As the major regional centre, the city offers many lodgings, restaurants, and unique speciality shopping such as at the Jens Hansen Goldsmiths where "The One Ring" in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy was designed.

• Nelson has a vibrant local music and arts scene and is known nationwide for its culturally idiosyncratic craftsmen. These include potters, glass blowers (such as Flamedaisy Glass Design and Höglund Art Glass Studio & Gallery), and dozens of wood carvers using native New Zealand southern beech and exotic macrocarpa.
• Nelson is a popular visitor destination and year-round attracts both New Zealanders and international tourists.^[63]
• The Nelson Saturday Market is a popular weekly market where one can buy direct from local artists.^[64]
• The Theatre Royal was restored in 2010 and is the oldest wooden functioning theatre in the Southern Hemisphere (built 1878)^[65]
• Art organisations include the Suter Art Gallery^[66] and Nelson Arts Festival.^[67]
• The Victory Village community received the 2010 New Zealander of the Year award for Community of the Year.^[68]

The Nelson region comprises two unitary authorities – Nelson City, administered by the Nelson City Council, and Tasman District, administered by the Tasman District Council, based in Richmond 15 kilometres (9 miles) to the southwest. It is between Marlborough, another unitary authority, to the east, and the West Coast Regional Council to the west.

When someday comes you'll need to get in.

When someday comes you'll need to be able to get around.