Nelson Tours & Vacations

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

There are several ways to get to Nelson, depending on where in New Zealand you're travelling from.

Nelson is located on the tip of the South Island, so catching the ferry across from Wellington and then self-driving is a great way to travel to the region if you're on the North Island.

You can also catch public transport from other destinations on the South Island or fly to Nelson's airport. 

Nelson enjoys a relatively mild climate with no extreme temperatures, either hot or cold, throughout the year.

Rainfall is also distributed evenly throughout the year. However, December is the wettest month, with 113mm on average.

The warmest month is February, but temperatures are unlikely to reach over 30°C+.

July is the coldest month, with an average temperature of 8°C and little chance of overnight frosts.

Nelson is known for having extraordinary natural landscapes so chances are that during your holiday you'll be doing exploring some of them.

If that's the case, you'll want to pack comfortable walking/hiking shoes, a day bag, a reusable drink bottle, and some sunscreen for your outdoor adventures.

You should also pack your swimsuit if you want to make the most of Tahunanui Beach, as well as weather-appropriate clothes for the time of year you're travelling in. 

Summer is usually considered to be the best time to visit Nelson as the weather is at its warmest.

If you do travel during the months of December, January, or February, expect it to be crowded in certain spots as it is peak season.

If you did want to avoid the crowds, try travelling in Autumn (March, April, and May) as the weather will still be warm and rainfall will be minimal. 

Nelson has some of the best landscapes in the South Island and to make sure you're getting the most out of this naturally beautiful region, why not follow a few tracks and embark on a few walks to see it all? Below are some of our favourites: 

• Abel Tasman Track 
• The Boulder Bank 
• Mt. Arthur Summit Track 
• Lake Rotoiti Circuit 
• St. Arnaud Range Track

We are committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations. 

We are always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.