Wakefield is a small town in the Nelson Bays region of New Zealand's South Island, 25 km south-west of Nelson. This travel guide also cover the town of Brightwater, 4 km east of Wakefield.

Get in

By car

From Nelson drive 25 km south-west through Richmond and on along State Highway 6.

• 1 Caltex petrol station. (updated Oct 2019)

By bus

• EBus (Nelson's city bus service) operates six services a day (M-F) to Richmond and Nelson.
• Intercity Coaches operate coaches from Nelson to Greymouth, which stop (at/opposite the Caltex) in Wakefield. Four per week (Sept 2023).

See

• 1 St John's Church, 120 Edward Street. The church was built in 1846 and is the second oldest surviving church in New Zealand. (updated Oct 2016)
• 2 Lord Rutherford Memorial (91 Lord Rutherford Road, Brightwater). Memorial to the nuclear physicist Ernest Rutherford, 1st Baron Rutherford of Nelson (1871-1937), who was born in Brightwater. (updated Oct 2019)

Do

• Armageddon Paintball, 334 Wai-Iti Valley Rd, ☏ +64 3-541 8452. (updated Nov 2016)
• The Giggling Pony Equestrian Centre, 434 Wai-Iti Valley Rd, ☏ +64 3-541 9145. (updated Nov 2016)
• Redstone Golf Park, Wai-iti Valley Rd, ☏ +64 3 5418 452. (updated Nov 2016)
• Walk or Cycle the Great Taste Trail. A 19 km walking or mountain biking trail from Richmond to Wakefield via Brightwater. (updated Oct 2019)

Buy

There is a supermarket, pharmacy and a baker.

• 1 Four Square. supermarket. (updated Oct 2019)

Eat

There is a small bakery, fast food eateries, and some very nice little cafes and restaurants.

Drink

There is a pub.

Sleep

• 1 Brightwater Motor Inn. from $100. (updated Oct 2019)

Go next

Routes through Wakefield

Blenheim ← Nelson ←

N  S

→ Murchison → Greymouth