Motueka

Motueka (mo-too-eh-ka) is an agricultural center—hops, kiwifruit, and apples are among its staples. The town sits at the seaward end of the Motueka Valley, under the ranges of the Kahurangi National Park. Like Golden Bay, Motueka is a stronghold for the "alternative" communities around Nelson, and every byway seems to have a few artisans and erstwhile hippies living side by side with the traditional farming families. The hinterland is now also laced with small, well-to-do farms often owned by absentee overseas owners. Most of the good cafés and places to stay are outside the town center, either in the sheltered inland valleys or out along the Abel Tasman coast and nearby bays. South of town, for instance, the Motueka River valley is internationally known for its trout fishing. Motueka's also a good jumping-off point for Abel Tasman National Park, just north of town.