Guidebook for Best Island & Surrounds

Peter
Guidebook for Best Island & Surrounds

Food Scene

Great food in a lovely setting not far from us that never fails to please. Open for Breakfast and Lunch.
18 locals recommend
The Grape Escape Cafe & Catering
143 McShane Rd
18 locals recommend
Great food in a lovely setting not far from us that never fails to please. Open for Breakfast and Lunch.
Sit, enjoy good food and watch the yachts at anchor as the tide moves in and out.
48 locals recommend
The Apple Shed Kitchen & Bar
1 Aranui Rd
48 locals recommend
Sit, enjoy good food and watch the yachts at anchor as the tide moves in and out.
A modern cafe offering great local coffee and a range of dishes to suit everyone. Wander the wharf and take in the view or visit the boutique shops.
18 locals recommend
Albertas
18 locals recommend
A modern cafe offering great local coffee and a range of dishes to suit everyone. Wander the wharf and take in the view or visit the boutique shops.
Thai food and good service. Be sure to check they have a table before you head in during the weekend.
11 locals recommend
The Lemongrass
294 Queen St
11 locals recommend
Thai food and good service. Be sure to check they have a table before you head in during the weekend.
Great Chinese Roast Duck to eat in or takeaway along with other good Chinese dishes.
Eastern Cuisine Restaurant & Takeaway
275 Queen St
Great Chinese Roast Duck to eat in or takeaway along with other good Chinese dishes.
Real fruit ice creams made to order throughout the summer. Go on spoil yourself/selves.
Tasman Bay Berries
266 Paton Road
Real fruit ice creams made to order throughout the summer. Go on spoil yourself/selves.
Step into a special world where all things are delicious, the food, the atmosphere, the ethics of your hosts. Some of the food you eat is grown around you and tame eels can be hand fed while you wait for your meal of afterwards. Don't forget to wander about to see the creations hidden in the 'jungle' or along the paths and fence. Yes I love it here. Unfortunately they are closing at the end of April 2020 for daytime service. They will be open on Friday evenings.
48 locals recommend
Jester House Café
320 Aporo Rd
48 locals recommend
Step into a special world where all things are delicious, the food, the atmosphere, the ethics of your hosts. Some of the food you eat is grown around you and tame eels can be hand fed while you wait for your meal of afterwards. Don't forget to wander about to see the creations hidden in the 'jungle' or along the paths and fence. Yes I love it here. Unfortunately they are closing at the end of April 2020 for daytime service. They will be open on Friday evenings.
Another great cafe serving food and drinks you'll definitely enjoy. There is a boutique brewery next door so if it's a cold drink you're after this could just be the place.
66 locals recommend
Toad Hall
502 High St S
66 locals recommend
Another great cafe serving food and drinks you'll definitely enjoy. There is a boutique brewery next door so if it's a cold drink you're after this could just be the place.
This unique cafe offers wonderful food and coffee from a funky set of containers after their original sight suffer a fire which destroyed the premises.
14 locals recommend
Ginger Dynamite Go Go Food & Coffee
Main Road Riwaka
14 locals recommend
This unique cafe offers wonderful food and coffee from a funky set of containers after their original sight suffer a fire which destroyed the premises.
La Capilla Café & Restaurant
107 Appleby Hwy

Parks & Nature

A long sandy ocean beach. This is a lovely place to go for a swim, picnic or BBQ (built- in but check fire risk).
72 locals recommend
Rabbit island
72 locals recommend
A long sandy ocean beach. This is a lovely place to go for a swim, picnic or BBQ (built- in but check fire risk).
This is a bike trail that runs from Nelson to Richmond then splits toward the vineyards of the Waimea Plains or follows the estuary around to Rabbit Island with a ferry cross to Mapua. Mapua has a company that hires bikes if you wish to explore the trail.
Great Taste Trail
This is a bike trail that runs from Nelson to Richmond then splits toward the vineyards of the Waimea Plains or follows the estuary around to Rabbit Island with a ferry cross to Mapua. Mapua has a company that hires bikes if you wish to explore the trail.
A short walk can take you the geographic centre of New Zealand. From here you see views of Nelson. Tasman Bay and the Kahurangi Range.
131 locals recommend
Centre of New Zealand Monument
131 locals recommend
A short walk can take you the geographic centre of New Zealand. From here you see views of Nelson. Tasman Bay and the Kahurangi Range.
The Riwaka river begins here as it flows out from under the limestone mountains. Crystal clear, ice cold water and a short walk through native bush.
33 locals recommend
The Riwaka Resurgence
Riwaka Valley Road
33 locals recommend
The Riwaka river begins here as it flows out from under the limestone mountains. Crystal clear, ice cold water and a short walk through native bush.
Take a lovely walk through native bush to this entrance to this limestone cave system. Another side trip takes you to great views of Golden Bay. Not for the faint-hearted ;-)
8 locals recommend
Harwoods Hole
8 locals recommend
Take a lovely walk through native bush to this entrance to this limestone cave system. Another side trip takes you to great views of Golden Bay. Not for the faint-hearted ;-)

Essentials

Get nearly everything you need from here at the best prices available in the area.
9 locals recommend
PAK'nSAVE Richmond
Talbot Street
9 locals recommend
Get nearly everything you need from here at the best prices available in the area.
A wide range of quality food, wine, beer and other essentials. Look here if you are after a good range of organic products.
13 locals recommend
FreshChoice Richmond
Talbot Street
13 locals recommend
A wide range of quality food, wine, beer and other essentials. Look here if you are after a good range of organic products.
A local place to collect your fruit, vegetables, meat and bread without going to the supermarket. They also have a cafe that has great ready to eat options.
9 locals recommend
Connings Food Market
151 McShane Rd
9 locals recommend
A local place to collect your fruit, vegetables, meat and bread without going to the supermarket. They also have a cafe that has great ready to eat options.
Local cheeses, small goods, a milk vending machine (take your own bottle) and other delish food treats to take home.
The Junction - Cheese & more
151 McShane Rd
Local cheeses, small goods, a milk vending machine (take your own bottle) and other delish food treats to take home.

Shopping

... and Postal services
Paper Plus
Talbot Street
... and Postal services

Arts & Culture

I had trouble deciding between museum and art galley. Every year WOW happens in Wellington. Artists from around the world enter amazing designs to win prestigious awards. The best of those designs can be seen here in Nelson because it all began here.
24 locals recommend
World of WearableArt Limited
24 locals recommend
I had trouble deciding between museum and art galley. Every year WOW happens in Wellington. Artists from around the world enter amazing designs to win prestigious awards. The best of those designs can be seen here in Nelson because it all began here.
A historic house with beautiful grounds and a cafe. On Thursday nights, through the summer, an evening market well worth a visit.
15 locals recommend
Isel Park
16 Hilliard St
15 locals recommend
A historic house with beautiful grounds and a cafe. On Thursday nights, through the summer, an evening market well worth a visit.
Changing exhibitions of local and international artists, a small art-house cinema and wonderful cafe all await you here/
105 locals recommend
The Suter Art Gallery Nelson
208 Bridge St
105 locals recommend
Changing exhibitions of local and international artists, a small art-house cinema and wonderful cafe all await you here/
A must if you are here on a Saturday morning for locals and visitors alike. This busy market offers lots of local artisans sharing their passion and talent. Knives made of recycled steel, soap makers, pottery, silk scarves and cushions with local maps to name a few. Then there are the food trucks for breakfast or lunch.
92 locals recommend
Nelson Saturday Market
23 Halifax St
92 locals recommend
A must if you are here on a Saturday morning for locals and visitors alike. This busy market offers lots of local artisans sharing their passion and talent. Knives made of recycled steel, soap makers, pottery, silk scarves and cushions with local maps to name a few. Then there are the food trucks for breakfast or lunch.

Sightseeing

A recreation of Nelson's early days... wander old fashioned streets. The is also a great cafe and often local festivals here.
16 locals recommend
Atawhai Drive at Founders Park station
16 locals recommend
A recreation of Nelson's early days... wander old fashioned streets. The is also a great cafe and often local festivals here.

Drinks & Nightlife

Local wines, go to a tasting and bring a bottle of your choice home to enjoy in your courtyard or on the Cape Cob chairs.
Te Mania Wines
108 McShane Rd
Local wines, go to a tasting and bring a bottle of your choice home to enjoy in your courtyard or on the Cape Cob chairs.
An Austrian style vineyard offering a slightly different range of wines. A restaurant on site is also offers lovely food.
12 locals recommend
Seifried Estate Cellar Door
168 Redwood Rd
12 locals recommend
An Austrian style vineyard offering a slightly different range of wines. A restaurant on site is also offers lovely food.
A winery to enjoy tasting local wines along with a platter.
Kahurangi Estate
9 Merton Place
A winery to enjoy tasting local wines along with a platter.
Sunset Valley Vineyard is my favourite vineyard. Their wine are organic and in high demand. A little out of the way and worth a visit.
Eggers Road
Eggers Road
Sunset Valley Vineyard is my favourite vineyard. Their wine are organic and in high demand. A little out of the way and worth a visit.
Local beer and spirits along with great bistro style food... how could you go wrong?
17 locals recommend
McCashin's Brewery
660 Main Road Stoke
17 locals recommend
Local beer and spirits along with great bistro style food... how could you go wrong?
Relax with beer and love the views.
44 locals recommend
Golden Bear Brewing Company
6 Aranui Rd
44 locals recommend
Relax with beer and love the views.
Another great winery offering wonderful wine and food.
Fossil Ridge Winery Open In Summer
72 Hart Rd
Another great winery offering wonderful wine and food.
Another local boutique brewery on your way to or from the Able Tasman.
11 locals recommend
Hop Federation Brewery
627 Main Road
11 locals recommend
Another local boutique brewery on your way to or from the Able Tasman.