Simply Wild offers a wide range of private guided excursions in the Nelson area in comfortable vehicles, primarily a VW Touareg. We will construct a trip with you to explore and discover the art, wine or wilderness areas of the Nelson region.
We collect you from your accommodation, provide a delightful picnic lunch or select a restaurant to suit and we are flexible to make the day meet your expectations. Trips last from 4 hours to all day.
Day Walks
Nelson has a number of diverse walking opportunities within about 1 hour’s drive, depending on where your accommodation is.
Mt Arthur, Kahurangi National Park
This drive is about 40 minutes from Motueka to the Flora car park at 950m (3000ft), the hike starts through beech forest and candelabra type mountain Nie Nie and other sub alpine forest. From the Mt Arthur Hut we are able to explore the alpine area along ridges with wide views of the Nelson area and Tasman Bay. From 3 hours hiking.
Abel Tasman National Park
Drive to Marahau and take a water taxi into the park and walk the coastal track with a mixture of golden sand beaches, native forest and spectacular coastal views, followed by a water taxi back to Marahau. Hiking time 4-5 hours.
Nelson Lakes National Park
About an hours drive from Nelson is St Arnaud, from which there are choices of hikes around Lake Rotoiti or up to the Mt Robert ridge which has spectacular views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Around 5 hours hiking .
Cobb Valley, Kahurangi National Park
Depending on where you are staying the drive is around 1½ hours over the Takaka hill and up a valley to the Cobb Reservoir. The track climbs up through the beech forest to the open tussock grasslands and small lakes, with views over the Cobb Valley and the expansive Kahurangi National Park. Around 6 hours hiking
All tracks are well graded with walking in the Abel Tasman being the least challenging.
Art/Wine/Scenic
Depending on your preference we will guide you to some of Nelson’s special places at your pace. Or allow us to give you a taste of Nelson and it’s variety of culture and scenery, or travel further to Golden Bay.
