The Nelson Tasman region itself is highly connected with over 650 flights in and out of the brand new and busy as ever Nelson Airport. The Abel Tasman National Park is the most recognised attraction of the region but once you’re here, there are plenty of other places to explore. Here are a few more free things to do in Nelson Tasman!
1. Fish from the Motueka Wharf
Located just around from Talley’s at Port Motueka this publicly accessible wharf is a popular spot for people to fish from. Small fish such as sprats and yellow-eye mullet are reasonably easy to catch, so this makes it a great place to introduce small children to fishing. But it’s also a good spot for larger fish such as snapper and even the odd kingfish.
2. Swim in Cleopatra’s Pool
Located halfway between Anchorage and Torrent Bay in the Abel Tasman and a short way up the Torrent River, is a beautiful little swimming hole, Cleopatra’s Pool. Here, you will find a completely natural rock water slide and a whole lot of free fun.
3. Collect shellfish on the Mārahau foreshore
At low tide, walk out to the water’s edge and wiggle your toes in the sand. When you feel something hard just under the sand, it’ll either be an inedible sand dollar, a delicious tuatua (long shell) or a cockle (triangle shell). Just make sure you soak the tuatua in salt water for at least 24 hours to purge the sand out. Steam the cockles (called clams in some parts of the world) or tuatua and eat them from the shell. Yum!
4. Slide down the sand dunes at Wharariki
Wharariki beach is a short walk across farmland from the DOC car park. Take some sheets of cardboard and slide down the steep dunes for hours of fun!
5. Ride the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park
Provided you have access to a mountain bike, the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park is a seemingly endless collection of trails for riders of all levels. Stick to the Easy Rider Track if you’re a novice or ride down an expert track like Kamikaze.
6. Jump off the rocks at Paine’s Ford or Top Rock
Paine’s Ford is a popular swimming spot located a short distance out of Tākaka in Golden Bay. In summer, combine some bouldering and tight-rope walking with swimming, and for the brave, jump into the deep pools. If you find Paine’s Ford crowded, on the other side of the bridge is Top Rock, with an even higher jump to the deep pool below.
7. Skim stones at Salisbury Falls
If there was a world championship for skimming stones it would undoubtedly be held at Salisbury Falls, located around Bainham in Golden Bay. The river bank is thick with perfectly formed, flat and thin stones perfect for skimming. The challenge is to skim a rock all the way across the pool to the opposite bank.
8. Have a BBQ on Rabbit Island
This is a popular activity for family groups in the summer. Bring your own food and have a BBQ on the beach. Too easy!
9. Have a snowball fight on Mount Arthur
Drive up the Graham Valley South Branch Road to the Flora Carpark as soon as possible after a dump of fresh snow. You won’t need to walk far along the Lodestone Track before you find a perfect spot for a snowball fight
10. Visit Cable Bay
The views from the Cable Bay Lookout are stunning. Yes, you have to climb up a steep hill through farmland, but the view is worth the effort. For a start, you look back down to the rocky beach of Cable Bay, but if you keep walking right to the top you’ll get an amazing view all the way across Tasman Bay.
