Founders Heritage Park

The Founders Heritage Park shows how life in Nelson was between 1880 and 1930. A group of lovingly restored historic buildings along character streets form the main part of Founders Park.

Once entered through a historic windmill you can stroll along these streets, buy some bread or cake at the L’Artisan Bakery or enjoy a beer at the organic brewery.

During the summer months you can take a short train ride, meet resident artists working in ceramics, wrought iron, stone jewellery and the ancient art of cooperage.

Founders Park comes to life at various occasions every year. A weekly Friday night market from 3 – 6pm offers a wide variety of stalls from woodcrafts to plants, flowers to fine foods.

A new event in Founders Park takes place on or around Waitangi day, the Kai Fest. Residents in and around Nelson from all over the world offer their ethnic food in Founders Park and on the grounds of the neighbouring Whakatu Marae. Enjoy a traditional Hangi or Austrian Marillen Strudel, Indonesian, Thai or Colombian food accompanied by dance and music artists.

Annually in March beerlovers celebrate the famous MarchFest, Nelson’s hip harvest hop festival, celebrating the top of the South Island’s status as New Zealand’s premier hop growing and craft beer brewing region. Held in the car-free and carefree environment of Founders Heritage Park, the MarchFest festival goers will be served FOURTEEN brand new craft beers created by local breweries such as The Mussel Inn and Founders Organic Brewery, brand new ciders as well as local wines, regional cuisine heaps of FREE kids’ activities, beer and brewer sessions and more .   MarchFest is also a music festival – this year’s live acts include Wilson Dixon (USA), The Eastern, Delaney Davidson, Chimuka and Australia’s The Barons of Tang – fresh from WOMAD.

The annual book fair on Queens Birthday is very popular with book lovers on a budget. Many thousand of preloved books donated to the Founders Park go on sale for one week starting from as little as one dollar.

THe Festival of Opportunities in March every year is a must for anybody conscious about health and wellbeing.

Click here to see a map of Founders Park.


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