in their nooks. I was blessed with nice weather during my two days in Nelson. I am told that this is the warmest winter on the record books for the South Island of New Zealand. Lucky for me.
Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson is the oldest city on the South Island, established in 1841. The Maori have lived in the area since at least the 1400’s. It is on the shores of Tasman Bay and is surrounded by national parks and outdoor wonders. The city is comprised of about 40,000 people and many artists. Turn-of-the-century homes rest on little hills beside the port. If beer is your thing, it’s also the only place in New Zealand where hops are grown, making it the craft-beer capital of New Zealand. Nelson also carries the claim to fame of being the geographical center of New Zealand.
I took a walk around the port and around downtown. I sampled the beer that Nelson is famous for but I must admit my palate was unimpressed. When it comes to beer, I only seem to recognize two flavors: bitter (bad) and not-bitter (ok). And yet I keep trying, like a mother trying to give peas to her child.
Nelson is on the edge of Abel Tasman National Park and that is where I intend to go tomorrow.
Photos of Nelson:
- The road to Nelson
The road to Nelson
- A river runs through it. Nelson.
A river runs through it. Nelson.
- Downtown Nelson, New Zealand
Downtown Nelson, New Zealand
- Funny
Funny
- Nelson Cathedral
Nelson Cathedral
- Looking back at the city of Nelson
Looking back at the city of Nelson
- Nelson port
Nelson port
- City of Nelson
City of Nelson
- Nelson port
Nelson port
Hahaa I like that analogy. I like beer, but it makes me tired. After a glass I’m yawning and I say I gotta stop drinking this crap, but there I am doing it again the next time. Partly cause it’s 75cents and I’m too cheap to buy the cocktail!