Motueka is the perfect place to stop on your way to and from the Abel Tasman National Park. It’s a sun kissed, vibrant small town, with roadside berry stalls to indulge in during the summer months and an abundance of local craft breweries and artisan products to enjoy all year round.

Motueka attracts people with ideas and talent who create clever businesses here, and they love to share what they have created with visitors. Motueka has a lively café culture (with a strong focus on great food and sustainability) and an abundance of businesses focused on helping everyone enjoy and cherish the beautiful Motueka environment.

The town centre and the Motueka Sunday Market are a showcase of the talented artists and artisans in the region, with boutique stores, craft stalls, food carts, cafes and restaurants serving artisan, local products, and local produce. Motueka is a truly abundant place and perfect for growing a wide variety of crops.

You’ll often see anglers fishing in the trout-filled Motueka River and if you look up on a clear day you’ll see people enjoying epic views of the Abel Tasman during a tandem skydive with Skydive Abel Tasman, or on a scenic helicopter trip. In fact, the Adventure Aviation Hub in Motueka is an internationally recognised aviation training facility, providing world-class aviation maintenance, and direct scenic flights into the Abel Tasman.

Visitors are often amazed by the natural beauty of the nearby Riwaka Resurgence, an extraordinary clearwater spring that bubbles out from an underground network of caves at the foot of the Takaka Hill. The Ngarua Caves, which can be accessed from the top of Takaka Hill, are also spectacular and it’s well worth stopping there to enjoy the beautiful view across Tasman Bay before you head into the caves on a guided tour.

The people of Motueka take their role as guardians of this beautiful place seriously. Motueka is hoping to become New Zealand’s first disposable cup free town and you can be part of this when you stop for coffee here – just ask for your CupCyclingTM cup.

The places that make up the Nelson Tasman region are each remarkable in their own right, and if you have the time to explore, you'll discover a wealth of extraordinary experiences right at your fingertips.

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