Featured below are a selection of 6 of the 'MUST-SEE' Culture, Art & Crafts things to do recommended by the team at Century Park Motor Lodge, offering some of the best 5 star luxury accommodation Nelson has for your pleasure.
Albion Square is next to the Suter Gallery in Bridge Street is an historic reserve. See the old trout hatchery, the fire engine house and powder store.
Please come to reception to pick up a copy
New Zealand’s largest bead retailer, distributor and wholesaler of beads and associated products. Hardy Street, Nelson (03) 548 4849. Their professionally-trained staff are on hand to help you create your own masterpiece in a unique and inspiring environment. Personal attention with a relaxed atmosphere makes for a truly unforgettable experience at the World’s Most Exotic Bead Gallery!
Bookings and enquiries (03) 546 4275. Stephen, the Nelson Bonecarver, offers one day workshops to introduce you into the world of beautiful bone adornments, a pacific heritage! You will learn how to carve your personal piece under expert tuition and assistance in small groups in a relaxed atmosphere.
89 Mount Street, Nelson (03) 548 8766. Enjoy viewing Fine Art in the environment where it is created - the Studio/Gallery set in an intimate city garden only 5 minutes from the central city.
276 Nayland Road, Stoke. (03) 547 0403. Open 10.30-4.30 every day except Christmas Day & Good Friday. Broadgreen House was built in the mid 1850’s and is a fine example of an early Cob Home. All rooms have been faithfully and elegantly furnished to represent a family home of the period, and care has been taken to preserve the atmosphere of a lived-in house.
This grand old home is nestled in 7 acres of beautiful woodlands and gardens is one of Nelson’s prestigious historic homes. Top end of Trafalgar Street, 48 Van Dieman Strret.
Glass blowing, 324 Trafalgar Square, Nelson (03) 548 4475. You will be captivated by the colour, vibrancy and craftsmanship of the art glass at Flamedaisy studio and gallery. Creatively hand-crafted hand pieces stand out on the shelves, each one telling a unique story. Watch contemporary glass being blown or browse the gallery for that unique piece to take home. Open 10am-5pm weekdays, 10am-4pm weekends. Closed Sunday during winter.
87 Atawhai Drive, Nelson. (03) 548 2649. Open 10am-4.30pm 7 days a week, except Good Friday & Christmas Day. Stroll around a village of historic buildings circa 1880 - 1930s and experience Nelson’s heritage. Also during summer months - train and jigger rides - bakery - stone jewellery - wrought iron furniture maker - ceramics and metal artwork.
16 Hilliard Street, Stoke. This stately home and gardens is owned by the Council who manage the 4 hectares of woodland gardens. The house has been managed by the Isel House Charitable Trust since 2001. On going restoration work continues each year. The two big rooms on the ground floor at the front of the house and four rooms on the first floor have been restored to some of their former splendour. Layers of time are on display – from a collection of original 19th Century fine art, to stories of the Marsden family and the village of Stoke, to contemporary tales of the house’s restoration. Isel is a living history. Open for public viewing 11am to 4pm Tuesday through Sunday from the beginning of October to May. Otherwise by appointment. Admission by donation. Phone 547 1347, email: isel@ihug.co.nz
Cnr Selwyn Place & Trafalgar Square. (03) 548 0640. Visit Nelson’s premier jewellers and makers of The One Ring for Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movie.
This heritage home is one of the last surviving grand homes of Nelson at 26 Brougham Street.
Trafalgar Square (03) 548 1008. Open daily for visitors. Nelson Cathedral is the icon of the city of Nelson, dominating the skyline at the south end of the main street. Set in beautiful gardens, you are warmly invited to visit during the day, or join them for a service. Important features include: Gothic architecture, English & NZ designed stained glass windows.
Montgomery Square, Nelson. A bustling, vibrant Nelson icon where every Saturday hundreds of stalls transform Montgomery Square into an energetic, colourful display of wares showcasing the region’s bounty, there is no better place to experience the creativity and vibrancy of Nelson than at the Saturday market in Montgomery Square. Open every Saturday 8am to 1pm.
Call in to Century Park Reception to pick up a free potters guide with maps.
Portraits drawn in traditional style in red pastel. 3 Halifax Street, Nelson. (03) 539 1413. A thoughtful imaginative gift for any occasion: birthdays, anniversaries, Father’s Day or new birth. Sarah has drawn babies, children, adults, brothers, best friends, families, couples, grandmother & grandchild. Up to five people can be in one portrait.
South Street is New Zealand's oldest protected historic residential precinct - off Nile Street.
10 Nile Street, Nelson (03) 548 8117. Open 7 days a week 9am - 5pm. At South Street Gallery you will find 25 selected potters of National and International Renown. Full packing and posting in NZ and overseas.
208 Bridge Street, Nelson (03) 548 4699. Open 7 days 10.30am - 4.30pm $3 adults 50c children. Free entry on Saturdays. The Suter was established in 1898 by Amelia Suter as a memorial to her husband Bishop Andrew Suter. It is the third oldest art museum in New Zealand. The Suter holds a nationally significant collection of art and presents a dynamic program of exhibitions, events and education services.
Cnr Trafalgar & Hardy Streets, Nelson (03) 548 9588.
10:00am - 5:00pm weekdays
10:00am - 4:30pm weekends / public holidays
Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day
4 Waimea Road, Nelson. Revisit your childhood by visiting ToyToy, a museum specialising in toys from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Collectable, fun and interesting toys are also for sale in ToyToy’s shop frontage. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Entrance fee: Adults $2, Children $1.
The trail starts at the Cathedral. Download a map from the Nelson City Council’s website. The trail leads to nearby sites including the Nelson School of Music, Nelson Provincial Museum, Bishop’s School and Hallowell Cemetery.
This memorial wall pays tribute to those who arrived by sailing ship to start the Nelson settlement.
92 Bateup Road, Richmond. A gallery, a cafe and creative entertainment for the whole family, just 2 minutes from central Richmond. Pottery, Ceramic Gallery, Licensed premises, swings, a tractor, a duck pond, a rabbit & a pig!
Deepdale Road, Sunrise Valley, RD1, Upper Moutere (03) 543 2601. Well worth visiting 3km up Sunrise Valley is Anna’s pottery studio where you will find a great range of decorative and functional pottery with exciting colour combinations and techniques including Raku. Open most days 9am-5pm
52 Aranui Road, Mapua (03) 540 3622. Portraits of animals and people, landscapes, Fantasy art, in oils or pastels. Open most days 10am - 5pm
122 Bronte Road East, Coastal Highway 60. (03) 540 2579. A working artists studio / gallery overlooking the stunning Waimea Inlet. Art for the discerning collector, International honours and awards. Summer Open Daily. Winter open most days or phone to confirm viewing.
8 Aranui Road, Mapua (03) 540 3778. Open summer Mon-Sun 11am to 5pm. Winter Wed-Sat 11am to 4.30pm. One of the largest and funkiest galleries in the region. Showcasing over 150 artists and jewellers.
Grape Escape complex, McShane Road, Richmond (03) 544 0063. Designer knitwear, patterns & yarns, Alpaca, mohair, possum, merino, silk & more, Accessories. Open 7 days.
Coolstores 4 & 5 Aranui Road, Mapua. A great store for the ladies to view!
145 McShane Road, Richmond (03) 544 4630 An Aladdin's Cave packed full of beautiful hand picked quality gifts at affordable prices, everything you could want in one place, wide range of jewellery.
If you can't find the exact gift you're looking for in Nelson, you might like to consider buying a gift basket online at The Gift Barn. They stock everything from Mothers Day gift baskets and Fathers Day gift baskets to house warming gifts and romantic gift boxes online at very affordable prices. They can provide fast delivery to you in Nelson.
If you are in Nelson and looking for a Tauranga florist who can deliver flowers to your door at a good price and overnight, you should use Arrange Floral Design. They specialise in flower bouquets, vox arrangements, posies and flower bags and also operate as a wedding florist. They also offer a range of gifts for all occasions, including get well gifts and flowers and other combinations for anniversaries, birthdays and other occasions.
McShane Road Richmond (03) 544 4977 – a great girls stop – no charge. Eyebright is a special place for the ladies to view. An award winning store overflowing with inspirational ideas for gifts and home decor. Rich waves of colourful flowers hang from the ceiling and furniture, crafts and Christmas Decorations fill the store.
Landsdowne Road, Richmond. (03) 544 6500. Only 20 minutes drive from Nelson City. Open every day 10am - 5pm (closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Good Friday. Hoglund Glassblowing Studio & Gallery is one of Nelson’s icon visitor attractions. On the outskirts of Richmond, in the midst of the Appleby countryside, world-renowned glass artists, Ola and Marie Hoglund welcome visitors to discover the magic of glassmaking.
The gallery displays a wide range of unique art glass vases, bowls, platters, paperweights and goblets - complemented by a selection of beautiful glass jewellery made exclusively by hand.
Hoglund Art Glass offers bead making courses which provide a step-by-step introduction to the ‘lampworking’ technique of winding molten glass into handmade glass beads. A glassblowing class is also available, allowing beginners to make their own paper weight, or blow a glass vessel. Both classes are great fun and provide a fascinating insight into this ancient craft.
Upper Moutere Village (opposite School) (03) 543 2544.
128 Ellis Street, Brightwater. (03) 542 3585. One of New Zealand’s leading potters producing a wide range of contemporary tableware including an appealing range of textured shell bowls, plus ceramic art pieces and paintings.
Bronte Road East, off Coastal Highway 60, (Richmond to Mapua) (03) 540 2115 Open Thurs - Sun 10am-4pm. Home of Attic Folk, Primitive and country collectables, Quality patchwork fabrics, patterns, classes.
Shop 1, Mapua Wharf, Aranui Road, Mapua 027 326 3031. Roger has recently moved to the area.
Every Sunday, rain or shine, in the car park behind the Visitor Information Centre, Wallace Street, Motukea. (03) 540 2709. A great family day . . . Good food, good fun & great bargains.
Village Centre, Mapua. (03) 540 2799. Tessa Mae’s is a well designed shop packed with gifts, homeware and furnishings creatively displayed and colour coordinated. Items are carefully selected from sources around the world with an emphasis on European designs.
173 Tangmere Road, Takaka. (03) 525 8107. Contemporary paintings reflecting the colours & landscapes of the region. Marble & limestone sculpture. Hard shell gourds grown, carved and decorated. Summer: 10am-5pm daily. Other times phone first.
The museum showcases different aspects of life in the Collingwood district. The community has gifted most of the items and volunteers work hard to maintain this diverse collection.
76 Boyle Street, Clifton. (03) 525 7007. Unique, collectable fine art. Landscape paintings and reproduction prints of Golden Bay. Summer: open most days 10am to 5pm. Winter: variable, check for ‘open’ sign at intersection.
On State Highway 60, situated on the northern side of Parapara inlet, 22 kms from Takaka.
Lesley McIver, 20 Richmond Road, Pohara. (03) 525 8133. Lamp work artist - unique, colourful, handcrafted glass beads made in their studio using Italian Murano glass. Beautiful range of Swarovski crystal jewellery.
91 Parapara Valley Road, Takaka. (03) 524 8215
‘The Shed’ Studio & Gallery. The Shed, 1178 Abel Tasman Drive, Ligar Bay. (03) 525 7477.
100 Rocklands Road, Clifton. Exceptionally vibrant glass jewellery. Contemporary glass plates, bowls & architectural pieces. Underwater photography & sandblasted designs. Some commissions undertaken. Summer: open daily 10am to dark. Winter: by appointment.
Tukurua Road, Takaka. (03) 525 7567. They offer a sensual feast of colour, design & fragrance through ‘wax of art’. These include 100% natural soy and plant wax candles, NZ cultural candles, wax vases, wax lamps and accessories. Open 9am-5pm daily.
30 Commercial Street, Takaka. (03) 525 8005. Fun, contemporary, distinctive metal sculptures, mirrors, windows, lamps, paintings, postcards and jewellery. Summer: 10am-5pm daily. Winter variable.
25 Commercial Street, Takaka (03) 525 8510. Delight in the creativity of Golden Bay. An array of exclusively local works on show. Contemporary art & jewellery in an historical setting. Summer: 10am-5pm daily. Winter: variable.
1185 SH60, Onekaka. (03) 525 7366. A unique opportunity to experience three artisans creating original high-quality works in the heart of beautiful Golden Bay. Summer: daily/ Winter variable.
Tukurua Road, Takaka. (03) 525 7965. High quality tableware & presentation pieces with dramatic glazes. Paul specialises in large platters & bowls, but also makes plenty of smaller pieces. Summer: 7 days 9am-6pm except public holidays. Winter: May-Dec variable, best to phone first.
Kare Grayson, 2086 Takaka Valley Highway. 021 116 927. Open Tues-Thurs 12 noon-6pm, Fri & Sat evenings. Fine Art that mixes realism with cartoon elements. Paintings, jewellery and miscellaneous objects to unleash the playfulness within.
William Street, Collingwood. 021 433 931. Carefully handcrafted carving ranging from detailed Pounamu (Jade) to larger works in limestone, marble and wood. Commissions welcome. We can crate and freight anywhere. By appointment only.
499 One Spec Road, Takaka. (03) 525 8342. The ancient art of trug making creates wooden baskets - individual hand-made treasures. The traditional skills used also create Devon maunds, flower baskets and milking stools.
63 Commercial Street, Takaka. (03) 525 7963. The only place in New Zealand where you can view the ongoing creation of merino garments. These super fine merino jackets are being manufactured before your eyes, come and view the ageless 60 year old knitting machines working. Watch Maurice hand cut your garment. 100% made on site, with each garment totally unique.
197 Rutherford Street, Nelson 7010, New Zealand
+64 3-546 6197
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