Tourism–and a Big, Big Thought

Quite recently Nelson Jaycees brought to the notice of the public Nelson's tourist potential, and various projects were discussed and compared in an endeavour to entice tourists to the province. But few new ideas - new Big ideas - came to light until very recently when it was suggested that Nelson should endeavour to cash in on its two national parks. At the moment the parks are just places on the map. Much of the Nelson Lakes park is available to the tourist, but only a small percentage of the Abel Tasman Park extending from Golden Bay can be reached by the tourist or the public generally. And so, the big idea. If Nelson is to cash in on the new Haast Pass route, another road access to the West Coast must be provided, and what better route than through Rabbit Island, the coastline to Motueka and thence through Kaiteriteri, Marahau, and through the National Park to Golden Bay, and then the final leg through West Haven Inlet, Paturau and the West Coast. We realise the roading costs would be enormous, but it could be done. This, then, is the Big idea. We would like to see the idea thrashed out by local bodies, various chambers of commerce, progress leagues and the National Parks Board. To show something of what is involved, we took this series of pictures of the coastline in the area we have discussed.

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The view south from Separation Point, with Mutton Cove and Anapai Bay in the foreground and Abel Head in the background.

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Totaranui, the last point with good vehicle access from the Golden Bay.