About Paddle Nelson
Paddle Nelson is a stand-up paddleboard and kayak hire operator based right on Tāhunanui Beach, just minutes from central Nelson. As the only accredited New Zealand Stand-up Paddling School in the region, the business has built a reputation for friendly, professional instruction and an inclusive, community-focused approach to getting people out on the water.
The range covers SUP and sit-on-top kayak hire by the hour or for multi-day adventures, alongside guided experiences such as paddleboard trips to Haulashore Island and the popular Nelson Night Paddles, where illuminated boards light up sunset and evening sessions. The school also runs women-only paddle sessions, safety courses, lessons, rental-and-lesson combos, and SUP retreats. Adult and child paddleboards, giant group SUPs and single and double kayaks are all available, with adaptive equipment — including chairs with outriggers — for paddlers with disabilities.
What sets Paddle Nelson apart is its genuine commitment to accessibility and beginners. Families, first-timers, experienced paddlers and people of all abilities are catered for, with sheltered launch conditions off Tāhunanui Beach making it an ideal spot to learn. The combination of accredited instruction, a welcoming atmosphere and a calm, scenic stretch of coastline makes it one of Nelson's most approachable paddlesports operators.
