Sights in Nelson Region
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Founders Heritage Park
Founders Heritage Park, near the waterfront 1km from the city centre, houses a replica historic village with a bakery, chocolatier, museums, and more importantly Founders Brewery & Café, NZ’s first certified organic brewery. Take a tour, or sip the finished product over a cafe lunch: Tall Blonde, Red Head, Long Black, Generation Ale and Fair Maiden brews. If you’re only visiting the brewery there’s no admission charge to the park. Also on-site is a weekly farmers market.
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Christ Church Cathedral
The enduring symbol of Nelson is the art-deco Christ Church Cathedral, lording over the city from the top of Trafalgar St. Work began in 1925 but was delayed, and arguments raged in the 1950s over whether the design should adhere to original plans or embrace modern trends. The architectural hybrid was finally completed in 1965 and consecrated in 1972, 47 years after the foundation stone hit the dirt.
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Nelson Provincial Museum
The Nelson Provincial Museum is one of Nelson’s showpieces. The modern space is filled with cultural heritage and natural history exhibits with a regional bias, and there’s a great rooftop garden. Charges may apply for major exhibits.
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Höglund Glass Art
View and/or buy vitreous masterpieces at Höglund Glass Art, some way west of Richmond. The furnace operates between Christmas and Easter: come watch Ola the master and his trainees, who blow most days during this time.
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Miyazu Japanese Garden
Just down the road from Founders Park is serene Miyazu Japanese Garden, full of sculptures, lanterns and ducks on placid ponds. Sit for a while and ponder something profound.
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Suter
Adjacent to Queen’s Gardens, the Suter is Nelson’s bastion of high art, with changing exhibitions, musical and theatrical performances, films, a craft shop and cafe.
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Touch the Sea
With the kids in tow, nip into Touch the Sea, a small aquarium where you’re allowed to touch anything you can reach in the tank.
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Botanical Reserve
Walking tracks in Nelson’s Botanical Reserve ascend Botanical Hill, where a spire proclaims it NZ’s geographical centre. NZ’s first-ever rugby match was played at the foot of the hill on 14 May 1870: Nelson Rugby Club trounced the lily-livered pansies from Nelson College 2-0.
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Jens Hansen
Gold and silversmith workshop producing contemporary jewellery (including the accursed ring for the Lord of the Rings movies).
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Motueka District Museum
This museum has displays recreating the region’s colonial past, plus a cafe.
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Refinery Artspace
Frequently changing local exhibitions, retail art and workshops.
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Onetahuti Beach
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Observation Beach
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Medlands Beach
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Cleopatra's Pool
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South Street Workers' Cottages
Just west of the Christ Church Cathedral, South Street contains a row of improbably quaint workers’ cottages, built between 1863 and 1867: those in the know say it’s the oldest fully intact street in NZ. Some cottages are available as accommodation.
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