Walks - Central

Time: 1 - 1½ hours

Area: Port Nelson

Start Location: Millers Acre Centre, corner Halifax and Trafalgar Streets.

Download the Marina Walk map.

Route directions

Cross Trafalgar Street before the bridge and take the walkway alongside the river and past the Nelson Public Library.

Further on to the right you can view the Trafalgar Park Pavilion and the Hathaway Bridge, linking inner city recreation zones, observe the distinctive arches echoing the roof of the Trafalgar Centre. Continue along to cross the Saltwater Creek footbridge, and follow the path under Queen Elizabeth II Drive (SH6) – if you’re tall be prepared to duck as you walk under.

Turn right into Akersten Street, where you’ll have the Marina on your left. Follow the footpath until you get to the Recreational Craft Supervisor’s tower, then turn left into Cross Quay. This will take you past the ‘The Red Shed’ (Tasman Bay Cruising Club), the Nelson Rowing Club and the TS Talisman Sea Cadets, out onto the grassy area alongside the boat ramp. There are picnic tables in this area so you could plan ahead and take your thermos and enjoy watching the activity at the Boat Ramp.

Go out through the trailer park and turn right back on to Akersten Street*. From here you can see across the Haven to Founders Park and Walters Bluff. Continue along Akersten Street and head back under the road bridge.

Turn hard right up on to the highway bridge and cross the mouth of the Maitai River. Take the footpath to the right, back along the river bank past the Trafalgar Park Pavilion into a parking area.

Turn right and make your way to the end of the car park, turn left into Hathaway Terrace, with Trailways Motor Inn on the right.

Turn right into Trafalgar Street, cross the bridge and you are back at the Millers Acre Centre.

Options: *For a longer walk, continue out through the trailer park, turn left along Akersten Street past Talleys Fisheries to the end of the reclamation for views of the Boulder Bank and the city. At high tide this is a popular fishing spot.

Time: 40 - 60 minutes

Area: Nelson Central

Start Location: Millers Acre Centre, corner Trafalgar and Halifax Streets.

Download the Bridges Walk map.

Route Directions

On your left is the Trafalgar Street Bridge which was built in 1927 and refurbished in 1997 to allow a view of the river. Walk alongside the river to Collingwood Street, turn left, and cross the Collingwood Street Bridge. The bow string bridge on Collingwood Street was built in 1955 and its separated traffic lanes make it quite unusual.

Turn hard right from the bridge into Shakespeare Walk and follow the river – this is a great spot for summer picnics. Cross the river again at the Riverside footbridge. This footbridge and the Hardy Street footbridge were rebuilt after the originals were washed away in the severe floods of 1970.

Turn left and walk past Riverside Pool and begin following the Maitai Walkway. At Bridge Street leave the walkway to cross over the Normanby Bridge. It was the oldest inner city road bridge, rebuilt in 1906 to replace the 1870s one way bridge, and upgraded in 2007.

Turn right into Avon Terrace and take another right over the Hardy Street footbridge, turn left into Domett Street and right into Nile Street. On your left is the Nile Street Bridge, built in 1975, replacing the footbridge which was also lost in the 1970 floods.

Carry on along Nile Street and turn right into Tasman Street, then turn left into Hardy Street and turn right into Queens Gardens. Wander through Queens Gardens making sure you go over the bridge. It was built to cross the pond in 1895 soon after the gardens were officially opened in 1891, and rebuilt to the original design in 1984.

Leave Queens Gardens through one of the Bridge Street exits and make your way back to the Maitai Walkway. Follow the walkway back to Millers Acre Centre.

Time: 40-60 minutes

Area: Nelson Central.

Start Location: A suggested starting point for this walk is the Brook Street playground just beside the local dairy, north of the intersection with Seymour Avenue.

Download the Willow Walk map.

Route directions

Walk down along Brook Street to Bronte Street East and turn left. Go across the footbridge and through to Seymour Avenue, then turn right into Willow Walk.

Following the Brook, the walkway comes out on to Alton Street beside Central School. Follow Alton Street across Nile Street and down to Hardy Street. Turn right into Hardy Street and left into Queens Gardens.

Spend some time in the gardens with the ducks and admire the rose beds, take a look at Sentinel in the pond, purchased by the Council in 1998. This steel sculpture by Grant Scott and Dominique de Borrekens was inspired by the base of the nikau palm frond and the waka and ships which brought waves of people to Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Waterwheel near the Hardy Street entrance to the gardens was chosen as a symbolic reference to the Rotary emblem and installed in 2005 as a centenary project of the Nelson Rotary Club. It is made of 50,000 year old Kauri from Dargaville.

Follow any one of the paths out on to Bridge Street and turn right. Cross Domett Street and follow the path down to the Maitai Walkway.

Turn right up the river to the Hardy Street footbridge. Cross over and carry on along Hardy Street, then right into Tory Street. Turn right into Nile Street, walk along to Tasman Street and turn left. Follow Tasman Street and Brook Street back to the playground.

Time: 30 - 50 minutes (does not include playground time)

Area: Atawhai

Note: The Trafalgar Cycleway is a shared use path so stay left and move off the path when stopped. Sealed and gravel pathways, some parts tricky for buggies.

Start Location: The Miyazu Japanese Gardens on Atawhai Drive. There is plenty of parking, or walk or bike from the city along the Trafalgar Cycleway which begins at the Northern end of Trafalgar Street.

Download the Miyazu Gardens & North Road Playground map.

Route directions

You can tour the Miyazu Japanese Gardens first, or on your return.

From the gardens walk north along Atawhai Drive and turn left onto the Trafalgar Cycleway. To tour the Japanese Gardens on the return journey turn left into the nursery driveway which gives an alternative entrance. Follow the sealed path until you cross the railway*, turn left and walk alongside Neale Park to North Road where there is a playground. Walk past the Founders Park service entrance to take the path along the Founders Park perimeter fence to Atawhai Drive**.

Founders Park was first established in 1986 and is home to many of Nelson's historic buildings and artefacts. The park is open seven days a week and there is a small entrance fee. Turn left onto Atawhai Drive and past Whakatu Marae. Visitors are welcome to tour the grounds of the marae around the meeting house Kakati but cannot enter the building. If you are invited onto the Wharenui, please do not take photographs. Return to the Miyazu Gardens.

Options: *For a longer walk, continue straight on after the railway crossing on the Trafalgar Cycleway to again cross the railway. Continue ahead and just past Grove station, exit the cycleway left to Sovereign Street (a sign says 'To Collingwood Street'). Go straight ahead and take the first left into Weka Street. Turn left into North Road past Neale Park to the playground.

**If you feel like a stretch of the legs rewarded with excellent views, you can head up the track opposite Founders Park. The track winds up through the trees to Sir Stanley Whitehead Park.

Time: 1 hour

Area: Central City

Start Location: Start from the back of the Cathedral on Trafalgar Street.

Download the Trevor Horne Heritage Trail map.

Route directions

The first site is Fort Arthur, built by the Nelson settlers after the Wairau Affray in 1843 - see the interpretive panel near the back of the Cathedral. Walk down the eastern side of the Cathedral to descend the Church Steps which were donated to the city in 1913 by benefactor Thomas Cawthron. Turn back into the Church Hill grounds to note the Great War Memorial and the site of church service held by Bishop Selwyn in 1842. Turn left into Nile Street, passing Marsden House and the Bishop's School where there is another interpretive panel. Another left turn into Collingwood Street takes in No. 144 - now a health centre and formerly the Cathedral parsonage.

Retrace your steps back along Nile Street, past the School of Music, then left up Shelbourne Street. Before the road turns right, a short passage and steps lead up to Nelson's second oldest burial ground, the Hallowell Cemetery. There are few headstones remaining, but an interpretive panel indicates the early deaths and arduous life of the settlers. Back in Shelbourne Street a plaque indicates the site of Nelson's first gaol.

Continue along Shelbourne Street to return to Church Hill and from the driveway at the rear of the Cathedral take a right turn, down the path to Nile Street West and into historic South Street. Early cottages have been restored and recently added to, with the Civic Trust building replica homes on the corner of South and Nile Streets.

Walk back towards the Cathedral and on around Trafalgar Square, passing the Rutherford Hotel, named after world renowned physicist Lord Rutherford. Harley's Breweries used to be on this site, and Fifeshire House is the former Harley home, just around the corner.

Wander back to your starting point at the Cathedral through the large deciduous trees of Church Hill. Take a look inside the Cathedral with its impressive stained glass windows.

Time: 1 - 3 hours.

Area: Nelson Central

Start Location: Top of Trafalgar Street at the Church Steps, the focal point of Nelson's inner city.

Download the Three Gardens Walk map

Route directions

Wander through the Church Hill gardens around the Cathedral finishing at Nile Street on the eastern side. Interpretive panels behind the cathedral and alongside the steps point out trees and historic features.

Walk east along Nile Street and turn right into Shelbourne Street. At the corner on the left side of the road are steps up to historic Hallowell Cemetery.

Back down on Shelbourne Street continue up to Bronte Street, turn right and then left into Trafalgar Street South. Walk through Fairfield Park to Van Diemen Street - or take time to relax in the Lady Newman Gazebo overlooking the amphitheatre lawn used for outdoor concerts in summer.

On the other side of the park walk up to Fairfield House which is open to the public every day during daylight hours*.

From Fairfield House walk along Trafalgar Street South to Melrose House - a historic house and public garden. Take any of the garden pathways through to Brougham Street.

Turn right and continue along until the road turns left into Scotland Street. From the end of the street take Willow Walk alongside the Brook Stream through to Alton Street by Central School. The houses opposite Central School on Alton Street were built between 1900-25 and form an historic precinct. The lime trees around the front of the school are over 100 years old.

From Alton Street, turn right into Hardy Street and then left into Queens Gardens - a traditional park with attractive lighting along the pathways for evening strolls. When you reach Bridge Street on the other side of the gardens turn left past the Suter Art Gallery and through historic Albion Square to Hardy Street. There is an interpretive panel on Bridge Street with more information on Albion Square and its features, which include an old fire station and hexagonal trout hatchery. Finish your walk along Hardy Street, left into Trafalgar Street and back to the Church Steps.

Options: *For an extra walk take the loop track through the woodland area behind Fairfield House - the best place to start is on Van Diemen Street.

Time: 40 - 60 minutes

Area: Nelson Central

Start Location: Millers Acre Centre, corner Halifax and Trafalgar Streets.

Download the Maitai Walkway and Lower Botanics map

Route directions

Walk along the Maitai River path to Collingwood Street and continue until you come to the Nile Street Bridge. The seal on the path stops here - an arrow guides you under the bridge and then up the stairs.

* Further along the track you go out of the city and the scenery changes - ahead is one of the many swimming holes in the Maitai River, this one is 'Girlies Hole', used in the past by Nelson College for Girls' swimming sports.

Follow the track to go past the wishing well and continue along to Clouston's Bridge (on Nile Street) - go across the bridge and turn right. You are now on Maitai Valley Road. Follow for about 40 metres and turn left at the letterboxes. Follow the track and signposts to the playing field. Go up the track and to the left. Up the hill note some of the native trees - brachyglottis, mahoe, lancewoods, titoki, matai and kahikatea.

Now descend down the track out on to the Botanical Reserve. Follow the path to the right of the park towards the playground and turn right into Milton Street. When you reach Bridge Street, turn left and cross the Normanby Bridge. Cross to the right hand side of the bridge and turn hard right on to the Maitai Walkway and back to your start point.

*Wheelchair / Buggie option: Follow the river from Millers Acre Centre to Nile Street where the seal ends on the walkway. Go up on to the bridge and turn left, go across the bridge and along Nile Street, turning left into Tory Street and then left into Hardy Street East. Follow Hardy Street across the footbridge. Cross Domett and Tasman Streets and turn right into Queens Gardens - go through the gardens and turn right into Bridge Street. Go across the Normanby Bridge, cross the road and turn left into Tasman Street. Follow Tasman Street and turn left into Halifax Street East.

From here either turn right into Shakespeare Walk or left over the Collingwood Street Bridge, then turn right and follow the path back along the river to the Millers Acre Centre.

Time: 50 - 80 minutes

Area: Washington Valley

Start Location: Anzac Park, corner Halifax and Rutherford Streets.

Download the Washington Walk map

Route directions

At the western end of Anzac Park cross to the Globe Tavern (built in the 1870s), cross St Vincent Street and turn right into Hastings Street. Anzac Park is Nelson's memorial to locals who gave their lives in world wars. Originally reclaimed from mudflats, Anzac Park was established in the 1920s and now features a striking avenue of Phoenix palms.

Continue along Hastings Street past Pioneers Park to Washington Road. At the intersection of Hastings Street and Washington Road is the umbrella shaped weeping elm, and across the road at number 35 is Pioneer Cottage, the oldest house in the street, now renovated to retain its original character.

Follow Washington Road (taking the steps on the hill section) up to the crossroads and turn left up Princes Drive. At the top it's time to take a rest and admire the views of the Nelson region.

Turn left from the top of Princes Drive into Quebec Road. Some sections of Quebec Road are narrow and have no footpath so watch out for traffic. Look out for the sign directing you to the walkway to Arrow Street and follow the path. At the bottom turn right and take Quebec Road round to the Watson Street Walkway (there is a seat at the top and steps down the first section), then follow a concrete drive and veer left at number 17 down to Watson Street. Turn right and cross over to Pioneers Park.

A paved pathway follows the perimeter of the park to the right of the playground and takes you back to Hastings Street and Anzac Park.

Time: 2 1/2 - 3 hours

Area: Nelson East

Start Location: Branford Park, approximately 500m on the left from start of Maitai Valley Road

Download the Sir Stanley Whitehead Park map

Route directions

Take the track on the left that is signposted 'Centre of NZ'. Follow the signs up the Botanical Hill to the summit with views to the east up the valley to The Doubles. Interpretive panels here pinpoint geographical landmarks and the view sweeps from the Brook Valley, across the city to the port, with Tasman Bay and the Western Ranges as a backdrop to the city.

Leave the summit by the asphalt path on the right to the green park bench, and take the third option on your left which is signposted 'Sir Stanley Whitehead Park'. Sir Stanley Whitehead was a Nelson MP from 1957 - 1976.

Climb up the gravel track to the kissing gate and follow the track on around the eastern hills. There are excellent views of Port Nelson, Australasia's biggest fishing port; The Wood where early Italian immigrants built the glasshouses which gave Nelson its reputation for tomatoes; and Neale Park where the afternoon sea breeze makes for great kite flying.

Go through another kissing gate about 500m along the track and continue along to a third kissing gate where you can rest on a seat before making the descent. About 50m past this point, take the track to the left signposted 'to Atawhai Drive'.

This track will bring you out to some houses on Whitehead Place where you can continue down through the Walters Bluff subdivision on to Atawhai Drive or keep going down along the track, coming directly out on to Atawhai Drive opposite Founders Park.

Walters Bluff takes its name from Sir Walter Nash, Labour Prime Minister in the 1950s, who promised a railway tunnel would start at this point to link Nelson with Blenheim.

Another railway link is commemorated by Davies Drive - named for Sonia Davies who was part of the famous women's sit-in to stop the Nelson railway being pulled up in 1955, and who went on to become a city councillor and later MP for Pencarrow.

Now on Atawhai Drive, you can chose to visit the Miyazu Gardens, or take in Founders Heritage Park. Make your way back along Atawhai Drive and Milton Street to the Botanics. Cross the field to take the right track around the southern side of the hill which will return you to the Maitai Valley. Turn left here and walk back to your start point at Branford Park.

Time: 30 - 60 minutes

Area: Nelson Central

Start Location: The Botanical Reserve. You can park your car on Hardy Street East, or start your walk at the Millers Acre Centre and follow the Maitai Walkway (which runs alongside the river) to the Hardy Street footbridge. Cross the footbridge to reach the Botanical Reserve.

Download the Centre of New Zealand map.

Route directions

Walk across the Botanical Reserve, the site of the first ever rugby game in New Zealand! See the interpretive panel next to the toilets for more information. At the sign near the poplar trees, in the north-eastern corner of the reserve, take the track to the left (the Kauri Track) to the summit.

There are about three link points to the main track on the way up, and a detour to the Ridgeway Track via the wishing well - this also leads to the summit.

Continuing up you pass the kauri tree, planted in 1951, which gives this track its name. When the Kauri Track ends as it meets the main track, continue to the summit of the Centre of New Zealand. At the summit of the Centre of New Zealand there are native plantings and a platform built (in 1996) to complement the trig point that was presented to the city in 1968. Enjoy the stunning view from the seats around the platform and pick out the features of Nelson's geography from the interpretive panels. Return to the base of the hill via the main track.

Option: For a longer walk (an extra hour or so), a sign directs you to the Sir Stanley Whitehead Reserve - this walkway goes along the face of the Malvern Hills to the track down through the gum trees to Founders Park on Atawhai Drive.