Eco-chic ... Nelson
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from Freshchoice (69 Collingwood Street). Arguably the most onto-it supermarket in the country, Nelson’s Freshchoice has been selling organic food for a decade. Two years ago, with organics accounting for 7% of the supermarket’s total business, it went local. Bright yellow swing tags proclaiming “This product has travelled less than 200km” mark local products from booze to peanut butter, and its eco-bag incentive (use one ten times, get one free) has resulted in 47,000 fewer plastic bags used over the past year.
STAY …
on South Street. It’s the oldest street in New Zealand with all its original homes still standing—and it’s just a couple of minutes’ walk from the centre of town. Window flower-boxes line the inner-city cobbled street, residents still have their milk delivered in glass bottles, and several of the historic 1860s cottages are available as self-catering accommodation on a night-by-night basis. See inside one of them here.
SHOP …
at Coastal Merchant (63 Bridge Street). With 85 percent of its jewellery, clothing, accessories and homeware sourced from local, up-and-coming design talent, Coastal Merchant specialises in ‘cool Kiwi’ retro, vintage, kiwiana and Pacific-themed kit at good prices. The store is the major agent for Vicky’s Originals colourfully reupholstered furniture and stocks various other upcycled and recycled products. There are Coastal Merchant shops in both Nelson and Raglan, and the shops conduct ‘domestic exports’ of local designers and artists between the two towns.
VISIT …
for the Nelson Arts Festival (16–27 October). See clowns and flamenco dancers from Spain, a Parisian one-man orchestra, and international cabaret sensation Meow Meow, plus countless New Zealand plays and performers. Held at Founder’s Heritage Park, a replica historic village containing many of Nelson’s original buildings, festival highlights include The Sitting Room with music cognoscente Grant Smithies, instruction in circus skills for the bold and, for the more sedentary, readings from Emily Perkins, Joe Bennett, and poets Kate Camp and Sam Hunt.
DRINK …
at the Sprig & Fern Tavern (134 Milton Street). With two bars in the Nelson region, and a third opening soon, the Sprig & Fern is bringing the local pub to New Zealand. Promising no gratuitous television, no pokies and no pool tables, this homely 103-year-old villa is like popping over to your mate’s place … if your mate had a choice of 20 different brews and a menu that changes daily. The beer is brewed locally by the Tasman Brewing Company in Richmond, and you can even fill a rigger to take away your favourite drop at brewery prices.
