When you land at Nelson Airport, you have the entire Nelson Tasman region at your fingertips. A location filled with national parks, bushland and golden sand beaches, it’s truly a remarkable part of the New Zealand landscape.
With consistently sunny days, you could visit here any time of the year and have a fantastic trip. However, if you want to make the most of the water, we recommend a summer trip, as there’s nothing quite like a dip in the ocean after a long hike through an incredible national park.
You can find the Hertz office at Nelson Airport. Our friendly staff will help you find the right rental car for you to make the most of your trip.
Discover the Nelson National Parks in your Rental Car
The National Parks in this region are why many people fly to Nelson Airport. Nelson is actually in close proximity to two beautiful parks: Abel Tasman and Nelson Lakes.
Abel Tasman National Park is just a two-hour drive away from Nelson city centre. While it’s the smallest national park in New Zealand, it’s undoubtedly one of the most beautiful. There are many ways to explore the landscape here, whether it is a full day hiking through the bush and sand or via the water. With kayak tours available to visit islands off the mainland, it’s truly a magical place to stay awhile, slow down, and just enjoy the beautiful atmosphere here.
What so many people love about Abel Tasman is the proximity of the bush to the beach to the ocean. Indeed, you’ll find yourself hiking through dense rainforest, only to spot the golden sands and aqua blue seas just a few moments away - and what a nice hike break you’ll have to enjoy a dip in the sea before continuing on your day. It’s picture-perfect the whole way through.
The Nelson Lakes National Park is a one and a half-hour drive from the city. This park will genuinely help you understand the sheer diversity of the New Zealand landscape. While Abel Tasman is as serene as it is relatively flat, Nelson Lakes has rugged mountains, glacial lakes, and alpine terrain. It is made up of two alpine lakes: Rotorua and Rotoiti. The two names mean large waters and small waters in Māori: according to legend, the lakes were created by the great chief Rakaihaitu by digging holes.
And, of course - no visit to Nelson Lakes National Park is complete without a jump into Lake Rotoiti. Get your cameras ready and take your picture as you launch yourself into the glacial waters. Be mindful, though - the water is freezing.
Feel the Adrenaline Rush Over New Zealand
One exciting activity you could do while holidaying in Nelson is a skydive! Nelson is the perfect place to do this, too, as it’s the only place where you’ll be able to see both islands from above: the North Island and the South Island.
Dive out of the plane in tandem with your expert diver, and see glorious New Zealand from high above. You’ll be able to make out the diversity of the two islands as you come close to landing: the rugged, mountainous nature of the South Island, compared to the incredible North Island, is certainly something many get to see in their lifetime.
Your trip to Nelson will be the perfect way to see the diverse New Zealand landscape. Take a moment away from the hustle and bustle of busy cities, and enjoy what the diverse, calm scenery around you offers. It’s beautiful, and the two parks are so different to you that you can truly understand how unique this Island is in terms of geographical structure. And you can do it all in your Hertz rental car from Nelson Airport.
