Nelson and Richmond
Nelson is the urban centre of the Nelson region, a compact city of 43,000 people. Richmond, with a population of 12,000, is only 14 km/9 miles away on the edge of the Waimea Plains. From Nelson visitors can organise an adventure, begin an arty shopping spree or start a survey of the Nelson fresh food feast.

Abel Tasman National Park
The smallest of the New Zealand's national parks, Abel Tasman is a compact treasure house of nature with glittering beaches, turquoise water and spectacular ocean views. A range of wildlife inhabits the area, including penguins and a seal colony in the Tonga Island Marine Reserve. There are three main gateways to Abel Tasman National Park. In the south are Marahau and Kaiteriteri, reached by road from Motueka; in the north is Totaranui, reached by road from Takaka in Golden Bay. Regular launches and water taxis service a number of points along the Park's coastline, including Kaiteriteri, Marahau and Totaranui, enabling visitors to access the Park from the water. Visitors can experience the Park in the following ways:
• The Abel Tasman Coastal Track (three to five days): this popular year-round walk can be undertaken with or without a guide. There are a number of accommodation facilities, ranging from basic Department of Conservation huts and lodges to independently owned lodges with excellent facilities. Bookings are recommended in summer months and passes are required if camping or staying in Department of Conservation huts
• Sea kayaking (one-day to multi-day trips): explore the coast from the water, rest on beaches with no foot access and observe the water wildlife. Freedom camping is an option when overnighting. Kayak rental operators are based at Marahau, Kaiteriteri and within the Park. They offer guided trips and freedom rentals and provide equipment, instruction and full safety briefings
• Day trips or overnight stays: water taxis can drop visitors into the Park to walk sections of the Track. Visitors also have the option of staying a night in a variety of accommodation styles. There are also day cruises and nature tours that include walking through the Park

Kahurangi National Park
This Park of 451,000 hectares/1.1 million acres of glaciated mountain ranges and rich forest is home to an exceptional variety of native plants and wildlife. The best known hiking trail is the Heaphy Track, a walk that takes four or five days from the Aorere Valley across to the northern West Coast and Karamea. Motueka, Takaka, Collingwood, Karamea and Murchison are the Park's gateway towns. Roads from all the gateway towns lead into car parks within the Park and a network of tracks.