Nelson Airport is the perfect base to start your South Island road trip. The Nelson region is known for high sunshine hours, friendly locals, booming wine industry and a thriving arts community. If you’re planning to camp in Nelson before exploring the rest of the region, there are many affordable campsites near Nelson Airport or the city centre with beach access and fantastic facilities. To achieve your ultimate South Island road trip, start looking for an affordable yet reliable campervan hire at VroomVroomVroom.
International travel into New Zealand from Australia is currently restricted due to COVID-19. If you have an existing booking that has been impacted by these restrictions, please contact us.
Nelson Airport is located in the suburb of Annesbrook and a short 15-minute drive to the city centre. It serves as your gateway to incredible road trip destinations including Abel Tasman National Park, Kahurangi National Park, Kaiteriteri and Rabbit Island.
The airport offers domestic flights from Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Sounds Air, and Originair. The terminal is currently being redeveloped and the project includes a new car park for rental vehicles. Nelson Airport’s opening hours are approximately 5 am until 10 pm depending on the last scheduled flight.
There are campervan rental locations near Nelson Airport including Discover NZ Motorhome Rentals at Paton Road. If you prefer a smaller car like an SUV or station wagon, you can also rent a vehicle from Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz or Thrifty. The rental counters are just outside the terminal entrance and the car park is located on the left side after the counters. Nelson Airport offers Value Parking, Main Parking and Premium Parking.
The Barn Backpackers and Campground is an hour away from Nelson Airport. This is the closest accommodation to Abel Tasman National Park, and every campsite has a view of the sea. This campground is also about an hour and a half’s driving time to Takaka from Nelson, which is a handy service town if you are planning to head into the nearby Kahurangi National Park.
Tahuna Beach Holiday Park & Motel is a short 5 to 10-minute drive from Nelson Airport. It borders the golden sands of Tahunanui Beach. They offer unpowered and powered campsites as well as motel units and cabins. This is the perfect holiday park for families travelling with small children because of their playgrounds, mini-golf and giant board games.
Nelson City TOP 10 Holiday Park is the closest holiday park to the city centre and is just around 10 minutes away from Nelson Airport. They offer a wide range of accommodation including powered RV sites, camping area, standard cabins and motel units. Guests can make use of their modern facilities such as TV room with internet, kitchen and coin-operated laundry.
World of Wearable Art & Classic Car Museum is just 1.1 kilometres away or a short 2-minute drive from Nelson Airport. Whether you are into fashion or automobiles, you are sure to find interest in their exhibits. They also have a cafe and a store where you can enjoy some treats and buy some souvenirs.
Pic’s Peanut Butter World is located along Nayland Road and will only take you around 10 minutes by car or campervan from Nelson Airport. Make sure to get a selfie or photo op on top of the world’s biggest Pic’s Peanut Butter jar. Kids can try making their own peanut butter while adults sample their peanut butter variants.
Grampians Walkway is the best place to enjoy panoramic views of the city and the rolling hills. The trail starts at the corner of Brougham and Collingwood streets, which is a bit steep but you can always make a quick stop to enjoy the sights. There are numerous tracks to choose from.
The minimum age to hire a campervan at Nelson Airport is 21, but there are a few rental companies that consider drivers age 18 and above.
Most rental companies offer complimentary transfers from the airport to their depot. Take note that this service is only available during business hours so make sure to coordinate with the rental company since they are sometimes closed on weekends and holidays.
To return the campervan, just drive it back to where you’ve picked it up. It is important to do this during business hours otherwise inform your rental agent.
The closest petrol station is Mobil Tahunanui which is just a short 5-minute drive from Nelson Airport. Other nearby gas stations include Z Stoke Service Station and Caltex - Bishopdale.
