Nelson City

Nelson reckons it’s the sunniest city in the country, claims to be the geographic centre of New Zealand, and runs one of the best Saturday markets going. It’s small, it’s arty, and it’s perfectly placed at the top of the South Island with three national parks within reach.

The vibe is creative and outdoorsy in equal measure: galleries and craft studios one minute, tramping boots and kayaks the next. The suburbs run from the hill spots with harbour views to the flatter streets near the centre, and while it’s not cheap, it’s still kinder than the big cities for what you get.

There are 50 suburbs across the city. This page puts them together so you can compare properly: who lives where, what you’ll pay, how the schools rate, and which streets sit closest to the water, the hills or the market.

Sun, art and a setting that does the heavy lifting. Have a browse and see where you’d land.