Highlights
Not only is Richmond home to great shopping with a humming CBD and freshly renovated Main Street, but it’s a great place for families & friends to unwind with weekend activities.
Washbourn Gardens
A gem in the heart of Richmond, the picturesque Washbourn Gardens are perfect for a quiet family picnic and often plays host to private wedding celebrations and many community events. Explore the Fuchsia House and fernery, visit the a duck pond and the historic Richmond Gaol.
The Gardens have a small car park, along with a toilet facilities and a platform stage area.
Sundial Square
Sundial Square is located in the town centre at Croucher Street, Richmond. With plenty of green space and colourful gardens, it is designed to be the town square and is a favourite lunch spot surrounded with great takeaway options, coffee & gelato carts. It has fountains kids love to play in, and a Sundial Sculpture (hence the name). The most recent addition being a giant chess and draughts set to entertain. It often plays hosts to events such as Richmond Market Day, Ghosts & Goblins & PAK’nSAVE Richmond Santa Parade.
Saxton Velodrome
The region’s open-air velodrome is located at the Richmond side of Saxton Field. Options for beginners in the fun learn to ride area, and for the more experienced, recreational and elite cyclist and riders, a purpose built 333m track.
The track is open 24/7 to members of the public - unless it has been booked in advance. The track is perfect for bookings by schools, sporting groups, local groups, birthday parties and more.
Tasman’s Great Taste Trail
Richmond has several points where one can join Tasman’s Great Taste Trail. Such a wonderful ride where one can stop for coffee, wine tastings, brewery visits, real fruit ice creams and much much more.
Village Cycles on Queen Street in Richmond has bikes available you can hire for this purpose.
Form in Formation
Outside the Richmond Library on Queen Street you'll find a colourful and engaging sculpture by world renowned Korean-born artist Seung Yul Oh, titled Form in Formation. This was introduced in May 2018 thanks to the hard work of the Nelson Sculpture Trust and the kind donations by many different organisations including TDC and Richmond Unlimited. It was designed to work with the newly renovated Queen Street space, and not only to be admired but played with by children too.
Second Tallest Tree in NZ
The giant Eucalyptus regnans, or mountain ash, is growing in Kingsland Forest behind Easby Park in Richmond and was officially measured at 72.1 metres in 2009 by Richmond arborist Brad Cadwallader and climber Menno Kluiters.
At the time, it was the second-tallest measured tree in New Zealand behind an 80m mountain ash in the Orokonui Eco-sanctuary near Dunedin. Photo - Lindsay Vaughan
Mountain Biking
Richmond is very lucky to be surrounded by two fabulous mountain biking locations at the base of the Mount Richmond Forest Park.
Kingsland Forest, (or Richmond Hills Mountain Bike Park), and Silvan Forest (it’s closed at times for forestry / farming work, so it' pays to double check).
Shopping
Richmond is home to the biggest shopping experience under one roof in the top of the south - Richmond Mall. With over 70 stores, free parking and free gift wrapping, there is something for the whole family.
Richmond also plays host several notable department stores - KMart, The Warehouse, Farmers, Smiths City and Noel Leeming.
We are also lucky to have a beautifully refurbished main street (Queen Street), with many small boutique family owned businesses too, which helps Richmond to maintain it’s charming small town feel. You’ll find everything you need, in Richmond!
Mount Richmond Forest Park
With an area of 166,000 ha, Mount Richmond is the second largest forest park in New Zealand. It is named after Mount Richmond (1760 metres), one of the highest peaks in the park. The park forms a backdrop to Richmond and the Waimea Plains.
Common access from the Richmond side is through the Aniseed Valley, beginning at the Hacket Carpark.
From there you can take Hacket Track, which can lead further into the park to Mt Starveall for some serious and stunning tramping. Alternatively there are easy short walks either to Hacket Hut (3 hours return) or the beautiful Whispering Falls (2 hours return).
If wheels are more your thing, then join Helibike for some mountian biking or a helibike view of the park.
Richmond Aquatic Centre
Richmond is fortunate to play host to the Number 1 aquatic experience in the Top of the South Island. With Wave Pool, Lazy River, Toddler Pools, Spas & Lane Swimming, there really is something for everyone. They also have a Swim School, Aqua Fitness, Wave Raves, Holiday Programmes and more. Along with a cafe, swim shop and Les Mills Group Fitness, there are so many reasons to visit.
Local Produce
Richmond was always known as a Rural Service centre, and although it’s well and truely grown out of that title, it is still blessed to be surrounded by vineyards, craft breweries, boutique ice cream, berry growers, olive oils and much much more. You can visit many on Tasman’s Great Taste Trail or local markets, boutique deli’s or at their own seasonal stores.
Queen Street - Best Street Award
Richmond’s main street - Queen Street was named Best Street in the 2018 Keep New Zealand Beautiful Awards. This award recognises and celebrates a street in New Zealand that clearly stands out for its beauty, cleanliness, plantings and sense of community pride.
Queen Street was recognised for its dramatic transformation it went through in 2017-2018. Previously the main street of Richmond was prone to flooding, and featured a design favouring cars and commuter traffic.
Queen Street is now a safe, accessible and beautiful modern street that meets the needs of a rapidly-growing urban community.
It is a pedestrian-focussed public space featuring interactive public art, plantings, history information panels, bike facilities and future-proofed power and fibre connections. It’s a great space for events, social activity, outdoor dining and community connection.