Atawhai: Trails, views and history

Atawhai offers a range of ways to enjoy a stay: Wakapuaka Cemetery explores several themes in local history, Tirohanga Whānui Park offers views and named facilities, and the Marybank Walk leads to a reserve identified as a remnant of coastal forest. When looking for holiday accommodation, consider whether you would most like to include cultural topics, a visit to a park or a landscape-focused walk in your stay.

History and walks around Wakapuaka

Wakapuaka Cemetery overlooks Nelson Haven and has several heritage trails. The Mayoral Memories Heritage Trail offers insights into the history of Nelson City Council from 1874 to 1913. The Notable Women Heritage Trail tells compelling stories about women in Nelson, while the Italian Memorial Walk explores the history of Italian immigration. These trails focus on distinct themes: local government history, women’s stories and migration.

The Wakapuaka Cemetery Walk takes 1 to 1½ hours. The Marybank Walk has a different landscape focus: it leads to a reserve identified as a remnant of coastal forest. When choosing between these walks, consider whether historical themes or a destination associated with coastal forest appeals more.

Views and facilities at Tirohanga Whānui Park

Tirohanga Whānui Park offers views of the Boulder Bank and Tasman Bay. Its name was suggested by the Ngāti Koata Kaumātua Committee and means “majestic views”—a fitting addition to the two viewpoints mentioned.

A report on the park’s opening in 2023 lists a large swing, a rope course, climbing bars, picnic tables, benches, a slide, an adjustable-height basketball hoop, a drinking fountain and fruit trees. Check the facilities again before your trip. The variety of facilities listed sets the park apart as an excursion destination from the heritage trails’ historical themes and the Marybank Walk’s landscape focus.

More cultural and landscape themes in the wider Nelson City destination

In the wider Nelson City destination, the cultural offering extends beyond Atawhai’s trails to include other historical themes. Theatre Royal is New Zealand’s oldest purpose-built theatre building still used for its original purpose. It is privately owned and generally not open to the public. The Trafalgar Street area has been Nelson’s commercial centre for over a century. Albion Square is a historic area in the heart of Nelson City; plaques on Hardy Street and Bridge Street provide information about the square and its features.

Suter Memorial Art Gallery and Nelson Provincial Museum offer further historical and regional points of interest in Nelson City. Suter Memorial Art Gallery was built in 1899 in memory of Anglican Bishop Andrew Burn Suter. The Regional Gallery at Nelson Provincial Museum focuses on Te Tauihu, the top of the South Island from Tasman Bay to Golden Bay, and explores the history and identity of this region.

The wider Nelson City destination’s landscape also includes Boulder Bank Scenic Reserve: a rare, 13-kilometre-long gravel bank that protects Nelson Harbour. Together with the views of the Boulder Bank from Tirohanga Whānui Park, this is another landscape point of interest to consider when choosing the themes for your stay.

For the wider travel overview: Nelson.