Tasman & Nelson

Nelson and Tasman sit at the top of the South Island in a sheltered bay that catches more sun than almost anywhere in New Zealand. The light here is extraordinary — warm, even, the kind that makes everything look slightly more beautiful than it has any right to. It has drawn artists for generations: Nelson has more artists per capita than any other city in New Zealand, and the region's galleries, glassblowers, potters, and jewellers are the genuine article.

Abel Tasman National Park — accessible by water taxi, kayak, or helicopter from Nelson — is New Zealand's most-walked national park for good reason. The coastal track winds through native bush above golden sand beaches and translucent turquoise bays, accessible only on foot or by sea. The Waters Hotel, on the edge of the park, provides the kind of lodge base that makes the experience feel curated rather than expeditionary. The Tasman wine region produces excellent sauvignon blanc and pinot gris from vineyards tucked into river valleys below the Richmond Ranges.