3 minute read
Richmond & Surrounds Must Do's
RABBIT/MOTUROA ISLAND The largest in a squad of sandy isles, with an 8km-long swimming beach, Conifer Park Mountain Bike Tracks and the Great Taste Trail passing through. Access is by bridge (closes at sunset) or ferry from Māpua, a small town 20 minutes north west of Nelson.
Rabbit/Moturoa Island, credit Oliver Weber/www.nelsontasman.nz
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SEIFRIED ESTATE CELLAR DOOR Believe the hype, the South Island’s oldest commercial winery is just eight minutes down the road from Richmond and truly marvellous. An enormous estate with wine tasting, Harvest Kitchen restaurant and an outdoor playground. Dogs are welcome, too.
SHOPPING Craftsmanship stores flood the streets, with one-of-akind wares to be found at potters, glass blowers, wood turners and metalsmiths.
MORE WINE It doesn’t stop at Seifried, the Waimea Plains are crawling with wineries. Try Winelord, Greenhough Vineyard, Te Mania, Brightwater Vineyards and Richmond Plains to name a few.
QUEEN STREET Richmond’s main street hosts the largest mall in the top of the South Island and is bordered by top notch dining venues. Grab some goodies from Swiss Bakery and eat them at Sundial Square.
IDYLLIC SWIMS Twenty minutes south of Richmond is Lee Valley, with quiet river-swimming spots. A further 20 minutes east, Aniseed Valley boasts large lagoons and the one-hour walk to Whispering Falls features river crossings and natural pools.
GARDENS OF THE WORLD See the world without ever leaving Richmond. Each garden represents a continent, with plants native to the Outback all the way to Asia. At $5pp, pack a picnic and enjoy a full day of tranquility for next-to-nothing.
OLD FACTORY CORNER If you’re driven by great food and all things craft-tastic, this delightful hub is a sprawling accumulation of local food purveyors, speciality foods and local produce, as well as a charming collection of ‘she sheds’, beautiful arts and crafts.
WHISPERING FALLS AND HACKETT TRACK Head to Mount Richmond Forest Park, where a series of wooden swing bridges lead to a collection of waterfalls. Best after rainfall but potentially unreachable if the river level gets too high. Allow two hours return.
WASHBOURN GARDENS You can’t go far wrong in packing a picnic and taking it to this park in the heart of Richmond. Afterward, explore the Fuchsia House, fernery, and historic Richmond Gaol, or feed the ducks with your leftovers.
SPOONERS TUNNEL One of the key highlights along Tasman’s Great Taste Trail. At 1.4km long, the tunnel is the longest decommissioned rail tunnel in the southern hemisphere, with the cycle trail following the route of the old railway line through Norris Gully.
Performers in Richmond, credit Richmond Unlimited
