5 unforgettable day trips from Nelson

March 24, 2012 by Roz Posted in Our News, Special Offers Leave a comment

Nelson is a fabulous place to base yourself to explore the wider region.

Below are 5 day trips that will introduce you to people and places that make this region so unique and unforgettable.

1. Mapua Wharf – spend a leisurely a day at Mapua Wharf browsing an eclectic collection of shops and galleries and refuelling at the waterfront restaurants, bars and cafés. Feeling energetic? Hire a bicycle on the wharf and take the Mapua Ferry over to Rabbit Island and cycle part of the Tasman Great Taste Trail.

2. The Abel Tasman National Park – although the Abel Tasman deserves more than a day to do it justice, it can still be experienced in a day trip. Drive to Kaiteriteri and hop on one of the sea shuttle services which cruise up to Totaranui and back stopping at golden bays along the way to pick up and drop off passengers. In summer, leave the car behind and board The Crusader right from the wharf in Nelson which cruises to Kaiteriteri to connect with other services.

3. Appleby – the flat and fertile soils of the Appleby Plains are responsible for much of the region’s fresh produce: grapes, tomatoes, lettuce, pumpkin, berry fruit, onions, cut flowers and more are grown in the fields here. Look out for fresh fruit and flower stands with “honesty boxes”, pick up some fresh berries and pop in to a winery or two for a tasting and don’t miss Hoglund Art Glass and the Grape Escape for some retail therapy.

4. The Upper Moutere – in the hills above Mapua is the small settlement of Upper Moutere and the oldest pub in New Zealand. The village and surrounding countryside is home to a variety of artisans and craftspeople producing wine, sheep cheese, mushrooms, olive oil and strawberries. These Moutere Artisans are well worth a visit.

5. Golden Bay – there’s only one road in and out of Golden Bay, over a steep and winding hill, which is perhaps what keeps this region so special. It would be easy to spend a week here, but at least a day trip will give you a taste for the next trip! Check out the beautiful views over Tasman Bay from the top of the hill, explore the limestone Ngarua Caves, browse the shops and boutiques in Takaka, check out Te Waikororopupu Springs, the largest freshwater springs in NZ, and after browsing a couple of art and craft galleries refresh yourself with a home brewed ale at the Mussel Inn.

9 unusual ways to explore the Abel Tasman National Park

March 24, 2012 by Roz Posted in Our News Tagged custom, featured, full-width, sample Leave a comment

The Abel Tasman National Park – New Zealand’s smallest and only coastal National Park – is just 60km from Nelson. The park’s breathtaking beauty is accessible to people of all ages and levels of fitness.

Walking and kayaking are synonymous with the Abel Tasman and there is no shortage of single day and multi day options to explore by foot or kayak, or a combination of both.

So, here are 9 different ways to get a taste of the Abel Tasman:

1. Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) – hire a paddleboard and explore stunning Split Apple Rock or join a guided tour from Marahau through some of the sheltered bays.

2. Water taxi or cruise – see the park from the water as water taxis and shuttle boats cruise to Totaranui and back dropping off and picking up passengers from golden bays along the route. Hop off and spend the afternoon on the beach, or walk to another bay and be picked up later.

3. Canyoning – the adventurous will love exploring the rivers and waterfalls in the interior of the Park. If leaping off cliffs, sliding down water polished chutes and abseiling through thundering waterfalls is your thing then you don’t want to miss this!

4. Sailing – feel like an early explorer and set sail for a leisurely day on the water. Call in at tiny uninhabited bays, go for a dip in the sea and watch the seals at play.

5. Conservation tour – join a full day eco tour with a qualified biologist to discover more about the diversity of flora and fauna of the Abel Tasman National Park.

6. Scenic flight – take to the skies and explore the Abel Tasman from the air – an amazing experience to get a real overview of the coastline and lush interior. Or, free fall from 16,500 feet with Abel Tasman Skydive with a view not just of the Abel Tasman but North Island as well.

7. Seal swim – swim with playful and curious seals at close quarters in the protected marine environment of Tonga Island.

8. Scuba diving – snorkel or dive the reefs of Tonga Island, home to kina, crabs, turban shells and cushion stars. Crayfish and conger eels hide out in caves and crevices, and fish life includes blue cod, snapper, wrasse, tarakihi and moki.

9. Lunch at Awaroa Lodge – hop off the water taxi at Awaroa Lodge for a leisurely lunch at this beautiful eco lodge tucked in the bush. Seasonal vegetables and herbs are grown in the lodge’s organic garden. For a special occasion, fly in and out by helicopter!

10 things that make us different

March 24, 2012 by Roz Posted in Our News Leave a comment

There are hundreds of holiday homes to choose from in the Nelson region – here are 10 things that we think help us stand out from the crowd.

1. Quick response guarantee – Planning a holiday can be a complicated process which involves liaising with other friends or family, booking flights and ferries and fitting together an itinerary. There’s nothing worse than being left waiting for a response, so we will respond to booking enquiries within 24 hours – or your first night is free…guaranteed!

2. Up to date availability calendars – There’s nothing more frustrating than enquiring about a holiday home that looks available to find out the availability calendar hasn’t been updated. We update our calendars as soon as bookings are confirmed so you can rely on our calendars when planning your holiday. If you need to me hold dates for a couple of days whilst sorting out travel arrangements that’s fine, just let me know.

3. Top quality linen – Many holiday homes in the Nelson region don’t supply linen as part of the rental rate, or add it on as an additional charge. We include bed linen, bath towels, facecloths, hand towels and tea towels in the rental price. Sheets and pillowcases are professionally laundered and of the highest quality. Slip into silky smooth white cotton sheets for a luxurious night’s sleep.

4. No credit card fees for international guests – Nobody likes paying an additional credit card fee! Here, we regard credit card fees as part of the cost of doing business, so there are no additional credit card fees for guests booking from overseas. We accept credit cards via PayPal. Simple and secure.

5. Compendium – There’s nothing like local knowledge to enhance a visit to a new town. You’ll find a compendium folder of suggestions in each property of where to eat, drink and shop plus favourite places to visit and activities for small children. It also contains useful information about how to work the appliances such as the TV/DVD and oven!

6. Pantry basics & the Nelson Pantry – Pantry basics are provided. We like our food, and know that having basics on hand such as herbs & spices, salt & pepper, flour, stock cubes, tea, coffee and sugar makes a big difference. You’ll find cling film, tin foil, kitchen roll and washing up liquid are provided too…plus hand soap, shower gel, washing powder and fabric conditioner. In addition to the essentials, experience a real taste of Nelson with the Nelson Pantry – a selection of locally made products for you to enjoy during your stay. Items include Pic’s Peanut Butter, local olive oil, Bite Me BBQ sauce and other treats!

7. Generous discounts – We love Nelson, so we like to reward guests who linger a little longer or return to this piece of paradise we call home! We offer discounts to return guests, long stay discounts, discounts for referrals and last minute discounts. Browse our deals.

8. Safety first – Your safety is our priority! Each property contains a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, smoke alarms, a first aid kit and an A4 sheet and map on where to locate the hospital, after hours doctor surgeries and chemists. Safety is also the main reason why some properties are not suitable for younger children.

9. Easy clean – Cleanliness is an absolute priority for us, and your property will be spotless on arrival. Guests are expected to clean on departure – this helps keep prices $20 – 30 lower per night – and cleaning up is a breeze as cleaning products are provided. And if you’d prefer not to clean on departure a cleaning service is available from $60.

10. Your hosts – Renting out holiday homes isn’t a sideline for us, so you can expect professional and courteous service. Ten years experience in operating holiday homes has taught us a lot about what guests need and want (and what they don’t want!). But don’t just take our word for it – read the feedback about us from previous guests.