Nelson Attractions
The Nelson i-Site Visitor Centre on Trafalgar Street is a short 2 minute walk from Cedar Grove Motor Lodge. Shuttles to and from other parts of the Nelson /Tasman or Marlborough Regions stop here. Nelson’s Bus Terminal in Bridge Street is a short 3 minute walking distance from the Visitor Centre.
Nelson City shopping centre is only 2 minutes walk. Here you will be able to find a large variety of stores including chain store, arts and crafts shops and supermarkets.
Enjoy the sights of the beautiful Maitai River, less than a 2 minute walk from Cedar Grove Motor Lodge, on your way to the Visitor Information Centre.
Nelson’s iconic Trafalgar Park, where the 2011 Rugby World Cup matches were played, is a short 2 minute walk from Cedar Grove Motor Lodge.
Nelson’s Trafalgar Centre is a short 5 minute walk from Cedar Grove Motor Lodge.
If you’re looking for something to do on one of Nelson’s few rainy days, the Movie Theatre is just 3 minutes walk away.
The Saturday Markets are held in Nelson from 8am to 1pm in the Montgomery Car Park in Nelson City Centre, a short 7 minute from Cedar Grove Motor Lodge.
Visit Riverside Pool & Gym for a casual swim, some exercise or a fitness class. Riverside Pool & Gym is an easy 8 minute walk from Cedar Grove Motor Lodge.
The Nelson Provincial Museum is an easy 8 minute walk from Cedar Grove Motor Lodge along Trafalgar Street. For more information about current exhibitions please click here.
The well-known Suter Art Gallery, located next to the Nelson Courthouse, has a range modern and classic artwork, dating from the 17th century. The Gallery is a 10 minute walk from Cedar Grove Motor Lodge.
The beautiful Queen’s Gardens is located next to the Suter Art Gallery on Bridge Street.
For beautiful views of the Nelson area, the Centre of New Zealand walk is a 15 minute walk from Cedar Grove Motor Lodge. The walk to the top of the hill is another 15-20 minutes.
Nelson events
Nelson activities and attractions within short driving distance of Cedar Grove Motor Lodge
Founder’s Historic Village & Heritage Park is a short drive, or a 20 minute walk from Cedar Grove Motor Lodge.
The beautiful Maitai Valley is a short drive, or a 30 minute walk from Cedar Grove Motor Lodge.
Popular Tahunanui Beach is a short 5 minute drive from Cedar Grove Motor Lodge. Or hire a bike and ride to the beach – the trip along Rocks Road will give you a beautiful view of the bay, Haulashore Island and Fireshire Rock.
Another popular beach and picnic area in Nelson is Rabbit Island, about 30 minutes drive from Cedar Grove Motor Lodge.
The World of Wearable Art & Collectable Cars (WOW) museum is close to the Nelson Airport, a short 10-minute drive from Cedar Grove Motor Lodge.
Höglund Art Glass Studio & Gallery is a 25 minute drive from Cedar Grove Motor Lodge. Visit the glass gallery or attend a glassmaking workshop.
For outdoor adventures, 4-wheel driving, horse trekking and the skywire, Happy Valley Adventures is a 20 minute drive from Cedar Grove Motor Lodge.
If you would like to see more of Nelson’s arts and crafts, please ask your hosts about Nelson’s Pottery Trail.
Other attractions in Nelson include the Wine Trail and the Golf Club.
Nelson is a great place to Cycle and the Great Taste Trail is a great way to start.
Explore further afield
Day trips to the following locations can be organized from Cedar Grove Motor Lodge
Motueka - The town of Motueka in the South Island of New Zealand lies close to the mouth of the Motueka River, on the western shore of Tasman Bay. It is, after Nelson and Richmond, the third largest centre in the region, with a permanent population of around 6000.
The surrounding district has a number of orchards, as well as growing a variety of specialised crops such as hops, and formerly serving as the main centre of tobacco growing in New Zealand. A number of small vineyards have developed in recent years, one (Neudorf) gaining an international reputation.
Nearby beaches (such as Kaiteriteri Beach and Marahau) are very popular with holidaymakers, and the area around Motueka has one of the country's highest annual sunshine-hour indices.
Motueka, as one of the nearest towns to the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks, has become the base of many tourism ventures in those parks, as well as in Nelson Lakes National Park, and in other recreational areas.
Extensive limestone cave systems (including Harwood Hole in the Takaka Hill area north of Motueka) attract cavers and rock climbers. Sea kayaking and tramping now attract many thousands of visitors each year.
Kaiteriteri Beach – gateway to the Abel Tasman National Park. Perfect sunshine, clear blue-green waters and genuine golden sand, make Kaiteriteri a dream destination for holidaymakers.
This seaside resort is well placed, being just 13 km from the busy township of Motueka, and 5 km from Marahau - the main gateway to Abel Tasman National Park.
Kaiteriteri is one of the best beaches in the South Island, due in no small part to the wonderful colour of its sands. These come from the weathering of ancient granite rocks, releasing crystals of quartz and mica, which are washed down to the sea, and finely ground into glittering gold particles of sand.
Abel Tasman National Park - At only 23,000 hectares this is New Zealand's smallest national park, but one of its most famous. Along with the coastal bays, lagoons and sparkling golden beaches of the famous 'Great Walk', the Abel Tasman also contains beautiful Beech forests, bizarre marble 'karst' landscapes and a spectacular system of caves in its lesser known interior.
Golden Bay - is highly regarded as a tourist destination because of the wide variety of attractions it holds. Golden Bay's natural features include two of New Zealand's most popular national parks, Waikoropupu Springs, Farewell Spit, extensive underground cave systems and easily-accessible mountains.
Beaches in the region can be wild and windy on the remote west coast, while on the sheltered eastern side th golden sands and shallow bays are safe for swimming. Among the other outdoor activities that can be enjoyed are tramping, kayaking, sailing, fishing, horse riding, golf, rock climbing, cycling and mountain biking.
Nelson Lakes National Park - Nelson Lakes National Park is centred on two beautiful alpine lakes: Rotoiti and Rotoroa. Craggy mountains, tranquil lakes, beech forest, clear streams and pebble ‘beaches’ are synonymous with Nelson Lakes.
With the Nelson Lakes National Park, there are both short tracks which highlight the forest, lakeshore and glacial features and longer more challenging walks. In summer tracks are suitable for an average fitness level; in winter more experience is required. The walk around the Nelson Lakes is spectacular and the terrain is suitable for most ages.
There is something for everyone at Nelson Lakes - boating, fishing, walking, mountaineering, bird watching, swimming in the lake in summer, waterskiing on Rotoiti only.
Terry's Tours and Transfers offer great low rates for Nelson City and Wine Trail tours and outer areas of Tasman. Phone 022 631 1646 to book or email terrystransfers@gmail.com.
