The Smokehouse, Mapua



Kahurangi National Park



Neudorf Vineyard



Inner tubing down the Motueka River.

Nelson is noted for its creative cuisine, based on vine-ripened fruit, farm-fresh vegetables and rich harvest of seafood. There is a wide choice of cafes and excellent restaurants, both local and ethnic, including some of gourmet, award-winning quality. Particular mention must be made of the Smokehouse (in a picturesque setting on the waterfront at Mapua), Applemanns (in Richmond), and the Boatshed (built on piles overlooking Nelson harbour and specialising in seafood).

Spread along the coastal and Moutere highways which run between Richmond and Motueka, and extending inland to Brightwater, are the vineyards of some twenty boutique wineries. Many are open for tastings and sales; several have cafes and restaurants. The clay soils of the Moutere hills and the light, stony soils of the Waimea plains, together with the Tasman sunshine, late summers and the seasoned expertise of New Zealand winemakers combine to produce international medal-winning boutique wines of the Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties. They are equal to - some would say better than - the world-renowned New Zealand wines, of which many are produced in the larger vineyards of the Blenheim area. The annual Marlborough Food and Wine Festival held in Blenheim place in February is an event not to be missed – and is only two hours drive away from Tapawera.

No region of New Zealand is so well served by National Parks as Tasman. These parks are administered by the Department of Conservation (known as DOC) and provide the essence of New Zealand: spectacular mountain scenery, pristine bush and native forest, crystal-clear rivers and streams – a natural environment unsullied by man and with no evidence of his presence save the well-maintained walking tracks and strategically-placed log huts to accommodate overnight trampers. Native plant species and wildlife – particularly birds – abound.

Kahurangi National Park is the second largest in New Zealand, with many trails and walks, from gentle 30-minute strolls to energetic hikes lasting several days – such as the 77km Heaphy Track or the Wangapeka Track starting in bush country near the site of a long-abandoned gold mining settlement and continuing over to the West Coast. Kahurangi forms the backdrop to scenes from Lord of the Rings, shot on the slopes of Mount Owen.

Nelson Lakes National Park is a spectacular wilderness area containing two glacial lakes fringed by beech forest and native flax where hikers find enchantment in the call of tui and bellbirds. The nearby Alpine settlement of St. Arnaud is at the entrance to the park, and there is winter skiing at the Rainbow Valley and Mount Robert ski-fields.

Small by comparison, Abel Tasman National Park is internationally renowned for the beauty of its coastal scenery. The Coastal Track of 51km takes between three and five days to complete in its entirety, but there are boat services available to those wishing to walk shorter sections of it. A pristine coastal paradise, with golden beaches, tranquil lagoons, clear water, native bush, seals and birdlife.

Apart from the National Parks, the countryside around Tapawera offers countless opportunities for trampers. These are well documented and local information can be provided by the Tapawera and Valleys Historical Society, and through the Information Centre in Tapawera. Other Visitor Centres are located in Motueka and Murchison.

In addition to tramping, the recreational and sporting activities available throughout the Nelson/Tasman Region – from first-class trout fishing in the Motueka and Wangapeka rivers, or guided trips by helicopter to fish more remote wilderness streams, to white water rafting, kayaking, pony trekking - or even golf or bowls – are far too varied and numerous to mention.

If you take on full-time farming, you may not find time to do too many of these things yourself, but your guests, whatever their inclination, will never lack the opportunity to indulge their preferences, and will certainly find inspiration to come back to what is undoubtedly one of New Zealand’s finest and most sought-after regions.