“Top of the South” is the coastal city of Nelson with a population of 67,000 residents. Its namesake is Horatio Nelson, a celebrated Vice Admiral in the British Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. Main attractions in Nelson (Whakatū in Māori language) include hiking, kayaking, surfing, sailing and a chance to see a seal colony and blue penguins. Or simply slip off your shoes and walk along the Tahunanui Beach on Tasman Bay. And stay until dusk. The sunsets are spectacular.