Flying planes in Nelson

It’s always sunny in Nelson, apparently, except it wasn’t for the week C and I stayed there. It didn’t spoil our fun though. We stayed at the beautiful Palazzo Motor Lodge and the highlight of our time was definitely flying a plane over Nelson and the surrounding area!

Our week in Nelson was spent drinking wine and using the town as a jumping off point for Abel Tasman National Park where we hiked and later went on an adventure in the sky. Have you wanted to do flying lessons over places where Lord of the Rings was filmed? Read on.

Things to do in Nelson by day

We explored the town during the daytime, shopping, watching our hosts’ son play football, and eating breakfasts cooked for us. It was so nice to be back in a proper home rather than a hostel! We went up to the geographical center of New Zealand (allegedly) to check out the view.

I found the architecture around town so charming. Check out this quaint little tea shop!

Here we are with Owen, our hosts’ son (and future pro footballer) at the center of New Zealand.

In Nelson we really got a taste of Kiwi life, and it was so much more laid back than the rat race at home. Kiwis seem to really take the time to enjoy their lives. The ones we met certainly did anyway. Our hosts introduced us to all of their lovely friends at a cosy pub called The Freehouse, took us for a lovely meal at The Boat Shed, to see Farewell Spit, and lots of other must-see spots.

We spent one night at their house playing Murder In The Dark with all of their kids for hours. We also took the kids to YoGi’s, the go-to place for pre-teen dates (Seriously. We spied on one), made them believe that I was a famous singer in the UK, and taught them the ‘No Make Up Face’ – yes, we got kids to do Duck Face for the camera.

One night we went to a 40th Birthday Party at The Sprig & Fern. The free bar was serving Ketel One Vodka, which inevitably led to us playing in the Photo Booth and flirting with the Aldo, the Mayor of Nelson.

We also had a Girls Night with C’s Aunt and her fun friend; starting with cocktails at Harry’s Bar, then on to a club called Little Rock, where we danced on pool tables and fed C’s Aunt shots. On the way home I found a McDonalds in the back of our taxi, and ate it. The shame. We’ve been told C’s Aunt’s friend hasn’t had a drink since our visit. Sorry Karen!

My travel pal did a skydive in Nelson, but I wasn’t quite brave enough. I really regret it now! I had a sky-high experience of my own however when we hopped in to a plane near Abel Tasman. I was in the front so I got to fly it! Our pilot pointed out landmarks as we flew over stunning Abel Tasman, including spots where The Hobbit was filmed! We also saw stingrays in the bay and holes were deer had fallen down because the land was disintegrating. We experienced 2G – awful!

On the way back from Abel Tasman we drove back along a road that cut across a huge sand plain and the sunsets were stunning – the sky was a surreal red and it illuminated the wet sand so it shone with blues and purples. Kids had written their names in pebbles in the sand and it made me think about how idyllic a New Zealand childhood must be.