Central Nelson is small enough to cover on foot — Trafalgar Street, the cathedral, the museum, and the Saturday market are all within ten minutes of each other. NBus runs local buses to the beach, the suburbs, and outlying spots like the WearableArt museum, but services thin out in the evenings and on Sundays.
For Abel Tasman, Kahurangi, and the wineries to the west, a car is much the easiest option. Hire desks operate at the airport and in town. Cycling is excellent on the Great Taste Trail, a flat off-road network linking Nelson with Richmond, Mapua, and Motueka; several places hire bikes by the day.