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Press, 25 July 1985, Page 33

“Sunny Nelson — The Sunshine State of New Zealand” is the name which the tourist promotion people have given to this province, renowned for its golden beaches, peaceful river valleys, beautiful lakes and a host of holiday activity options. A warm friend in winter, Nelson is renowned for its record-breaking sunshine hours, its temperate climate, and its hospitality and friendliness. Nelson is also recognised as a major convention and conference site with facilities like the Trafalgar Centre, seating more than 3000 people, which complement the city’s other amenities. Nelson is continuously adding to and developing its places of interest, as the photographs on this page show: ABOVE: A fascinating new place in Bridge Street is The Works, which consists of an icecream parlour (pictured), known as the Cone Works; a licensed restaurant, the Food Works; and a huge pottery display and sales area on the mezzanine floor, the Clay Works. The entire premises has been constructed of timber from the old Hokitika rail bridge, and will also feature a sprung dance floor, live theatre, poetry readings and musical evenings. TOP RIGHT: Founders Park, only 2km out of Nelson at the beginning of the main road to Blenheim, is expected to be open to the public by early December. The SI.SM park is to be a living museum of regional industries and trades, combined with community

facilities for education, arts and crafts, hobbies and entertainment. Pictured is one of the main streets, which will feature the Anchor Inn, the “Evening Mail” as a working printery, a working bakery, the original Bank of N.S.W., and old St Peter’s Church at the far end. CENTRE RIGHT: The Suter Art Gallery, in Queen’s Gardens, has developed into one of the brightest and busiest of its kind in the country. Besides its own valuable art collection, it features ever-changing exhibitions, a cinema for quality films, and a restaurant where weight-watchers must beware. For a profile of the gallery and its director see the following page. BOTTOM RIGHT: Tahuna Beach Park boasts to be the largest holiday establishment in New Zealand. On a peak day during summer, up to 450 cars arrive at the park, bringing with them as many as 1800 people. Situated about skm from the centre of Nelson and I.skm from the airport, it occupies about 20 hectares of parklands, providing shelter for most of the 1200 tent and caravan sites, including 500 with power. BELOW: The Nelson City Council superintendent of parks and recreation, Mr Alan Jolliffe, feeds the goats at Natureland, in the Tahuna Sands Recreation Reserve. Many of Natureland’s birds and animals are free roaming. You can walk among peacocks, goats, hens and rabbits, and feed selected animals. More exotic species include chimpanzees, capuchin and squirrel monkeys, cockatoos, wallabies, otters and little blue penguins.