New Plymouth v Nelson: Which city does it better?

Stuff

Who does it better – New Plymouth or Nelson? The two cities have a lot in common, but things which set them apart too. (Merged image).

OPINION: I’ve been to Nelson a few times to visit, but my recent four-week stint has been my longest stay, and it’s given me a chance to get a feel for what it would be like to live there.

I am Taranaki born and bred and usually reside in Waitara, but commute via bus most days to the Taranaki Daily News office in New Plymouth.

On the face of it, the two cities have a lot in common.

Both are rich with history, the weather is reasonably on par (although New Plymouth has beaten out Nelson in the sunshine stakes for two years running, just saying), and each are in proximity to the wonders of nature.

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VANESSA LAURIE/Stuff

New Plymouth has one up on Nelson in terms of the maunga stakes. You can’t beat the sight of this majestic ancestor on a clear, sunny day. (File photo)

Ngāmotu can count on the backdrop of the majestic Taranaki Maunga, while Whakatū is a gateway to three national parks, including the dazzling and ever-popular Abel Tasman.

Each place has its unique drawcards as well for residents and visitors alike.

New Plymouth has Paritutu and the Coastal Walkway for a bit of exercise, the Govett Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre for a hit of culture and Pukekura Park for an afternoon stroll and ice cream.

Nelson’s Centre of New Zealand provides a magnificent view of the city, Founders Heritage Park and its museum is there for a dose of history and the plentiful parks, picturesque at this time of year with autumnal colours, are there to stretch the legs.

Another similarity is both cities’ geographic isolation, as they are places you have to plan to get to, rather than being on the beaten path.

Same same then, so what’s different?

Braden Fastier/Nelson Mail

Nelson has a well patronised café scene, with quality bakeries, eateries and coffee spots dotted around the city. (File photo)

What I have noticed most during my time in Nelson is the people, and the hustle and bustle they create as they make their way around the city.

While about 30,000 fewer people live in Whakatū than those who call New Plymouth home, it doesn’t feel that way at all.

People like being out and about in Nelson, whether on their bikes for a bit of exercise or to commute to work, or going for walks. It seems like every second person owns a dog in the city.

When compared to people-watching in New Plymouth, you definitely notice how many more tourists are in Nelson, with some looking like they just stepped out of a Kathmandu catalogue.

Public transport is better in Nelson too, mainly because it has weekend services across all its routes, unlike Taranaki.

Ross Giblin/Stuff

Cyclists are a common sight around the Nelson streets, with people using pedal power to make their way around the city. (File photo)

Nelson might be a tramper’s delight, but New Plymouth is luckier in terms of its access to surf beaches.

Nelson’s Tāhunanui Beach might have a tropical feel, but it’s certainly no match to the New Plymouth coastline in terms of wave action for those in wetsuits.

While Nelson is known for its thriving arts and artisan makers scene, I think New Plymouth is slowly catching up on that score now, with both making products which put them on the map around Aotearoa.

And neither are free of the issues which plague many of New Zealand’s communities, including homelessness and the impacts of the rising cost of living.

In weighing up the evidence I’ve collected, I think Nelson has still got a slight edge over New Plymouth in making it the better city.

While New Plymouth has the goal of becoming a sustainable lifestyle capital, it feels like Nelson is already there.