Things to Do

Motueka is a town that never runs out of things to offer. Whether you're chasing adventure on the water, searching for artisan treasures, seeking quiet moments in nature, or simply looking for the best spot to watch the sun go down, you'll find it here.

The region's combination of outdoor landscape, creative community, and rich agricultural heritage means that the range of experiences available is genuinely remarkable. From heart-pumping water sports to peaceful afternoons at local galleries, from sampling the freshest seasonal produce at a weekend market to introducing children to the wonders of rock pool life — Motueka offers a depth and variety that keeps visitors coming back season after season.

The outdoor landscape surrounding Motueka is an adventure playground of extraordinary scale and variety. The waters of Tasman Bay provide world-class conditions for sea kayaking — a pursuit that allows visitors to explore the coastline at their own pace, gliding past golden sandbars, tidal estuaries, and secluded coves accessible only by water. Guided kayak tours are popular for those new to the sport, while experienced paddlers can plan their own routes along the coastline and beyond.

Mountain biking and road cycling are equally popular, with a network of trails that ranges from gentle family-friendly paths to challenging singletrack through the inland hills. Skydiving operations in the area offer tandem jumps with views that are, quite literally, breathtaking — the arc of Tasman Bay, the patchwork of orchards, and the distant mountain ranges all visible from altitude in one sweeping panorama.

For those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground, guided nature walks, horse trekking through farmland, and stand-up paddleboarding on the calm river mouths are among the many gentler options available throughout the seasons.

The Motueka coastline is one of the defining features of the region — a sweeping arc of beaches, tidal flats, and river mouths that shifts in character from one stretch to the next. Sandy beaches with gentle surf attract families and swimmers throughout the summer months, while quieter stretches of shoreline offer solitude and the chance to walk for kilometres with nothing but the sound of waves and birds for company.

The tidal estuaries around Motueka are rich ecosystems teeming with birdlife — oystercatchers, stilts, herons, and the occasional white-faced heron can be spotted wading through the shallows at low tide. These areas are ideal for birdwatching and gentle exploration on foot, offering a different but equally rewarding experience to the open-sea beaches nearby.

River swimming is another beloved local pastime. The Motueka River and its tributaries offer clear, cool water and peaceful surroundings, with certain pools and swimming holes favoured by locals for their depth, shade, and cleanliness. Fishing is popular throughout the waterway network, with the region known for excellent trout in the upper reaches of the rivers.

Motueka has a vibrant and well-established arts community that punches well above its weight for a town of its size. Potters, painters, weavers, sculptors, woodworkers, jewellers, and textile artists all call this region home, drawn by the quality of light, the pace of life, and a community that genuinely values handmade craftsmanship and creative expression.

Studios and galleries are dotted throughout the town and surrounding countryside, many of them open to visitors who take the time to seek them out. The experience of walking into a working artist's studio, watching a potter at the wheel or a glassblower shaping molten colour, is one of the genuine joys of exploring the Motueka creative scene. Many artists are welcoming of curious visitors and happy to talk about their practice.

Throughout the year, local arts events, open studio weekends, and community exhibitions bring the creative community together and offer visitors a window into the culture that makes Motueka so distinctive. The annual arts trail in particular is a much-loved event, drawing visitors from across the region for a weekend of discovery, conversation, and connection.

The Motueka region is one of New Zealand's great food-producing areas, and visitors who take the time to explore its culinary landscape will be richly rewarded. Orchards laden with apples, pears, nectarines, and cherries stretch across the plains in every direction. Hop gardens supply craft breweries across the country. Vineyards produce wines of genuine quality and character, and market gardens fill their stalls each week with an abundance of seasonal vegetables and herbs.

The Motueka Sunday Market is a beloved local institution, drawing both residents and visitors for a morning of fresh produce, artisan food products, prepared meals, and local crafts. It is one of the finest places in the region to taste the season — picking up a bag of just-picked apples, a loaf of sourdough, a jar of local honey, or a fresh-pressed fruit juice made from fruit grown within sight of where you're standing.

Craft brewing has also found a strong foothold in the Motueka region, partly driven by the local hop-growing industry. Small breweries and taprooms offer tastings and tours, showcasing hop varieties grown right on the doorstep. Pairing these with locally sourced food is a pleasure that many visitors are surprised to find in a relatively small regional town.

Motueka is an excellent destination for families, offering a wide range of activities and environments that appeal to children and adults alike. The region's natural settings — beaches, rivers, bush reserves, and farmland — provide the kind of open, unstructured space that children thrive in, and there is a refreshing absence of the over-organised, heavily commercialised tourism that characterises many popular destinations.

Rock pooling along the tidal shores is a perennial favourite for younger visitors — the sheltered bays around Motueka are home to a fascinating variety of marine life, and an hour spent exploring the pools at low tide is usually an education and an adventure in equal measure. Cycling sections of the Great Taste Trail as a family is another wonderful option, with distances and terrain that can be easily adjusted to suit different ages and abilities.

Farm visits and pick-your-own fruit experiences are available seasonally across the region and offer children a direct, memorable connection with where food comes from. The combination of fresh air, physical activity, and the simple pleasure of eating a sun-warmed apple plucked directly from the tree is the kind of experience that stays with a child long after the holiday is over.