The 35 best things to do with kids in Nelson

This is a really good place to spend a few hours in. The central point to the whole parlk is to recreate a page of Nelson's past as the early settlers would have known it. However there are lots of vintage vehicles to see, a cafe, a maritime museum, and windmill and more. This place is definitely worth a visit.

Absolutely loved it lots still under construction but great experience

Founder is a peaceful place in the winter. Going in for a wander and a contemplate is lovely, especially if you time it with the open hours of the cafe. They make a good coffee! I was there when they were setting up for the Illumination show. Went back at night , sorry no photos... it was so pretty and cute. Would definitely go back next year!

Wonderful place to explore. Can spend a few hours there. Unless there's an event on its usual free entry for locals or people going to the cafe. Lots of things to check out - heritage buildings and vehicles. If you've got kids its nice to sit outdoor at the cafe and enjoy lunch next to the playground to keep an eye on them. Buy tickets for the short train ride. It goes back and forth each way on two tracks and they have to change the end the locomotive is on each direction so it take a bit of time, maybe was an hour.

Very quiet and not much of anything to do - besides of course looking at the displays and the buildings. Cool things to see if you like history but wasn’t very interactive and a lot was closed. Definitely not worth the price. It has potential to be fun if there were real people in the shops all dressed up, things to buy (like in the general store having old candy, drinks, toys, whatever). The cafe was pumping and the playground is good for older kids. The rail cart/train costs extra which was disappointing as it’s the only interactive thing and you already pay to get into the park. The grounds (gardens and even the displays) were also not very tidy.

This is a great cheap day out. About $11 per adult. I particularly enjoyed the beer & hop museum, some fascinating history in this area! Well worth a visit if you have time to spare. The on-site cafe is fantastic too.

The Founders Heritage Park is a gem in Nelson's crown. My expectations were low considering entry was only eleven or so dollars. However it soon became clear how historically significant and visually pleasing the buildings were. Hundreds of items in the stores made me feel like I was in Back To The Future III. The amount of ships in bottles was astounding. I wish I only knew to bring some gold coins to operate the model trains in the train carriage.

This was to be a highlight on our trip here. Especially with the photo of a dinosaurs on the website. No dinosaurs and took less than 20 mins to look at everything, not worth the entry fee. However, staff member at desk was extremely helpful and informative.

Well we didn't go through the museum itself as we were only there to get some historical information regarding some ancestors of ours, so I do need to mention the young man at the counter, he was so welcoming and so helpful and so knowledgeable and gave us so much information we were blown away. Not many go above and beyond these days but this young man certainly did and I'm sorry I didn't get his name, but what a delightful young man, thankyou for all the information you gave us, it really helped our search

It's not a huge museum, but what it is, is informative and well laid out with interesting exhibits. Definitely worth a visit.

The Nelson Provincial Museum offers a glimpse into local history and culture, with a nice selection of toys and captivating decor adding to its appeal. While the museum's size may be on the smaller side, it is worth a visit for its reasonably priced souvenirs and locally crafted art pieces that make for great mementos. The exhibits may not be expansive, but they are thoughtfully curated, providing insight into the region's heritage.

Some sections ( 1st floor ) were under renovation 14 $ for two tickets is bit steep for what’s on offer . However , keeping cost aside , it’s still got some interesting stuff to see . Attached cafe with inside and outside seating. A small curio shopping section .

Free for locals and worth a donation . Very helpful staff. The layout has 3 distinct areas and it is important to up the stairs and lifts. The Cawthorn institute is celebrated up stairs. Us the National Geographic Photography exhibition. Amazing photos. The history of Nelson is down stairs. From geology to Maori and more recent history such as pottery. There is a gift shop and parking areas are close. Not far from the Suter art gallery so make a double visit.

Nice museum. Not huge, but the exhibits are well presented, and looked after. When we visited there was an animatronic dinosaur exhibition upstairs, which was excellent, but this isn't a permanent fixture. Possibly a bit pricey at $16 per person.

Amazing little hidden bush walking tracks in Nelson city! Right on the edge of the city you can find lush NZ bush, birds, history and fun. I went by myself and enjoyed nearly 4hours inside the sanctuary Thank you to all supporting the cause Staff were so friendly Safe exploring here

Our group went on the "A Night in the Forest" tour to see tuataras, glow worms and possibly a kiwi. We were led two knowledgeable guides, Eve and Erwin, who were a font of knowledge about the Sanctuary and the wildlife within it. There was something very grounding and peaceful about walking through nature in the almost dark - all senses were heightened re the sounds, the smells and the sights. It was a magical evening. Thank you!

Great weekend escape with the toddler! The kids challenges were the perfect level and helped get us all into the quiet searching mood. Amazing wildlife and feels like you're way out there despite being only a short bus ride/drive from town.

I did the night tour on what turned out to be a perfect night and I absolutely loved it. A clear and starry night sky, no wind and a great guide (Steffi). The glow worms shone and the kiwi called - 9 times!. I slept like a log after that beautiful experience of bush bathing! Thank you. Highly recommend this tour.

It is incredible what has been achieved at Waimarama in the past 20+ years as seen in the multiple short movies we watched during the Guardians of the Forest evening last Wednesday, 29th. If you live in Nelson please support this amazing resource we have at our backdoor; become a member. Our children and their children will thank us for the support.

What a fabulous way to spend an evening in Nelson. The guide was enthusiastic, well informed and passionate. We saw Tuatara, Weta, Glow Worms and heard Ruru and Kiwi. A great experience and insight into an amazing NZ wildlife sanctuary. If you’ve visited during the day make sure you go back for a visit at night.

A fantastic hill walk in the bush other day. Lots of bird chatter to accompany you on the walk with a fair few sightings as well. Some areas are real thick bush with steep winding narrow pathways so be sure to go prepared with good walking/hiking shoes and water. A really good wildlife project right next to Nelson and highly recommend if you’re in the area.

Great place for kids of all ages. 7 & 9 year old moko loved the waterslide & bumper boats. Good toilets & changing rooms. Good seating options if you go early. Umbrellas & tables provided.

Not just for kids. Mini golf is very adorable at $9/pp. The course takes approx 45-1hr for two people. Moderately well maintained course. Nice service from the gentleman at the counter.

A Big Shout out to NICK the new owner! This place is Epic, highly recommend. Go support a great local business!. You made my son, Hare & his mates day. It was the BEST BIRTHDAY EVER. Great to see all the boys having fun. You have great friendly staff. Ngā mihi nui

Great place to have a birthday party. BIG SHOUT OUT to the new owner NICK. You and your staff are awesome. Highly recommend this fun park to everyone, young and old and in between. From JO

We had a wonderful time when we visited this place. The hydroslide is amazing, it's so big compared to slides at Hanmer Springs. One of the must do in nelson especially with kids.

Great place to relax, enjoy spend time with friends and family. Went for a session of Go carting and a mini golfing.Great

Great fun place. Good value for money. Ample parking. Dogs allowed. Staff are fantastic.

Small but perfectly maintained little garden near the centre of Nelson. Ideal for a leisurely stroll. The garden also includes a Chinese themed section ; the Huangshi Garden.

Lovely garden only few minutes walk from town center, has many entrances. Cool and serene.

Beautiful. A little swampy. No guard rails or fence around the water. But really lovely, with a good variety of flora and fauna. I love it here. There's also a cat that I see nearly every time I'm there. Ducklings.

Very nice garden, well maintained, ducks and nature beauty is a perfect place for a short walk or a meditation escape.

Very well organised Gardens in Nelson town centre on Bridge street. Small but very beautiful. Many native plants, flowers etc in town centre, on the walking and cycling trail path to the river stream. Cafe on site is great too.

The queens Botanical Gardens are wonderful. As soon as you walk in off the street, the temperature drops 10c, which was perfect on the January summer's day I visited. With a great variety of beautiful old trees and flowers, this place is special. There's a number of large ponds, these Gardens are so peaceful, you could easily forget where you are. The tiles or pebbles in the Chinese garden are very interesting. This place is free and a must visit if you're in Nelson.

Best gardens in Nelson! The gardeners take such pride in their beautiful work! It's a true pleasure to enjoy nature there! Lots of bridges and little Japanese area. The water wheel is beautiful when flowing and lots of gorgeous areas to relax and be at one in the now 😍

Lovely town beach in Nelson. Good for swimming, not too cold, not too warm. Lots of free parking if you drive.

Best at low tide when its nice and wide as it can get busy most fine afternoons and weekends. Sandy and great views north and west. Safe swimming in summer weather permitting.

Coming in February was a nice weather in Nelson. It was sunny but cold water still🥶 It is such a nice beach for swimming, chilling, and sun bathing. Son't forget to come to Tahunanui beach when you're in Nelson

Nice, clean, sandy & family beach. Enough parking, but could be little crowdy on holidays. Mostly safe for non swimmers.

Amazing place for a swim, walk, run or to watch the sunset. Great open family beach. Amazing views of the mountains & house on the hills also planes landing at the nearby airport. Few ice cream vendors at the parking, loads of parking! Makes Nelson a great place to live

What an awesome beach to spend the day, view in winter with snow on the mountains breathtaking, check out the art displays on the walkway. Lots of toilets, dog walking areas, playing fields, shops walking distance, library, children play area, cold shower, tap to wash feet, skate rink, heaps of carparks including one for campers. No camping allowed, gates closed at night

A vast array of beach users can be found here. Dog walkers, kite surfers, paddle boarders, makes for great people observing. Swell is typically calm. Busy location but great car park and facility’s available and a great sunset spot

A lovely Japanese garden to wander around and enjoy. Very well kept and exudes a feeling of peace, especially around the water features. Look out for the eels in the water. Came here in early 90s when it was first established. Nice to return and see it matured.

This place made me so happy! It’s free, it’s open 24/7, it’s well maintained and it really feels tranquil. So many different elements all fitted into a small garden, it’s small but it feels like it got a bit of everything. I was lucky to see the wisteria bloom when I was there, and even some Sakura were still in bloom. The pond had a lot of eels, the first time I’ve seen eels too! The mini bamboo forest, the small pavilion, the bridges, the plants and benches! If I lived here, I would come here so often <3

Beautiful, quiet, calm little park to walk through.

Just like Japan, but without the long flight! (Assuming you didn’t take a long flight to get to NZ in the first place).

Amazing hideout in the city and one of the best kept secret ! Absolutely stunning, small Japanese garden, built to celebrate Nelson sister city - Miyazu. Featuring beautiful trees, plants and even fishes including eel pond. It’s a perfect place to sit, unwind and relax under a tree on one of several benches and enjoy beautiful scenery including mini bridge and small temple. It takes 15 minutes to walk around and see everything but take your time to look for all small features and details. It’s absolutely worth a walk or drive from city centre!

A great Japanese style garden. Free entry, and quite relaxing. It's been designed really well. With a ying and yang garden, lots of ponds with eels. Beautifully maintained gardens with fun stepping stones and paths for the young and old. Lots of seats and toilets.

Lovely garden with many options to stroll & contemplate. Unfortunately on our visit there a lot of children were running about, shouting & squealing from a wedding party - they were not interested in quiet contemplation! Never mind, on a quiet day it would have perfect! Highly recommend (without a wedding!)

I had my son's 1st birthday here in April and it was beautiful! They have two decent sized tables with a big gazebo in a nice area with a park close by and animals all around. The kids had an absolute blast as did the parents. You can also Byo food which is a bonus! We had a goat in counter also where the kids could feed the goats which was great. I would come back here again in a heartbeat and highly recommend for any birthday parties!

This place is a wee gem ... Spent about a hour and half looking at all the animals birds and reptiles ... For a small animal park I was very impressed with how the space had been used to get the most out of the enclosures ... You can hand feed the goats ... They also have a breed to release bird program which I love ... I highly recommend visiting the natureland wildlife trust ❤️

Absolutely fantastic afternoon at Natureland. We spent an hour or so wonder if ng around and checking out all of the furry friends before heading to the meerkats for our encounter. Here we got to hand feed and pet the meerkats. The experience cost 75 dollars each and was worth every penny! The meerkats were very friendly, spending time running over you and trying to dig under you if we're sat in the floor. Very very cute! The session was very informative and lasted a lot longer than the advertised time. We were very thankful for this experience. Book it! You won't regret it!

Nice little zoo, we really enjoyed our visit

Nice wee zoo. The lemas decided to sound off at each other which was cool to hear. The price I think reflects the size. Sad to see kids yelling and tapping the glass. This a reflection on parents not the zoo, they were cleaning and feeding. Recommend visiting at a non child time :)

A great little zoo to look around. Nice walk-through enclosures with Kea and other native birds.

Great little zoo. That you can actually see the animals. Mostly wheelchair friendly with only a few spots that have stairs only or a drop but you can still get everywhere. Reasonably priced. Well worth a visit.

I had a great time in Pic’s Peanut Butter World. Good coffee and cheese scone in their cafe! For the tour, it was informative and enjoyable to see how the company started and how do they make the peanut butter (love the peanut butter tasting). I will definitely recommend the cafe and tour to someone and I am surely coming back to the cafe next time!

Book the tour, you won’t regret it! The tour went above and beyond what I could’ve imagined it to be. Our tour guide was incredibly enthusiastic, and her positive energy definitely kept the whole tour group attentive throughout the whole tour. She was also very insightful and open to questions, so I got to ask away everything I wanted to know about Pic’s and just peanut butter in general, and she answered everything! I can imagine her being such a huge asset to the Pic’s team. The formation of the tour was also really great, with just enough explanations and time to explore the upstairs of the factory by ourselves. The tasting session at the end was also very efficient for getting to try the different flavours, all of which were delicious :) The merch shop and cafe were also really fun to look around, so be sure to check those out too!

Amazing peanut butter, what else could you want! When we were planning our trip to New Zealand, a trip to Pic's was a must-do on the list and it did not disappoint. We started off with some treats from their cafe, which were fantastic, and then took part in a factory tour. It was very informative and helped bring context to all things peanut butter. Finished off with a tasting which helped seal the deal on the items we wanted to bring back home. If you are in Nelson area on holiday, I highly recommend stopping by Pic's and make sure you have some room in your checked luggage to bring a few jars home

A free tour (make sure you book on line) that goes for about 1 hr. A visit to the factory where they make the peanut butter. You can even make your own to eat! At the end of the tour you will get a sample of peanut butter to try. There is a lovely shop where you can buy peanut butter and other Pics things. We caught a bus from the Nelson town centre bus stop ($3.00 per person one way).

Amazing place. The tour was super fun and informative. Getting to see the peanut butter factory so close was super cool. Also get to taste 4 different peanut butters and get a free jar to take away. Super good value for money and a great experience for all ages.

Recommend checking this out on your visit to Nelson! Huge shout out to our guide Tania who was awesome and so engaging for both kids and adults. Also, it was a bonus to get to try the peanut butter so freshly made!

Well run and organised tour, so interesting to see. The entire factory is spic and span, and is able to be viewed from the mezzanine where the tour takes place. Interesting range of merchandise and last but not least, the young lady who ran the tour, was great! She was fun, kept it interesting and kept it all flowing.

Stunning views all around and some pretty nice information up there too. Benches here and there but always occupied by freshly tired hikers haha. Tad bit steep but not hard walk. Doable for most people.

The walk to the monument is quick and easy. The views of Nelson city and the surrounding hills and valleys are very cool.

Great activity for a couple of hours. Walk up to the geographically marked centre of New Zealand. Entry is from Nelson Botanical Reserve. Very steep hill climb. You will be rewarded with spectacular views around Nelson out to the port and all across the city. Monument and maps at the top. Pink flowers on the trail look to be banana passion flower, which according to research, are considered invasive species in NZ. If you have dodgy knees, take your time and be sure to take your walking stick and put your knee braces on .!

Set amongst mature trees in the center of Nelson. This is a little gem if you like a walk and great view. The easiest and warmest track is from the western (city) side with a gradual zig zag to the top. Unfortunately google directs many to the eastern side which is steep, damp and cool. Dogs are allowed on the tracks and adjacent parks which is an added bonus.

A very significant place in Nelson and a good place to walk around and see the sunset. It's very easy to walk around and enjoy nature seeing a landmark. Ideally combined with the Japanese garden visit it is a good walk. On the way you could see some farms and a very good view of Nelson bay.

Access from Hardy St Botanical reserve where parking is available. Bit of a climb but very well laid out path to reach the top of the hill where Centre of New Zealand mark is. About 30-40 slow to moderate time in minutes walking slightly steep at places flat climb without steps. Panoramic views of Nelson 360 degrees. Very rewarding views. There are more walking trails at the domain too.

Climb to monument is good exercise with a rewarding bird's view of the surrounding area. I started from Branford Park so my walk was about 20 minutes. Good path with some rocky places as well as brief steep sections.

I had an absolute blast at the market this Saturday just passed. I bought a lot and would have bought more if I wasn’t flying home. Amazing apple selection at really cheap prices. Great artisan cheeses. Yummy breakfast options at reasonable prices. I even went home with some handcrafted items

Great options for food produce and handmade gifts/foods. Really good vibes. My husband got the hangi for $20 and I got the whitebait fritter for $16. Then we got some pastries for $6.50 each. A few other stalls had pastries for a bit more money. Not enough seating for eating.

The Sarurday Nelson Market is a must go to if you are in the area. A great place to meet local entrepreneurs with their amazing hand made drawings, carvings cups, swords, spices and all sorts of things. This is a great place to have a coffee, authentic street food, buy gifts, duck eggs, greeneries and so many so many things. Do not miss on the Nelson market thinking that its like all other weekend markets around NZ; it is absolutely not.

Great market…. Lots of shops, variety, food options. Very clean and tidy with parking around and toilets too! Must visit while in Nelson. Highlights were the Mixed Roots spices and What’Gchocchi

Nice market to eat and browse in Nelson, plenty of food and snack options to eat on the spot. Tried the Bacon station burger which was great with the soft brioche bun.

My flat white from the coffee stand was delicious! The rest of the market compromised of small collectables/garage sale type set ups on a very cold Sunday morning in July.

I was impressed with this market, even in the winter it has quite a few vendors out! (About 3-4 rows) Some food trucks, produce, soaps, pottery, jewellery, art, There’s a vendor who sells pebble jewellery ( Earth and Sea Jewellery) which was so unique and beautiful! Locally sourced pebbles as well! Also

Nelson Cathedral Church is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places to visit in Nelson. Located at the top of the hill in the city centre, it offers a lovely view and a calm atmosphere. The architecture is stunning, with its classic stone design and tall spire, making it a true landmark of the city. Inside, the church feels very serene, filled with natural light and a sense of history. The garden area and surroundings are well maintained and perfect for a quiet walk or to sit and reflect. Whether you are religious or just appreciate beautiful buildings, the Nelson Cathedral Church is definitely worth a visit.

Stunning cathedral with beautiful gardens and surrounds. Great video history on screen in the cathedral. Loved the organ pipes, be awesome to hear them!!! Lovely stained glass windows 🪟

Lovely cathedral and place. Please bear in mind it was near destroyed in infamous 2012 earthquake and is slowly being rebuilt

We dropped by on the way to Christchurch. One of the female staff kindly explained how the cathedral was built using concrete partially and changing the height of side walls based on experiences of earthquake. Great! (Apr. 2025)

Signature sightseeing building in Nelson, a must-visit place. I enjoyed reading the short introductions inside the church. Although the weather wasn't good for photos during our visit, we still spent time here.

A lovely place to visit. Very Welcoming! The organist was stunning accompanied by a talented Choir! There was an amazing morning tea served with Great tea and percolated coffee.

Not to be confused with Christchurch cathedral in Christchurch, The Christ church cathedral in Nelson holds its own history. Nelson being a city is because of a single chair. The principa chair means that it has a seat for the bishop. Which meant that this building can be a cathedral, which means that a town can be a city! Fun fact a? The architecture and stained glass windows are breathtaking, and the peaceful gardens outside make for a lovely place to relax.

Set in an area that was once a farm, Broadgreen House is a must visit for those interested in history and to see how families lived in days gone by. With lots of interesting things to look at from some of the flooring made from ship ballast to stunning pieces of furniture, Broadgreen House has something for everyone. June the host was excellent in her story telling of how the families lived.

Historic homestead located in Nayland Road, Stoke. Soourrounded by Samuel's Rose Garden that is well worth a visit especially in spring. Suitable place for family friendly picnics and you can smell the roses. Broadsheet historic house is accessible during opening hours for a suggested gold coin donation.

Lovely lady serve me Just 30 minutes before closing so nice of her Lovely visit and very informative and educational Loved it

A lovely historic property with a fantastic rose garden! Bring a picnic or just read a book in the shade. It’s a great spot to relax.

House wasn't open but the gardens are a lovely oasis in the city. Hundreds of named variety roses and huge heritage trees.

Bev the tour guide was lovely and it was really interesting to see the house and to hear all about the history of it. Apparently you are allowed to even have picnics in their lovely rose garden. Definitely worth a visit.

Beautiful old home. History very interesting. Worth a visit

Wonderful. Lots of beautiful and delicious produce. Mostly organic or sprayfree. Artistically or simply displayed. Lots of lovely friendly stall holders. Tasty and wholesome tucker. I 💚 My Farmers Market. Have that sign in back window of my car.

Great market lots of options and mostly organic

Many delicious things scattered about. We loved the sourdough breads and the cherries we found. The selection was limited particularly given how many farms are in the area selling things on the side of the roads. Was hoping for a bit more selection but may have been specific to the day we went.

Friendly people! Wide range of items on sale. Look out for the sand and seeds art works. Amazing colours and designs using local sand from beaches and rivers. You simply must try the Dutch Apples .... one sample and you will be back for more (we even went back the next day during the Collectables Market for more Dutch Apples!)

Went to have some scissors sharpened which were done while we went for a coffee. Would recommend Andrew to do this job. Excellent service. Bought sone deliciously sweet fresh blackberries.

Best market for food and local crafts

Very nice market! You can find so many different things, food and from so many different countries and varieties. Good vegan friendly food too! - need few rubbish bins though... Hopefully with recycling.

Went to the queen tribute show last Sunday night. What a great performance in such a lovely old well loved theatre. Staff were very welcoming and friendly. This theatre is a great asset to Nelson. Well done on it’s upkeep💯

First time in this theatre and I thought it was wonderful. It's a lovely building just walking up to it. Of course listening to the "Tami Neilson" live in concert with her talented band, the whole night was fantastic. Tami is the best and even more impressive in person especially her voice. I love her ❤️

I was on a trip around Nelson and saw the advertisement for Grease representation !! I'm a fan of Grease so I booked a ticket, and it was great ! It was a representation from a young group and well done !! 👏 The theatre is really clean, and beautiful. The welcoming is really nice ! Thanks for this amazing moment 🙏🏼

This is the gem of Nelson. Full of history, very well managed, great shows and so brilliant to be able to read how from the 1800s Nelson folk have loved live theater. Break a leg!!!

Fabulous venue in keeping with it's era. Went to a great show- Elton vs Billy Duelling Pianos - Cam and Sam from Wellington. Great night out!

Beautiful theatre and wonderful performance last night from Gillian Francis and her super young dancers.

Amazing night, yummy ginger beer at the bar, entertainment was 10/10

In Isle park where magnolias bloom, A soft, sweet scent dispels all gloom. The trees stand tall, in robes of white and pink, A fragrant love upon the breeze, I think. I gather petals, fallen from the bough, Each one a promise, a whispered vow. Of palest pink, they form a perfect heart, A symbol of a love, a work of art. The sunbeams filter through the leaves so green, Illuminating this serene, sweet scene. A heart of petals, fragile, pure, and new, A tender tribute, a love song for the world.

Great place to walk the dog out just relax. Beautiful flowers and gardens. Quiet spot. Be aware that the river is just next to the park if you have young kids with you.

Great place to walk through and look at the flowers etc, we frequenting here for the Thursday night markets. Facilities are always clean and grounds are well maintained

Isel park has a good freedom camping spot only 3 and pretty close together. The walks around the paths are beautiful with lots of flowers and trees. In Thursday evening there's a good market

Lovely wooded gardens to stroll around and learn the history of the family who used to live there. The house is well worth taking the time to visit (just a donation required to help with the upkeep of the building). Nice little garden tearoom too! And regular picnic evenings on the front lawns of the house, with stalls selling every kind of food, and a real party atmosphere for families to enjoy. A really special place.

Isel park is a beautiful place for a picnic. There is a cofee shop inside till 2.30. There is a stream, heritage tree, heritage building etc.. those who love nature, it's the best place. Good ground for play frisbee. You will get everything by walking 10mnts. Car parking is there. It's a place for nature lovers.

A very good place to visit and go for a walk with the family... The Isel House was closed unfortunately but we managed to wander around the park and enjoyed the mature trees and lush greenery of the park. You can also take your dog for a good stroll. No entrance fee. Ample parking too.

Tu meke! Wonderful, helpful staff. I booked my tickets a day early and they helped me sort it out. They even answer their phone! Miraculous in an age where almost no one is contactable via phone. My tama brought his scooter and they were kind enough to offer to store it while we watched a movie. Clean and tidy venue with kind and friendly people front of house. Highly recommend.

The building has seen better days but the cinemas were small and comfortable. Pizza and tap beer upstairs will bring me back. We took pints of craft beer in to the film. Outstanding.

Really enjoyed the movie with my wife on a rainy Saturday night. There was plenty of space and it was comfortable and the screen and sound were good. I don't much like the busy carpet. The employees were kind and helpful

I enjoyed the movie although it was incredibly loud. Others were commenting it was so loud, so the movie was louder than usual and the loudest I've ever experienced. This didn't affect my personal viewing experience however. I enjoyed the whole experience. I feel for the staff having to clean up the mess the audience had made. It was as though as if the audience had the opinion that the staff were there to clean up after them, pop corn and empty packets everywhere, this was quite shocking or is this normal?

I love this cinema. It’s one of the best in NZ along with Matakana and The Rialto in Newmarket. Good Arthouse and foreign language movies, along with more mainstream stuff. Nice staff, great ice cream, and you can buy a beer or wine and take it in with you.

I went here to watch movies in different genres. I've once watched a sad Irish documentary about nuns abusing children even one out of them who is pregnant. it really brung me to tears , as it really made me feel like home , meaning that how I am so touched about my Irish ancestral heritage.

Great cinema, 9 screens so plenty of selection, for me being over from the UK it was nice to get back to a smaller more personal screening, I went to see Dune part two and there were 30 seats total. Very reasonably priced in my opinion at $18 for an adult ticket, comfortable seating, good sound Very glad I went for a viewing while in town

It's a family hang out venua since it has lots of types of playgrounds in this area that suit 1yrs and above .it has skate board,basketball and so on. Since it is located next to a beach so it comes with a changing area as well as the toilets. Plus nearby has KFC and a big football field. It's a very big beach if you don't like sand u can hang out at the beginning of the beach where they have an area where you can walk down straight to the sea and swim rather than sandy area .

Great place for family, great views Plenty of free parking. Numerous public toilets which is a nice change for a park A lot of rubbish bins. Cafe. Kids playground. Only a few minutes out from airport.

Great for big and little children. Lots of different equipment to play on.love the musical instruments too. Toilets are extremely clean n tidy. Beach is safe & flat- great spot for all the whanau. Great any time of the year. Love it when Mr Whippy visits!

Great place to take the grandkids. A lot of fun for all. Handy having the toilet close also. Just a short walk to the coffee shop for a refresher.

Probably one of my favorite spots in Nelson. Beach is accessible, food options near the area, lots of free parking, free toilet, huge playground, skating rink, parks, picnic tables, etc. Good for a stroll, biking or chilling.

Hired 2 bumper boats 1 ran out of petrol at 7 minutes and was filled up and away but by the time it got to the other boat that one ran out of petrol, this is now at 9 minutes and now was told that the time was up. We complained to management and after 5minutes we received $20 back Good on them for the partial refund.

Beautiful beach with lots of space. Good access, good parking, good amenities, amazing parks or playground for children.

I had a really good experience at this leisure centre. The staff were very friendly and welcoming, making the visit feel easy and enjoyable from the start. The facilities were spotless — everything from the changing rooms to the pool area was clean and well maintained. The pool itself was excellent — spacious, well-kept, and perfect for both casual swimmers and those wanting to get a few laps in. The sauna was also a nice bonus — it’s large enough to accommodate several people comfortably, which made it feel very relaxed rather than cramped. The only slight downside was that it wasn’t quite as hot as I would have liked, but still a great place to unwind after a swim. Overall, a fantastic spot for a swim and a bit of relaxation. Would definitely recommend and will be back!

Richmond Aquatic Centre is a fantastic facility with excellent swimming classes. Both of my kids attend lessons here, and the instructors are amazing—patient, supportive, and highly skilled. The centre is well-maintained, offering a variety of pools, including a wave pool and hydrotherapy pool. The staff are friendly, and the overall atmosphere is welcoming. It’s a great place for both kids and adults to improve their swimming skills and enjoy the water. Highly recommended!

Loved the Aqua classes i attended here! The sauna, amazing!! being quite a clean person hygenically, the changing rooms were clean and tidy. Overall being my first time it's definitely worth my rating.

Sadly it's the younger workers here that really let this place down. Most of the lessons that take place here are for children and none of these woman know how to speak to children (not the instructors - they are fantastic, nor the boss as she is lovely). These girls sit on the sides of the pool yelling nasty demands to children instead of speaking to them like they're actual human beings. I have watched this time and time again, all they do is make the kids feel uncomfortable. I am very far from being the only parent here who has expressed this concern. Definitely prompting getting lessons anywhere else. And before the comment comes that this is ok, quite often it's at kids who are standing and talking awaiting their lesson turn, the ladies yell at them to go sit on the side of the pool and await the instructor! So they do this, and then are told to get out of the pool (their legs) as the instructor hasn't told them to get in yet. None of this is said with any patience or kindness at all, clearly no maternal instinct here. The instructor told the kids to get in so they did, and then this lady clearly didn't hear so she barks at them to get out again until the instructor tells them to get in. Unfortunately the instructor lacked the strength to let her know she had told the kids it was ok. When dealing with kids, kindness, compassion, respect and a little laughter should be mandatory. I'm honestly really disappointed. I also did phone with concerns regarding the lessons, I expressed clearly how amazing i felt the instructor is - but hearing this relayed to the instructor that I (not so covertly pointed at me) had called and complained. I did not complain, not at all. I was seeking clarity which I feel I made clear. Guess even at poolside - gossip changes the truth.

Very poor service in the gym when you want to speak to someone or get assistance. The man will sit in his office ignoring you at the desk for ages as if your time isn't as important as his. The state of the bathroom and toilets is disgusting with poor cleanliness and broken toilets etc. Rude and unprofessional when dealing with issues. I phoned regarding an issue with my account and asked for a return call, instead of a call after 5 days I got an email response with absolutely zero regard to my concerns of how they manage account freezes and their communication, or complete lack of. Meanwhile while querying my account they proceeded to deduct more money from me.

Great value for 2 hours of swimming, spa time and in sauna

Highly recommend for an afternoon of activity and fun with grandchildren. The life guards were helpful, vigilant and friendly.

Been here twice and never again, unless it's free entry. Got to freestyle kings with advertised time of 4pm to 7pm, arrived at 5pm and told it was half time - had to pay full price which sucks. Got to the bar after a huge line and it was closed - this happened at both events I've been to, first time was the mako game. Very poor management IMO, events are so much better in wellington.

This park is the home ground of the Tasman Mako and visiting is easy. There's plenty of nearby parking and plenty of toilets. Most seats are in the East stand and they are uncovered. Easy ground to get in and out of quickly.

Seats on western stand oxidised lefting white deposits on seat and back of clothing areas of moss in between rows of seats on walkway. Overall maintence not carried out

Went to the Tasman Makos final game. They only had 1 bug screen and from the east stand it was not very visible, plus there was only 1 area selling food. There is an embankment area that could easily house another big screen and more food outlets. Apart from that the atmosphere was great, and it was a good win for the local team.

We went to the matiriki show great grounds. Unfortunately we had our chairs stolen. It would have been great if there were more lights around.

Big. Sporty. Perfect for the appropriate activities like cheer and other sports. All seats = good views! Go electrix cheerleading nelson!

Went for Bay Dreams 2020, it was a well organized and fun event.

Absolutely beautiful peaceful location and still only 10min from central Nelson. Relatively old but clean and tidy facilities and new management obviously putting the effort in. WIFI excellent. Showers great. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

The location is great as it comes with a 2 dollar hot shower where u don't need to worry about water or not.the host is so friendly and a dog lover as well .the river no comment as it grows toxic algae however it's a good place to hike,walk and cycling track.their facilities is well maintained with a fridge n bbq machine, as well and cooking hot water as well provided. You can wash your clothes by hand and hang them there as well.

I stayed 2 nights in my popup with my dog Ginny. Even had my birthday there. Met some lovely lady's too, that left me a lovely card on car for me. Welcomed on arrival and shown where I could set up. Lovely walks Facilities were close by. Basic , but you are out in the bush. Beautiful. Would stay again

Pleasant place tucked away from the busy town but still close enough for bike ride. Haven for MTBrs as the tracks are right there. Facilities are older but functional and kept tidy. One block of bathroom was getting upgrade so that must be even nicer now. Camp keepers are relatively new there, are very friendly and are sprucing the place up... Highly recommend

Best campsite we stayed at in New Zealand! Beautiful surroundings, so quiet and peaceful & it’s next to the river where you can swim. There is also a kitchen, cold showers for free and hot showers for $2. Highly recommend this place if you are passing by Nelson. And Chris the manager is so friendly!

I visited this lovely camp ground last year and it was amazing sad to say it is now run into the ground I've heard new owners took over from the council. If you are looking to shower or even go toilet I wouldn't want to here as they are disgusting absolutely disgraceful I can't believe such a calm and beautiful place have been neglected like this I met the person living in the house and they where not helpful at all very disrespectful this isn't on at all.

Wish I could do -5 stars as this caravan park was so lovely last year the staff where amazing the camp was well maintained i stayed during the race because I've always loved coming back to this camp well no more the service was horrible nothing was clean it is now cashless??? Also good luck getting into the office because they wont be in the office.Sad to see such a beautiful place get run into the ground so disappointing

Kite fair I on. Good to takes kids down and see. Has kite stall and food n ice cream vendors. Awesome kites. Good show

Great big open area. So nice to have gone to the KITE SHOW.

This is an excellent park that is always teaming with activity. Rugby, football, golf, skating and basketball with two toilet facilities. Multiple entry points with a well used cycle path running around the outside of the park. I've never had trouble finding a park.

Great park. Check out the annual kite festival when it is on. Truly AMAZING!

Great public park. Enjoyed kites over weekend in Nelson!

Nelson Kite Day great community atmosphere. Awesome kites and friendly doggies with their humans!

It was a great evening at Neale Park here in Nelson

Helpful, and good poetry section. Very fashionable librarians as well! Free parking at Library. Cool, spacious and quiet inside. An intellects oasis from the constructed and chaotic city

In Nelson town, where sunbeams fall, On pages old, and thoughts of all, The Elma Turner Library gleams, A house of stories, woven dreams. Here, seventy-five bright stars ascend, Where woven light and color blend. A silent tribute, clear and proud, Beyond the cheering, distant crowd. Each thread a path, each shape a prayer, For athletes high in thinning air. For every struggle, every gain, For joy that follows through the pain. Gratitude to Tessa and Tashi’s kindness, And all the people who helped them stand, These woven stars, a graceful art, That connects each mind and heart. A network formed of hope and thread, Where spirit’s message can be read. A star-filled constellation spun, Until the medal’s race is won.

Nice place to visit, plenty of books I want to read, helpful staff. I like the on line Libby and Borrowbox audiobook apps.

It's a great service. Easily accessible. Great range. Good people. And a good sell off/clearance area. Great facilities and options.

Great library with extremely helpful staff. Run a very good JP service on Saturday mornings.

Exceptional staff. No query is a problem. Needed help downloading a pdf and printing it. Bingo happened with no stress. Thanks Devon

Absolutely fantastic place to sit down and read. Good WiFi and helpful staff. Great room for children to study and interact online.

Nearly a century old. Still in good working order. Well maintained, like someone really cares for it. Not built like the modern ones, but clean and tidy. Tumbling at the shallow end is tricky.

Brilliant place for healthy holiday fun for the kids. Wonderful activities and great staff

I joined the Riverside pool and gym this winter love my days always welcomed by friendly and helpful team. Had a blast completing my first ever swum challenge. Clean facilities, gym great always someone around to answer a question or help with exercise. Thanks team riverside

Having arthritis, many exercises hurt my knees. Started water aerobics which is perfect. Worth checking out, friendly, clean,handy location. Water temp warm, attractive, and staff very friendly and helpful.

It's a nice pool. Great staff 👍

I’m from the States and was looking for a local pool to swim at during my time in Nelson. I felt so welcomed, staff were friendly and explained where everything was when I arrived. Pool was clean, good temp for laps, long! and not too busy on a weekday morning. I’d come here over and over if I could :)

I got the week pass while in town for work. This is a nice facility. The gym though small is really well equipped. Free weights, cables, machines. Cardio machines in a different area. It's nice that the gym is co-located with the pool. Weight work out, rinse off, swim some lengths and finish with the spa pool👍. All the staff were really friendly and helpful

Just an observation: Good area to kick a ball around and kids to play on playground or do some scootering but the play area needs more shade so kids and adults are more protected from sun whilst playing. Do you agree? Give me a 👍🏻 up if you do 😊.

Listening to kids laughter and native bird calls simultaneously is the most beautiful thing to behold. Honestly this park is a un-hidden gem. If your in Nelson and have a spare minute drop in and you won't be disappointed.

Great time sharing a sustainable meal of locally grown veges, kaimoana, and music Also had the opportunity to have a mirimiri massage. With and for the community. Tino reka 😁😁😁

Great wee local park with a good playground.....till you (or your small person) want to use either the water fountain or loo as both seem to be eternally out of order. :(

Nice wee park has some quite cool kids play ground

Great park for kids pity about the people dumping rubbish there.I know who u are and have told council. Stop doing it!!!!

Great park for smaller kids with decent, accessible toilets

Thanks Nelson Cycle Hire. We had the very best time. NCH dropped our bikes off at Kaiteriteri for a stunning 2 day cycle over Riwaka and Mot, Lower Moutere, through to Mapua, across to Rabbit Island and back to Nelson airport over 2 days at the end of our trip. The bikes were great and the double panniers a saviour. Highly recommend.

Had a great experience hiring a bike for a day trip from Tracey and the team. They were prompt, easy to deal with, the bike was in great nick - and were even able to run one of their tours solo for me during winter.

Amazing 3 days on the Great Taste Trail and beyond on the Scott Silence Eride bikes. These dual battery long range ebikes are incredible and will get you up any incline with full panniers without raising a sweat. If your worried about making the distance - rent these. If you are fit and want to do plenty of side trips, rent these. Great bikes and great service. Highly recommend

Nelson Cycle Hire is a fantastic company. Conveniently located at the airport, it’s a perfect place from which to unwind and stretch the legs after a trip (during the Spooner’s tunnel tour, for example). Claire provided absolutely incredible service — she is super friendly and helpful, with loads of tips and local knowledge, and I couldn’t recommend Nelson Cycle Hire more.

We had a fabulous day riding from Nelson airport out to Māpua and back. Fantastic, friendly service, great advice and excellent ebikes. An all round great experience, made super easy by Nelson Cycle Hire, thank you. Highly recommended

We had a great experience renting bikes here, withfriendly staff. Location is great for the coastal trail as you are already outside of Nelson. They offer free parking at the airport. They also had lots of different sizes of bikes and the regular ones we got were comfortable and well maintained.

Great service and top quality bikes. No trouble to arrange bike pick up at Mapua. Easy gentle ride through coastal wetlands to Mapua Wharf. Another highlight of our time in NZ.

It was busy and jam packed with equipment which make moving around and finding space challenging but the staff are great, everyone is friendly and the equipment is well maintained.

We love this Jym great smiles and service

100% best gym I've been to. Even better now, open 24/7. Good price, great facilities and amazing staff. I love that I can go to a class or do my own workout. Plus full access to the pool and sauna. How good!

Good selection of gear. Good that you can use the bike room outside of classes with virtual programme. Gym and bike room are cramped though.

As I see it's the best gym and pool for me in NZ. Warm changing rooms. Clean and comfortable Available all equipment what I need 24 h

Fantastic outdoor pool with awesome diving boards and friendly staff who make a real effort to connect with local children.

Great gym; friendly, encouraging and supportive staff; a variety of classes; would recommend 🙌🏽

Wonderful park to hang out and have a picnic or walk your dog, and lots of cycle paths

Excellent walkway/cycleway linking Nelson with Richmond. Quite crowded at busy school traffic times. Quite a few things to be aware of though, - people walking multiple dogs, walkers and joggers with headphones on unaware of other path users, ebikes travelling too fast, and many people who cannot understand the concept of 'keep left'

Great I walk it every day to take our boy to enner Glyn school he likes to ride his bike, scooter, or walk it is safe, off the road and plenty of room

Nice bike ride. Lots of fruit trees for the public to take fruit. Just don't take them all

Well worth the stroll or bike. So many fruiting trees at the moment mixed with the beautiful Autumn colours.

Beautiful shared walking/biking area

Amazing walking track and free.

I believe that you can still get the key to access the lighthouse from Port Nelson if you want to climb to the top

long walk , shorter paddle lol

I mean it's the Sewage Outfall for Nelson so ........you decide.

A fantastic opportunity to appreciate the historic lighthouse on the unique boulder bank in Nelson during the Nelson West Rotary annual boulder bank walk

Amazing beautiful place I love to take the family there again

Wow! A truly amazing experience 😊

Marcus is bad

You will have some great views on a sunny day! Be aware that you have to walk through a field of sheeps

Good challenging walk to the centre of new zealand monument.

Great collection of trees from around the world, disappointing to see some very poor recent pruning (flush cuts) on some of the older trees. Poor soil management around large trees with serious soil compaction. As an arborist and plant lover I was quite disheartened with the state of the gardens and older trees. I won’t be back. I thought the dye in the ponds looked very unnatural. Lots of unrealised potential. I imagine this was a lovely garden in it’s time but seems to have fallen somewhat into disrepair & suffering from poor management.

This is a nice garden to visit if you’re in the far north. The idea of plants from around the world grouped similarly is a fun concept. The pond has families of ducks and the New Zealand native plant garden was my favourite!

Lovely spot. We went here for the Easter egg hunt. Really worth it. The kids had a great time. The whole place is more or less wheelchair friendly. There are a few parts that are just grass and in winter could be tricky. Will come back again just to hang out in this awesome spot.

It was a nice enough place for a wander but as it's late Autumn it was a bit lacking in colour. Maybe I will do a return trip in another season.

Went to the gardens to have a look around as a potential wedding venue. It was clear that it is lacking in maintenance and general tidiness. We paid $10.00 to view the gardens and it was disgusting and a complete rip off. It had no likeness to the photos whatsoever in terms of upkeep, quite disappointing. Not sure if it is due to being winter time but still, no excuse as the public are paying money to visit and expect a beautiful garden, not that mess.

A wonderful space to celebrate the life of an amazing woman. Lovely gardens, birds and butterflies. Friendly, helpful staff, everything went well. The gazebo worked out well as weather was occasional showers so the cover worked well for the service and catered cuppa afterwards.

Very peaceful and relaxing! Nice and quiet with beautiful grades to look at. Worth taking a picnic lunch and spending some time in the gardens!