Car Hire Nelson

The sunny city of Nelson on New Zealand’s South Island is a popular spot for visitors. Nelson is known for its local arts scene, its stunning natural surroundings, and vineyards that produce some of the best wine in the region.

Nelson is also a centre of business with a thriving entrepreneurial spirit. Business events are held in the area regularly, and it’s becoming an increasingly popular city for new businesses in New Zealand.

Whether you’re visiting Nelson for business or pleasure, you’ll need transport to get around and see all that this great city has to offer. Avis has a rental office conveniently located at Nelson Airport, so if you’re flying in, you can just pick up the keys to your vehicle and drive straight to your next destination.

How to Get to Our location Using Public Transport in Nelson

You can reach the Avis Nelson Airport rental location from the city centre, or elsewhere in the area using public transport. There’s a public bus service between Nelson city and Atawhai to the north and Richmond to the south. Unfortunately, the public bus network does not currently connect with the airport, but you can book a shuttle bus at https://www.supershuttle.co.nz, or take a taxi.

Luxury Accommodation in Nelson

Nelson has some excellent hotels and 5-star bed and breakfast accommodation, so you can relax in comfort whether you’ve spent your day in meetings or exploring the area.

For a location that offers stunning panoramic sea views, just a short walk away from Nelson city centre, try Wakefield Quay House B&B. This villa, built in 1905, has a contemporary interior mixed with original antiques. Guests are particularly impressed with the friendly and attentive hosts, home-cooked breakfast, and, of course, the views.

The Sails Nelson is a modern boutique hotel just minutes from the CBD. It offers apartment-style accommodation including kitchenettes, comfortable lounge areas, Nespresso coffee machines, and whirlpool baths.

If you’re looking for a hotel near the airport, consider the Hotel Grand Mercure Nelson Monaco Apartments. This luxury apartment hotel overlooks Tasman Bay and offers elegant accommodation in studio suites or split-level cottages with an outdoor pool and spa.

Retiro Park Lodge, a 15-minute drive north of the city is consistently recommended as one of the best hotels in Nelson, and its beautiful location is ideal for a countryside retreat. Choose from “The Barn” or “The Patio Room” sumptuous suites on a property with its own vineyard, and a farm with alpacas, llamas, and miniature horses.

Things to Do in Nelson

Nelson city is the perfect base for exploring some of the stunning nature that blesses the surrounding area, including the Nelson Lakes, Abel Tasman, and Kahurangi National Parks. There are also some excellent beaches in the area, and as one of New Zealand’s sunniest spots, the coast is a great place to soak in some rays. Tahunanui Beach is one of the most popular, just southwest of the city, or you can drive across to Rabbit Island with its unspoiled beaches and parkland.

The city also has several parks and green spaces that make for pleasant walks, or just relaxing. The Queen’s Gardens, founded in 1892, has beautiful water features, sculptures, and footpaths, or visit the Miyazu Japanese Gardens for its tea house and cherry trees. While you’re walking through the city, make sure to stop for a photo at the official centre of New Zealand at the top of the botanic hill, which offers incredible views of the city.

Nelson city has a thriving coffee culture, and you can easily spend a happy few caffeinated hours exploring the independent cafes and coffee shops. Nelson is also the craft brewing capital of New Zealand, so take the time to visit a few breweries while you’re here. If wine is more your thing, there are plenty of excellent wineries in the Nelson area too. An interesting quirk of Nelson is that most bars are happy for you to order food from the surrounding restaurants. So, there’s no need to move if you’re enjoying the ambience, but you’re getting peckish – the locals do it all the time!

Nelson also takes its Saturday markets seriously, and they’re a great place to pick up some locally-produced arts and crafts. The city is also full of quirky independent shops selling jewellery and gifts.

One of Nelson’s most popular attractions is the Classic Car Museum and World of Wearable Art. The city hosts the World of Wearable Art Awards every year, and some of the amazing costumes from each year are showcased here. Don’t forget to check out the city’s art galleries too. There are several, each specialising in different styles of art. Many of them have cafes to enjoy the artworks, even if you’re not intending to buy a piece.

Weather in Nelson

Nelson boasts consistently sunny weather all year round. January and February are the warmest months, with temperatures reaching an average of 25ºC. During winter, temperatures can drop to around 16ºC and the coldest month is July.

Fuel Locations in Nelson

There are service stations located throughout Nelson city and the surrounding area. If you’re returning a rental vehicle to Avis at Nelson Airport, there’s a Z service station within the airport grounds. There’s also a Mobil at Tahunanui if you’re driving from Nelson city, and a Mobil on Main Road if you’re coming from the south.

Distances to Nelson’s Attractions

If you’re planning a trip to Nelson, you’ll need to know the distances you can expect to be driving each day, so you can plan your itinerary. The following table lists distances to some of Nelson’s most popular tourist attractions from the airport.

Tahunanui Beach 4km Centre of New Zealand Monument 8km Queen's Gardens 8.5km Miyazu Gardens 10km Abel Tasman National Park 60km Nelson Lakes National Park 85km Marlborough Sounds 135km

FAQs