Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Nelson to Wellington. While takeoff from Nelson offers pleasant coastal views, the landing approach into Wellington provides more dramatic and visually distinctive scenery with the Cook Strait, Rimutaka Range, and the convergence of multiple geographical features. Left-side seats capture this superior landing experience.

During takeoff from Nelson (NSN), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right-side seats offer views of Tasman Bay and the northern coastline as the aircraft climbs eastward from Nelson. You'll see the bay's distinctive pale waters and the forested hills of the Abel Tasman National Park area receding beneath you. Notable sights include: Tasman Bay, Abel Tasman National Park coastline, Richmond Ranges to the south, Waimea Inlet.

When landing at Wellington International (WLG), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left-side seats provide excellent views during the descent into Wellington, showing the Rimutaka Range and the Cook Strait's dramatic geography. As you descend toward the airport, you'll see the strait's narrowest point and the surrounding hill country that frames Wellington Harbour. Notable sights include: Cook Strait, Rimutaka Range, Wellington Harbour, Hutt Valley.

The flight from Nelson (NSN) to Wellington International (WLG) takes Approximately 50 minutes.

The flight path crosses the northern Cook Strait region. Mid-flight, you'll pass over the Marlborough Sounds' complex waterways and forested peninsulas, which appear as an intricate pattern of dark water channels and green ridgelines. The Sounds occupy the space between Nelson and Wellington, with Pelorus Sound and Kenepuru Sound being the most prominent water features visible at altitude. As you progress southeastward, the landscape transitions from the Nelson region's broader valleys to the more rugged, fractured terrain of the Sounds, then opens toward the Cook Strait's wider waters.