NELSON - NEW ZEALAND
Here there is room to breathe and think,
Here there is space for souls to grow
And life may run as pleasantly
As Maitai’s water flow.
-David McKee WrightIf it’s sunshine, deep blue seas and golden sand beaches you’re looking for, the sort surrounded by fertile soils, lush native forests and inhabited by generations of green-fingered orchardists, market gardeners, vintners, craftsman and artists, welcome to paradise.
Nestled into the Tasman Bay, on the top of New Zealand’s South Island, the city of Nelson offers a lifestyle the envy of many in the entire country.
Isolation has played a major part in its development and despite never having links with the national rail network, it's well served by road and domestic flight services. A naturally occurring 16 km boulder bank shelters one of the busiest fishing and timber exporting ports in the country and this feature was well recognised during the 1840’s colonisation period. Early Maori tribes prized the regions bountiful resources and fought fiercely for them. The English settlers were soon joined by German, Italian and Dutch settlers. With a current city population of 41,000 in a regional one approaching 80,000, its acquisition of city status was by royal charter in 1856 as the seat of an Anglican bishop.
Nelson’s main street is dominated by a flight of steps that lead to the Christ Church Cathedral. Reflecting perhaps the overall financial constraints of the cities ongoing development, the cathedral took 47 years from the laying of the foundation stone to its consecration in 1972, with debates over original designs in the 1950’s to eventual 1960’s design modifications.
It’s thriving art’s and culture scene are supported by the Nelson Bays Arts Marketing Network, the Suter Art Gallery, the Nelson Community Arts Centres’ Artery Performance Cafe, The Ethnic Council and the Nelson Polytechnic with its many courses and multinational students. Local bands are also supported by the Nelson School of Music and several local pubs, such as the Victoria Rose near the foot of the cathedral steps that spills jazz and tables onto the footpath. This central area is littered with bubbling Cafes, and there are several on the side streets too so it’s well worth snooping around a bit.
Like the nearby town of Motueka on Sunday, Nelson has a thriving Market on Saturday, in the Montgomery Square carpark where folk trade art, craft, plants, international food and music, clothing and jewellery. The birth place of much local talent. (See video on right)
The New Zealand Wearable Art Awards have been held annually in September since 1987, and this now international theatrical feast for the senses is threatening to get bigger than its venue so it pays to book early. If you can't make a show, be sure to check out the WOW centre and car museum near the Nelson airport.
Has anyone mentioned festivals? The Nelson Arts Festival coincides with the ‘Wearables’, while music lovers have the biennial Nelson School of Music Winter Music Festival and the Adam New Zealand Festival of Chamber Music, and the annual Jazz Festival.
The Taste Nelson festival at Founders Park highlights the regions gastronomic wonderland, the Festival of Possibilities highlighting wellbeing and wonderment, while the Suter International Film Festival screens 20 wonderful internationally-made films in late May/June every year.
When it just gets all too much, go fly a kite at the Nelson Kite Festival when wind lovers from around the country soak up the afternoon sea breezes, or better still, pack a picnic and some award winning local chardonnay or sauvignon blanc, and stroll the Maitai River for some room to breathe and think.
The Mount Richmond Forest Park lies in steep hills to the east of town and it’s possible to walk the Dun Mountain Walkway into a near wilderness area, just 5 hours from the centre of town up the Brook Valley.
A liberal haven of artists and craftsmen with high sunshine hours, sandy beaches, and access to sea, mountain and forest parks, make Nelson a unique and spectacular New Zealand destination for the enjoyment of all.
3 USEFUL TIPS
The industrial nations of the world have created a hole in the protective ozone layer of the atmosphere over Antarctica, which seasonally moves over our country. Nelson has some of the highest sunshine hours in the country so protect yourself against intense UV rays. Slip, slop, slap. Slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a hat.
Scallops are a local seasonal seafood delicacy dredged from the Tasman Bay, lightly poached in a white wine sauce they are unbeatable. You would think being one of the busiest fishing ports in New Zealand fish would be bountiful, unfortunately the global market place sees most going overseas, but Guytons Fisheries Ltd on Wakefield Quay is an exception. And you can always catch the fish yourself.
If your looking for wholesome organic produce or looking for contact with local WWOOF (willing workers on organic farms), the Organic Green Grocer on the corner of Tasman & Grove streets is as good as its name suggests.
RESOURCES & LINKS
Directory and Portal to Nelson's online community. (Est. 1995.)
World of Wearable Art website.
Nelson Marlborough Department of Conservation .
FreshFM 99.4 Community access radio station.
Full moon over Nelson
Ever wondered how ancient mariners and their navigators could tell which direction was south using celestial navigation? Click here.
Boats as the tide changes at Mapua
'Balancing Act' By Simon Hames at the World of Wearable Art Awards 2001. Modelled by Rick Coleman (who was later awarded a bar of chocolate for 'the most difficult outfit to wear' after steam was seem billowing from the small eye holes)
Abel Tasman National Park