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SPOTLIGHT ON: MOTUEKA
MOTUEKA SPOTLIGHT ON: Words and Photography: Brendan Alborn.
Like many small towns in New Zealand, Motueka can be something of an acquired taste. You could be forgiven for driving through Motueka and wondering what has attracted so many people to move to the town from overseas and other parts of the country. Like most of our rural towns, the shops lining the main street aren’t old enough to be historic or classy, but they are old enough to look, at least in terms of their facade; a bit dated. But, if you’re willing to take a closer look and even linger a little, you will find a thriving little rural hub with an energetic vibe, more than its fair share of wonderful parks and trails, an ideal climate and easy access to an almost infinite array of outdoor activities.
Motueka is the closest service town to the Abel Tasman. With a population of around 9,000, Motueka is only a twenty-minute drive from Marahau, the southern entrance to the Abel Tasman Coastal Track. But Motueka is more than just the last ‘major’ centre you will pass on your way to the Abel Tasman. It’s a visitor destination in its own right and will reward anybody who takes the time to get to know it with more than a few surprises.
My favourite part of Motueka is the waterfront from the public wharf at Port Motueka, along the trail that runs adjacent to Trewavas Street, along Motueka Quay and through an area known by locals as the ‘Kumaras’. The narrow sandspit separating the tidal inlet from the Tasman Bay is the perfect place for a run or a walk, particularly when the tide is low. The beach along the ocean side of the sandspit often feels wild and remote even though it’s a very short distance from the town itself. The Janie Seddon Shipwreck is arguably the icon of Motueka, second only to the Saltwater Baths a short distance further along the waterfront.
Road and Old Wharf Road. Before 2000 this area was a gorse-covered wasteland but through the efforts of the Keep Motueka Beautiful Committee is now a wonderful track which is lined with native flora. The work that has gone into the creation and ongoing improvement of this public area speaks volumes about the level of community
spirit and commitment in the town. Close by is the Inlet Walkway Loop, meandering its way between Wharf
Port Motueka is well worth the visit.
You will find orchards and other horticultural land all around, and even right in the middle of Motueka. To get some perspective of the scale and extent of this whole ‘fruit bowl of New Zealand’ moniker, you really need to get an elevated view of the area. Coming down the southern side of the Marahau or Takaka hills provides great views of the endless rows of fruit trees, hops and vineyards stretching from Riwaka through and beyond Motueka. Although the vast majority of Motueka’s produce is exported to other parts of New Zealand and overseas, you will still be able to purchase it locally very easily. Much of the time, this will be directly from the producer’s front gate at the stalls you will encounter throughout the area.
For a rural Kiwi town, Motueka has a surprising variety of cafes and restaurants. The main road through town, High Street, is lined with cafes, takeaway-food places and bakeries. You will also be able to find pretty much anything else you need in terms of goods and services without having to travel outside of Motueka.
In the end, the choice is yours to make: Speed through High Street without giving Motueka the time of day, or linger a while and see if you work out why so many people have immigrated to the area in the past 15 or so years.
