Nelson's diverse attractions make it a popular year-round destination. Whether you wish to experience arts-and-crafts culture, renowned vineyards, or all-season adventure pursuits.

Nelson has it all.

ART LOVERS: Nelson is home to hundreds of Artists working in varied media including painting, pottery, glass-blowing and wood turning. It hosts the World of Wearable Art Awards and the Nelson School of Music Winter Festival.

NATURE: The Nelson region's three national parks offer contrasting experiences from coastal Abel Tasman to the Alpine Nelson Lakes and the wilderness of Kahurangi, New Zealand's second largest national park.

ADVENTURE: Almost all imaginable outdoor experiences are available, including sea kayaking, water water rafting, sailing, quad bikes, tandem sky diving, parasailing, horse riding, hiking from half a day to four days or more, caving and fly-fishing.

DINING: Nelson has plenty of excellent cafes and restaurants, as well as an abundance of orchards and berry-fruit farms where you can pick your own in season. There is also a range of fishing charters if you wish to catch your own meal to cook on the Riverlodge barbecue -- and couple the food with excellent wines produced at the numerous award-winning vineyards.

For the Lord of the Rings devotees, Nelson locations that feature in the movies are Mount Owen (DimrillDale hillside), Mount Olympus( Eregion Hills and the Rough Country South of Rivendel) and the Takaka Hill (Chetwood Forest). Many of the props for the film, including the original ring, are the work of Nelson's innovative artists.