Heritage Walks

Download the map and description of the Airport Heritage Trail.

Nelson's landmark cathedral stands proudly on Church Hill. The first church was a tent erected when Bishop Selwyn visited in 1842. It was replaced with a simple converted wooden building bought from the New Zealand Company.

The Anglican Church bought an acre of land at the summit of the hill in 1848, and in June 1850 the foundation stone of a purpose-built church was laid. The new Christ Church was dedicated on 14 December, 1851, and its rapidly expanding congregation saw it enlarged in 1859 and again in 1866.

Download the map and description of the Church Hill Walk.

Early Nelson was well served with public houses, despite the vigorous agitation for abstinence by the Temperance Movement. Patrons often had to travel long distances over difficult terrain and, as well as having alcohol, hotels had accommodation, meals and were popular meeting places in the community. The first publicans' licences were issued in Nelson in April 1842. This walk traces some historic Nelson pubs and other drink related sites.

Download the map and description of the Demon Drink Walk.

On the foot hills of the Grampians, above the Cathedral, a pleasant moderate hill walk can be enjoyed in “the Dress Circle” of the city.

Some beautiful old houses nestle amongst mature trees, and many have a story to tell. Some are privately owned and can only be viewed from the footpath.

Fairfield Park and the gardens of Melrose and Fairfield House are public spaces. Parts of the houses may be viewed when not used for community hire.

Download the map and information for the Dress Circle Walk.

Go to the Prow's Website to download the audio guide for the walk.

Art and heritage intertwine in this easy walk around the central city that starts at the bridge known as Aratuna (Pathway of the Eels) Normanby Bridge. Enjoy a selection of Nelson's art treasures along the way.

Download the map and description of the Eel Walk.

Reclamation has played an important part in Nelson’s history, greatly altering the shoreline of the 1840s (shown on this map). Our busy port, impressive marina and expansive recreation areas all sit upon progressive infill. Early European settlers started reclamation in 1841 which continued over many years until eight hectares of land was reclaimed on either side of the Maitai River forming the Rutherford and Trafalgar Parks.

Download the map and description of the Hidden Shoreline Walk.

Since the arrival of early settlers to Nelson, this stretch of seafront has witnessed the development of both a beautiful city and a prosperous region. This easy walk, created by the Nelson Historical Society, reveals local history while providing stunning views of Nelson’s sheltered harbour.

Download the map and description of the Historic Wakefield Quay Walk.

Huangshi Chinese Garden was opened in 2007 to celebrate a Friendly City link with Huangshi in the province of Hubei, China.

Built on the eastern boundary of Queens Gardens, this enclosed Scholar’s Garden is based on ancient Chinese garden design principles developed as far back as 2000 years ago. Important aesthetic, historic and spiritual aspects are considered in a garden that aims to replicate nature.

The formal entrance is from Tasman Street.

Download the map and information for the Huangshi Chinese Garden Walk.

Go to the Prow's Website to download the audio guide for the walk.

Isel Park Tree Walk introduces you to many of the remarkable trees in this park.

Isel Park was part of the land purchased by early settler Thomas Marsden. His property was bounded by Songer Street , Main Road Stoke, Arapiki Road and extended up into what is now known as Marsden Valley. Marsden and his wife Mary eventually built their home where Isel House now stands. Thomas and his son James commenced a series of plantings from 1845-1865, some of which can be seen today. Isel Park is famous for containing one of the oldest stands of mixed conifers and other exotic trees in New Zealand.

Download the map and description of the Isel Park Tree Walk.

This memorial walk is set in historic Wakapuaka Cemetery, visiting the graves of some early Italian immigrants who made Nelson their home.

The terrain is hilly, providing impressive views of Nelson Haven; suitable walking shoes are recommended.

Download the map and description of the Italian Memorial Walk.

Early European settlers who came to New Zealand wanted to improve their lot so they turned to books to satisfy their thirst for knowledge. Nelson is home to the oldest library in New Zealand and our Literary Ramble celebrates this and some of the people who helped make books accessible for all in the past.

Download the map and description for the Literary Trail

https://www.theprow.org.nz/arts/nelson-literary-ramble/

Go to the Prow's Website to download the audio guide for the walk.

The Mayoral Memorial Heritage Walk maps the early history of the Nelson Council under the leadership of some Mayors who served the city between 1874 and 1913, and who are buried at Wakapuaka Cemetery.

The stories are chronologically ordered and coloured markers are found at intervals to guide your way, corresponding to the religious denomination groupings buried here. The attractive cemetery is hilly and has great views of Nelson’s harbour, so take a picnic and wear good walking shoes.

Download the map and description for the Mayoral Memorial Walk.

Go to the Prow's Website to download the audio guide for the walk.

Nelson is blessed with many attractive parks and gardens. The sheltered gardens of historic Melrose House are open to the public and are an ideal spot for a relaxed walk in tranquil surroundings. The house is available for hire and is popular for a variety of community uses as well as private events such as weddings.

For information about hiring Melrose House, events and Melrose Cafe go to www.melrosehouse.co.nz

Download the map and description for Melrose Garden Walk.

Go to the Prow's Website to download the audio guide for the walk

ANZAC Day on 25 April each year is a time to remember those who died in war. Nelson pays homage to the fallen with a number of memorials within easy walking distance around the central city. A Remembrance Trail is also available that covers memorials further afield.

Download the map and description of the Memorial Walk.

Miyazu Garden Walk

Miyazu Garden was opened in October 1995 to celebrate a sister city link with Miyazu in Japan. The design is based on the traditional principles of the Shinto and Buddhist religions.

Important aesthetic, historic and spiritual aspects are considered in this garden that aims to replicate nature, with features that specifically reference Nelson and sister city Miyazu.

Download the map and description of the Miyazu Garden Walk.

Go to the Prow's Website to download the audio guide for the walk.

Nile Street and nearby Alton, Manuka and Hardy Streets are some of Nelson’s oldest streets. Discover some interesting sites around this area relating to early settlers and the development of the city.

Download the map and description of the Nine near Nile Walk.

Go to the Prow's Website to download the audio guide for the walk.

Enjoy this scenic walk in Wakapuaka Cemetery, one of Nelson’s oldest cemeteries, uncovering fascinating stories of some Nelson women from the past with the help of information from the NZ Society of Genealogists (Nelson).

Download the map and description of the Notable Women Walk.

More information on the life and times of these notable women can be found on The Prow , a website featuring historical and cultural stories from Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough.

Take a stroll through the Port Museum, housed across two buildings, at Founders Heritage Park. Follow the numbers to guide you to some of our favourite exhibits in this fascinating maritime collection that includes a selection of model boat varieties that frequented the region’s coastlines and were once our primary transport mode.

Take a stroll through the Port Museum, housed across two buildings, at Founders Heritage Park. Follow the numbers to guide you to some of our favourite exhibits in this fascinating maritime collection that includes a selection of model boat varieties that frequented the region’s coastlines and were once our primary transport mode.

Download the map and description of the Port Museum Tour.

The Queens Gardens was founded to commemorate the 50th jubilee of Queen Victoria’s coronation. Architect AFT Somerville designed the garden in 1887 which was formally opened in 1891.

The Gardens have extensive Māori colonial and Victorian history and are an outstanding example of a Victorian ornamental public garden.Paths meander through groves of tall trees, many of them outstanding heritage specimens. Formal plantings and romantic woodland edge the serpentine Eel Pond.

Download the map and description of the Queens Garden Walk.

Go to the prow website for extended heritage information and to download the audio file for the walk.

Nelson has many memorials to those who died in wars, fighting for New Zealand. These can be found in picturesque spots around the city environs, and some are noted here in the Remembrance Trail. As they are found across a large area a specific route is not suggested. We suggest using one of Nelson’s cycle-ways as a way of getting to many sites, and visiting a few at a time. Car parking can be found nearby if you opt to travel by car.

Download the two-page map and description of the Remembrance Trail.

The Samuels Rose Garden, at Broad Green House, is the biggest rose garden in Nelson, with approximately 3,000 plants. The impressive collection includes around 560 named varieties.

The Samuels Rose Garden opened in 1968 is named after the late Mr S J Samuels, a rose nurseryman, who generously assisted Nelson City Council to establish this public rose garden. He donated both the rose stock and bud wood, and undertook the budding assisted by his wife. Rima (plot 21), a salmon pink hybrid tea rose, was developed by Mr Samuels and is named after his wife.

Adjacent to the gardens is Broadgreen Historic House which is open to the public. The house was built by Edmund Buxton in 1853. One of his six daughters married the family gardener and in her memory Adeline of Broadgreen (plot 5), a pink/apricot tea rose, was commissioned by the Broadgreen Society celebrating Broadgreen's 150th anniversary.

The old fashioned rose section, established in 1984, enhances the historic atmosphere of the park and homestead. The fragrant and showy Rosa alba maxima (72c) also known as the Jacobite Rose or Great Double White, was one of the roses painted by Italian masters in the fifteenth century. Some argue it features in Botticelli's masterpiece The Birth of Venus. Souvenir de la Malmaison (plot 72c) is a lavish scented powder pink bourbon rose and dates from 1843. It commemorates Josephine Bonaparte's garden at Malmaison which was full of rare and beautiful roses she had collected from around the world. France became the leading exporter of roses in the western world as a result of this collection.

David Austin began the development of the English Rose at his nurseries in Shropshire about 1963 combining the best of the old varieties with modern floribunda and hybrid tea roses. See many of his special fragrant and colourful roses in block 89 and 89a, such as the free flowering creamy pink English Garden rose and the fragrant apricot rose Jayne Austin.

Roses are considered 'the world's favourite flower' and feature in many legends and are used in national emblems. The vibrant red hybrid tea rose Spirit of Hope (plot 21) is a fitting official emblem of the NZ Red Cross and another of the inspired creations of rose breeder Sam McCready.

Thirty species rose are in our collection, including one from the Artic Circle. R Acicularis (plot 72c) has pink single blooms with five petalled flowers and pretty pear shaped rosehips in autumn.

Famous people have roses named after them such as film stars Ingrid Bergman (plot 13), a deep red hybrid tea rose; Ginger Rogers (plot 24), a pinky orange hybrid tea rose; and singer Pavarotti (plot 70), an exuberant crimson hybrid tea rose. Special New Zealanders are also celebrated such as writer Katherine Mansfield (plot 70) with a lavender pink hybrid tea rose; effervescent broadcaster Maggie Barry (plot 15), a deep pink hybrid tea rose that opens with a pale centre, and Governor General Dame Cath (plot 55), a soft pink floribunda. Sir Edmund Hillary (plot 21) is appropriately remembered with a climbing creamy white rose.

Download the Rose Walk and information to help to discover some gems amongst this wonderful collection.

Stoke has many attractive green areas with interesting plants to discover. Early European settlers have left as a lasting legacy some fine heritage trees which have been complemented by more recent plantings.

Download the map and description of the Saunter in Stoke walk.

Stoke was first known as “Brook Green” but renamed by William Songer who arrived in Nelson in 1841 as Captain Wakefield’s personal attendant. He was Stoke’s first settler, and named the place in memory of his English birthplace. Settlers cleared flax and raupo and fruit growing became the main occupation of settlers in Stoke by the mid 1890s.

Download the map and description of the Settlement in Stoke Walk.

In the 1840s the Paruparu Estuary was a mahinga kai (food gathering area) for Māori. It was flooded by the high tide, and fed by streams from the Toitoi Valley, Washington Valley and the Mahitahi (Maitai River) floodplain. European settlers called it ‘The Tideway’ and the area was bridged and gradually reclaimed.

Follow the shoreline plaques to points of interest along what was once the Estuary frontage. When reading a plaque you are facing the direction where water would have met the shoreline.

Download the map and description of the Tracing the Tideway walk.

Go to the Prow's Website to download the audio guide for the walk.

Explore the historic heart of Nelson known as Pikimai or Church Hill.

Download a two page map and description of the Trevor Horne Heritage Trail.