Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our Nelson Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
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NSN Airport Overview
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Nelson Airport.
What to Expect
The small, brand-new terminal at Nelson Airport (code: NSN) opened in October 2018 and handles domestic routes. Amenities are limited to a cafe, a to-go kiosk, a convenience shop, and free WiFi. For added comfort while you wait, Air New Zealand passengers may have access to its lounge.
Sleeping in Nelson Airport
The airport closes nightly, so it is impossible to spend the night here. For uninterrupted sleep, nearby hotels offer shuttle service. See our Airport Hotels section below for more info.
Read some traveller airport reviews for more tips. For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our Nelson Airport Guide.
To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos.
In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.
Airport Hours
The airport is open 4:30 AM – 9:00 PM (Mon-Fri), 4:30 AM – 8:30 PM (Sat) and 5:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Sun). Closing is subject to the last flight of the day.
Rest & Relaxation Zones
There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.
Cots
The airport does not provide cots to stranded travellers. If this has changed, click here to update the guide.
Airport Hotels
If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near Nelson Airport:
- Greens Motel – Mid-range motel. Approx. 5 minutes drive. » Check Rates
For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Nelson Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.
Airport Lounges
Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships
Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there is a lounge that you can enter through a lounge membership program.
- Air New Zealand Lounge – Location: Landside. Lounge Access: Air New Zealand Koru Club Membership.
Drinking Water
Information is unavailable. Does the airport have water fountains or water bottle refill stations? Click here to update this guide.
Food & Drinks
Three options are available: Sublime (coffee and light snacks) • Wayfarer Café (meals, drinks and alcohol) • McCashin’s Bar (local beverages and snacks).
Luggage Storage & Lockers
Unavailable. If this is incorrect, click here to update this guide.
Mobile Charging
A reader reports a USB charging station at one of the cafés. (August 2022)
Showers
A reader reports: “public shower in the toilets at Nelson airport at the current terminal. I’ve used the one in the men’s bathroom a few times after mountain biking trips and it’s free to use.” Location: Landside. (November 2022)
WiFi/Internet
Free WiFi is available for up to 1 hour. Connect to “Nelson Airport free SPOT” and follow the instructions.
Security & Safety
Sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:
- Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
- Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
- Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
- Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.
More Airport Information
Note: Locations, hours, and rates may change. Information is provided for general reference only.
- ATMs / Cash Machines – ATMs are available in the main terminal. Fees may apply.
- Baby Care Facilities – Baby care rooms for breastfeeding and diaper changing are available near the restrooms.
- Baggage Trolleys – Baggage trolleys are available in the main terminal.
- Children’s Play Area – An outdoor play area is available.
- Conference Facilities – A small meeting room is available for rent.
- Duty-Free & Shopping – Duty-free shopping is not available. The Nelson Store sells magazines, lottery tickets, and basic items.
- Medical Services – Customer Service Officers near the departure gate have AEDs and basic first aid training.
- Observation Deck – An observation area is available for plane viewing.
- Walking Track – A 5.75 km walking track circles the airport perimeter. Starts at the recreational car park. Pets and bicycles are not permitted.
Car Rentals
Car rentals are available onsite. Companies include Avis • Budget • Europcar • Hertz • NZ Rentacar • Thrifty.
Airport Shuttle
Super Shuttle operates fixed-rate transfers from the airport to Nelson. Bookings can be made online or over the phone.
Hotel Shuttles
At the time of this update, no hotels provided airport shuttle service. See also Airport Hotels above.
Taxi
Taxis are available in front of the airport at the designated taxi rank. Nelson City Taxis is the only company with a taxi on rank.
Last updated: 2026-03-18
This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.