Nelson's Coronation Street

When I was little Nelson was a place to get through on the way to our summer camping holiday. It was where we picked up our large bottles of apple juice to put in the camping cupboard.
Now I will always associate Nelson with a beautiful weekend away with my husband, with some lovely memories of fine dining, country jaunts and antique shops.

We chose Nelson for our little holiday because in all the years we have lived here in the South Island we have never been up to Nelson. We've been just about everywhere else, except Nelson and Stewart Island.

The first day we left I felt a little separation anxiety, mostly from my younger children, but when we were settled in our hotel, with a text from my parents to say that the children were all safely tucked up in bed, I felt I could relax, and savour every single moment. And our hotel was wonderful.

I called it Coronation Street goes romantic. The hotel complex is designed in a style that resembles that long-running British soap opera, and the classic one down, one up cottage of living areas downstairs and the bedroom upstairs.

An orchard in the middle of the hotel gardens.

Love, love, love this little garden gate.

The inside was so lovely and welcoming. And look at the four-poster. First time I've ever slept in one of those! And I loved the soft, French fabrics used for the curtains and furnishings.

 

 

The gardens at the hotel were beautiful. Each cottage had climbing roses over the front door and at the back around the french doors opening onto the outdoor eating area.

I don't know if we will ever get back to Nelson. I sure would like to one day, and to stay in this place again. We had such a lovely weekend together, talking (without interuptions), going out to eat at late hours, planning for the future. It's the first time in nearly 10 years that we have had the opportunity to get away on our own, and I can see why it is suggested as a priority for marriage. It really helps to reconnect with each other and to talk about the important things without distractions.

And Nelson was the perfect place to do it in. I'm looking forward to sharing with you the markets, the places we visited and the food we ate.