Discover Nelson Scavenger Hunt
Discover the sunniest city in New Zealand with a scavenger hunt across Nelson. Climb the steps of Christ Church Cathedral above Trafalgar Street, follow the Maitai River through the leafy CBD, stand at the geographical centre of New Zealand on Botanical Hill and toast a craft beer in the brewery capital of the south. Sunshine, salty air, art on every corner.
Stops on this hunt
The geo-tagged checkpoints that anchor this route. You can rearrange, replace or remove any stop after using the template.
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1
Christ Church Cathedral
Navigate to the top of Trafalgar Street and check in at the steps of Christ Church Cathedral.
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2
Centre of New Zealand
Walk east across the river and up Botanical Hill to the Centre of New Zealand monument. Check in at the summit marker.
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3
Founders Heritage Park
Walk or rideshare north to Founders Heritage Park on Atawhai Drive and check in at the entrance.
Challenges (20)
Nelson kick-off
The hunt begins! Find a classic Nelson backdrop (the cathedral steps, the Maitai River, a gallery storefront) and take a group photo with the whole team in shot.
Checkpoint: Christ Church Cathedral
Navigate to the top of Trafalgar Street and check in at the steps of Christ Church Cathedral.
Cathedral steps pose
Christ Church Cathedral stands at the head of Trafalgar Street on Church Hill. Find a wide angle on the steps and the tower, line the team up and take a group photo looking up at the cathedral.
Trafalgar Street pose
Trafalgar Street is Nelson's main drag, lined with cafes, galleries and historic facades. Find a stretch of the street and take a group photo where the team walks toward the camera with the cathedral framed at the end.
Trivia: Nelson sunshine
Nelson is famously the sunniest city in New Zealand, with roughly how many sunshine hours per year (within 200)?
Answers: 2500 / 2400 / 2600 / 2300 / 2700
Maitai River walk
The Maitai River runs through the CBD with leafy walking paths along its banks. Find a stretch of the riverside and take a group photo with the team posed on a bridge or under the willows.
Checkpoint: Centre of New Zealand
Walk east across the river and up Botanical Hill to the Centre of New Zealand monument. Check in at the summit marker.
Centre of NZ pose
The Centre of New Zealand monument marks the (disputed) geographical centre of the country. Find the marker, gather the team around it and take a group photo with the panorama of Nelson and Tasman Bay behind everyone.
Trivia: Nelson founded
Nelson was founded by the New Zealand Company as one of the country's first organised settlements in what year?
Answers: 1841 / 1842
Checkpoint: Founders Heritage Park
Walk or rideshare north to Founders Heritage Park on Atawhai Drive and check in at the entrance.
Founders Park heritage shot
Founders Heritage Park is a recreated colonial village with old shops, a brewery and a railway. Find a heritage facade and take a group photo with the team dressed up in any costume or hat from the park's offerings.
Tahunanui Beach shot
Tahunanui Beach is Nelson's wide sandy stretch on Tasman Bay. Walk or drive 10 minutes south, take a group photo with the team posing barefoot on the sand, Tasman Bay and the mountains behind.
Nelson Saturday Market
On Saturday mornings the Nelson Market fills Montgomery Square with local makers and farmers. Find a stall (or any other open-air market day) and take a group photo with the team posed in front of a colourful stall.
World of WearableArt nod
Nelson is the home of the World of WearableArt (WOW) awards. Find the WOW museum, a WOW poster or any wearable-art display in town and take a group photo with the team striking a runway pose.
Trivia: WOW museum theme
The annual show that the Nelson WOW museum celebrates fuses fashion and art. What does the acronym WOW stand for (three words)?
Answers: World of WearableArt / World of Wearable Art / world of wearableart / world of wearable art
Craft beer toast
Nelson is the hop-growing centre of NZ and home to dozens of craft breweries (Townshend, McCashin's, Hop Federation). Order a tasting flight at a Nelson taproom and take a group photo with everyone holding glasses up in a toast.
Hops or apples spot
The Nelson region grows most of NZ's hops and a third of its apples. Find a hop bine, an apple orchard sign or a farm stall on your way in or out of town and take a group photo with the produce behind everyone.
Local Nelsonian plate
Order a Nelson classic (Pic's peanut-butter toast, smoked snapper, a Founders Park scone) at any cafe and take a group photo with everyone taking the first bite at the same time.
Local Nelsonian tip
Convince a local Nelson resident to share a tip about the city. Take a photo with your impromptu guide and remember the tip.
Nelson finale
Final challenge. Find a beautiful Nelson spot (Tasman Bay at golden hour, the cathedral at dusk, a riverside path in evening light) and take an amazing closing group photo. Kia ora from the sunniest city in Aotearoa!
Frequently asked questions
Three to four hours covers Christ Church Cathedral, Trafalgar Street, the Maitai walk, the Centre of NZ walk and Founders Heritage Park at a relaxed pace. The Centre of NZ walk up Botanical Hill is a 20-minute climb each way; the rest of the route is flat and walkable.
Yes, Nelson and Blenheim trade the title most years, with around 2,500 sunshine hours annually. Pack sunscreen and a hat; the high-UV southern sun bites hard even on cool days. The hunt works year-round but is at its best between November and April.
Yes if you have a spare day. Abel Tasman is one of NZ's great walks with golden beaches and turquoise water, an hour's drive northwest of Nelson. The hunt covers the urban core only. A day-walk or kayak trip in Abel Tasman pairs perfectly with the hunt before or after.
Christ Church Cathedral is the natural starting point: free parking on Trafalgar Street, the cathedral steps anchor the kickoff photo and you can walk south to the river, west to Founders Heritage Park or north to Tahunanui Beach. Botanical Hill (Centre of NZ) sits east of the river.
Yes. Trafalgar Street has plenty of cafes and ice-cream stops, Founders Heritage Park is a Sunday favourite with families, Tahunanui Beach has a sheltered swimming area and the Centre of NZ walk is doable for kids 6+. The craft-beer stops are easy to skip.