Nelson Tasman Rabbit Island © George Guille
TOP TIP: To make the most of the local wineries, hire a bike or join a guided tour.
tracks &
trails
IDYLLIC SWIMS Twenty
OLD FACTORY CORNER
minutes south of Richmond is Lee Valley, with quiet riverswimming 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.
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 craft sellers.
GARDENS OF THE WORLD
richmond
C&asbulrerBoauynds RABBIT/MOTUROA ISLAND
MORE WINE It doesn’t stop
at Seifried, the Waimea Plains Trails are crawling with wineries.
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.
Try Winelord, Greenhough Vineyard, Te Mania, Brightwater Vineyards and Richmond Plains to name a few.
SHOPPING Craftsmanship Nelson stores flood the streets, with
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.
one-of-a-kind wares sought at potters, glass blowers, wood turners and metalsmiths.
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.
WILLOWBANK HERITAGE VILLAGE A living museum, step inside and explore 20+ heritage shops; poking your head inside the old-fashioned dentist and bakery is seriously fascinating. Have a 1900s school experience, get dressed up and dine at The Victorian Café. Open on the first Sunday of every month.
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.
Performers in Richmond © Richmond Unlimited
D street hosts the largest rICHMONmain mall in the top of the South QUEEN STREET Richmond’s
Island and is bordered by top notch dining venues. Grab some goodies from Swiss Bakery and eat them at Sundial Square.
Motueka
Māpua © www.nelsontasman.nz
Māpua
Ruby Coast & Moutere Abel Tasman National Park
Tākaka &
See Map Section - pages 109 to 122
Māpua Wharf Fronting picture-perfect Waimea Estuary, a handful of attractive shops, galleries, bars and cafés entice punters inside. Eat fish and chips on the wharf, meander the boardwalk with an ice cream; find somewhere delightful for a drop of wine and soak up the jolly ambience.
Historic Pub – Moutere Inn claims to be New Zealand’s oldest pub. It is located in its namesake village and the rafters date back to 1850. It still looks as natty as it did then, and the pub grub is top notch.
Forsters Moutere Hills A slice of paradise next to an equally gorgeous vineyard, and easily the area’s best-kept secret. In summer, the outdoor setting is an absolute winner, while the food (from platters to tapas) is yearround superb.
Rabbit Island Huts Luxury standalone huts, small in size but big on wowfactor. All with ensuite bathrooms and kitchen facilities, you can wander into the wider complex to find the library in an old caravan, a communal lounge and small shop.
25
