Exploring the Nelson Tasman region

Day Out tours one of the most awesome places on earth, with great variety of scenery, food, drink and culture.

Our home town is Nelson, located on the shores of Tasman Bay in the central area of the top of South Island, where two rivers run into the sea ensuring plenty of flat land. Rimmed by golden beaches, the Bay stretches from the world renowned Abel Tasman National Park in the west, one of the most stunning and accessible parks in the world, round to the beginning of the beautiful, peaceful Marlborough Sounds in the east. To the west the Southern Alps climb slowly away from the Bay as they head south down South Island’s spine, while to the south and east the region is enclosed by older, softer mountains, on one of which is located a ski field, just an hour’s drive from the warm waters of the Bay.

Most years the Nelson region wins the coveted national ‘Days of Sunshine’ award with typically around 300 days of sunshine each year. Cold nights and warm, usually dry days in winter, the region is warm and dry in summer, with mountain rivers keeping everything fresh. It is an ideal fruit and vegetable growing region.

Tasman Vineyards

The flat river valley farmlands have long been known for their high quality pip and stone fruit production, exported and enjoyed around the world, and orchards continue to produce the finest apples, pears, kiwi fruit, peaches and other tasty fruit. However, in the last 50 years vineyards have been planted on the stony gravels of old river beds, vines that now produce some of the finest aromatic wines in New Zealand. This is now New Zealand’s fourth largest wine producing region. Each year these vineyards, mostly family owned with the passion and desire for quality and experimentation that that brings to the growing and wine making, win an increasing number of important awards for their wines. The better vineyards have cellar doors that ensure a great wine tasting experience, that will leave you wanting to take some bottles with you and knowing a lot more about the art of good winemaking than when you went in.

Hops and Craft Beers

Another crop that has developed enormously over the last 20-30 years is hop growing. The Motueka Valley in particular being suitable. The growing conditions have been found to be so good that the highest quality hops are being harvested and are much sought after in Europe and the Americas. However, many hops never make it out of the region where many small craft breweries have established themselves and their great range of rich brews, each competing to make the best beer possible, offer another fabulous tasting experience.

Scenic Tours in the Top of the South

Abel Tasman National Park has already been mentioned. Just to the south is Kahurangi National Park, New Zealand’s second largest National Park and enclosing the mountains that form the northern end of the Southern Alps. Home to nearly a quarter of New Zealand’s bird and tree species, it is a must explore region. Day Out knows the best roads to take to be able to go deep into the Park, places that few tourists discover without extreme effort, where well maintained walkways will give guests the opportunity to explore the flora and fauna and beauty of this wonderful park.

Just an hour south of Nelson lies Nelson Lakes National Park, with its ancient, soaring, domed mountains containing Lake Rotoiti and Lake Rotorua. Again the park authorities have invested much in creating magnificent walks suitable for all ages and abilities through ancient forests teaming with life.

The region is truly blessed; we would love to show you the best of it.