Nelson for a Night

When I first began my trip in the Cook Islands, I met a couple at breakfast who had just returned from New Zealand and I asked what their favorite places were. They said two things:

“Swimming with the dolphins in Kaikoura… oh, and stay at the hostel called Accents on the Park in Nelson!”

Well, okay then. Both went on my agenda.

A few weeks into my travels with the Stray bus I realized that our tour doesn’t actually stop in Nelson for the night. But I have the opportunity to hop off the bus, spend an evening at the highly lauded Accents on the Park, and then make my own way to our next destination (Marahau, home of Abel Tasman National Park) for only $25. Sold.

I’ll back track for a second to show you three photos from our drive en route to Nelson…

The South Island is known for producing high quality wine and there are lots of vineyards to show for it. Here’s one we paused at:

We stopped for lunch along the Pelorus River and I got a treat. Let me clarify that this is the best ice cream in New Zealand — a brand called Kapti and this flavor is passionfruit. It’s heaven.

And here is downtown Nelson: cute and bursting with fall colors.

If you can’t read the fliers on the “Old Folks Hall,” they’re advertising dance, pilates, and salsa classes. The elder Kiwis of Nelson must be a fit bunch.

And here is the aforementioned hostel Accents on the Park:

It’s got loads of character and I’m immediately glad I took the advice of that couple in the Cook Islands.

I arrive around 3:30pm and throw my belongings on the bed, grab my camera, and dash outside to make the most of the daylight hours.

Quick story: all of the tourist information centers around New Zealand are called i-SITE — there’s one in almost every town and they’ll help you book tours, transportation, and accommodation. So I get a kick out of this eye doctor’s office called “The Eyesite.”

Here’s a few more shots of downtown Nelson:

FYI: Anzac Day is like Memorial Day in New Zealand and Australia; it celebrates the remembrance of casualties from the First World War. ANZAC stands for “Australia and New Zealand Army Corps,” whose soldiers were known as Anzacs.