A New Zealand vacation can certainly see you enjoying a list of high-adrenaline activities, but should you want to slow things down a bit, it might be time for a Nelson vacation. Nelson New Zealand is pretty much centrally located, found resting on the shores of Tasman Bay on the northern side of the country's South Island. It is the main city of the Nelson region, and when you combine it with the nearby city of Richmond, you have over 50,000 area residents. Some of the best New Zealand beaches can be found near Nelson, and while other parts of the country are cold during the winter, Nelson stays pretty mild and comfortable. There is a quite a significant arts and music scene in Nelson, and if you want to combine art appreciation with a little shopping, you can always hit the Saturday Nelson Market, where you can buy works straight from the artist. There are some great festivals that add to Nelson tourism, such as the Nelson School of Music Winter Music Festival, and the Taste Nelson Festival, which highlights the region's gastronomical accomplishments. It's easy to see why more and more people are choosing to enjoy a Nelson vacation. There's just so much to love about this destination.

New Zealand history revolves around the Maori, who settled here first, and the European settlers, the bulk of whom were of British heritage. This is very much the case with Nelson New Zealand. The Maori settled in the region some 1100 years ago, and it's believed that some of the settlements here were among the first in all of New Zealand. Tribal wars in the 1820"s led to a decline in Maori numbers, which certainly helped the New Zealand Company in London carry out its Nelson region colonization efforts. By 1841, European settlers had established wooden homes and some streets in Nelson, though organized immigration of any kind wouldn't start until the 1850"s. Nelson New Zealand served as the Nelson Province capital from 1853-1876. By 1876, provincial governments in New Zealand were done away with, but the city remains the symbolic capital of this region. The city's setting is extremely appealing, with the Tasman Bay to one side, and mountains on the other.

The National Parks found in and around Nelson are wonderful places to escape to, and though it might be a bit more laid-back and relaxed here, you can still enjoy an array of eco-tourism and adventure-tourism activities. The great climate here encourages getting out and about, and it certainly helps keep Nelson tourism alive and strong. You can get information on outdoor activities in the Nelson region by visiting one of the area visitor centers. Among the favorite things for visitors to do on a Nelson vacation is take the 5 mile walk along what is known as Bolder Bank. It's a piece of land, none too wide, that extends from Nelson out into the bay, offering a unique walking experience. Caving tours, skydiving, white water rafting, and golfing are just some of the exciting and fun things to do in Nelson New Zealand. With so many great beaches to boast, you can enjoy plenty of fun in the sun when you're not enjoying one of the many great Nelson tours.

Back in town, if you want to see some of Nelson's best attractions, the Summertime Bus is prime for Nelson tours that highlight some of the featured sites. Founder's Historic Park is just one of the great attractions you might include in your Nelson tourism itinerary, and in the suburb of Stoke, the award-winning Broadgreen Historic House is surely worthy of inclusion as well. The Nelson hotels will certainly provide visitors with suitable options to help make their Nelson vacation all the more fantastic, and getting here is made easy by the fact that the city has one of the country's busiest airports. Shopping is surely a Nelson New Zealand vacation option, as the city and surrounding area are known to have the best arts and crafts in the land, and if you like wineries, there are some great ones here that deserve to be added to your list of Nelson tours. There's almost too much to see and do in Nelson, so you might have to come back. Not that you'll have any real problem convincing yourself or anyone else that you need to return. Simply put, to enjoy Nelson tourism is to enjoy some of the best that New Zealand has to offer.