Tasman’s Great Taste Trail is a scenic coastal cycle path perfect for short rides and afternoon adventures. Enjoy stunning views of Tasman Bay and the Western Ranges as you ride. Stop at boutique wineries, craft breweries, and local eateries, or watch artists at work. The ferry between Māpua and Rabbit Island adds a fun twist, with Māpua Wharf offering waterfront dining and unique shops.
Top tip: For a longer ride, consider an overnight stay in Māpua.
If you’re drawn to places with a creative streak, Māpua and the Ruby Coast deliver. Maybe it’s the laid-back seaside lifestyle, the landscapes, or simply the kind of people this corner of Nelson Tasman attracts, but creativity seems to come naturally here. Browse galleries filled with local art, sculpture and jewellery, watch craftspeople at work in their studios and workshops, then make time for a little boutique shopping around Māpua. Download the Ruby Coast Art Trail map and plot your own creative wander.
If anyone knows how to make the most of Nelson Tasman’s local flavours, it’s the Māpua and Ruby Coast community. Taste your way through local wines grown in the surrounding hills at Rimu Wine Bar, then settle in for a long lunch or dinner by the water’s edge at The Jellyfish. Fresh seafood, seasonal produce and locally made favourites bring the region to the table, with the sea views thrown in for good measure.
They say there’s nothing better than the taste of local, and at Hamish’s on Māpua Wharf, that comes by the scoop. Choose from more than 20 ice cream flavours, including real fruit creations made with locally grown berries. You’ll also find Appleby Farms favourites, made with milk from two family-owned Nelson farms and crafted just down the road at their Stoke creamery. Grab a cone, find a spot by the water and keep an eye out for the wharf’s long-time resident white heron, Hamish, who gave this friendly café its name.
Looking for somewhere a little different to rest your head? Māpua and the Ruby Coast have some memorable stays tucked away. Settle into the cute-as-a-bunny huts at Rabbit Island Huts, or make a night of it at Kissing Gate, where glamping comes with plenty of charm and a beautiful rural setting. View all Māpua and Ruby Coast accommodation here.
For a unique cabaret experience and delicious local fare, the Playhouse Café & Theatre is a must-do in Nelson Tasman. Located just off the coastal highway near Māpua, the playhouse boasts a full entertainment calendar, including music, theatre, comedy, magic, and burlesque. Its grotto-style interior and extraordinary grounds, dotted with fascinating sculptures, make it a true oasis of art and culture.
For a true taste of the coast, head to The Smokehouse Māpua, where seafood is still hot-smoked by hand using traditional brick kilns and natural mānuka shavings. Pick up smoked fish, creamy pâtés, pies and chowder, or keep it classic with fish and chips from the onsite takeaway. Then claim one of the picnic spots dotted along the wharf and tuck in with the Waimea Estuary as your backdrop.
Top tip: resist those pleading eyes and keep the chips to yourself — feeding the seagulls is best avoided.
The Māpua Wharf is a hot spot for swimming, fishing, and the ever-popular wharf jumping, particularly in the summer months (although we have seen some brave souls jumping in the middle of winter). Plunging off the wooden platform into the waters below, then laying back and riding the tide appears to be a favourite pastime for many wharf visitors, whilst others just like to watch from afar with a glass of wine in hand at the Jellyfish.
