Welcome to Motueka!
Motueka is a town in the Nelson Bays region of New Zealand's South Island that lies close to the Motueka River. On or just off the main street (SH60) are two large supermarkets, cafes, fast food chains, and restaurants, as well as gift shops, clothing shops, and various other shops.
Motueka is a town on the South Island of New Zealand, close to the mouth of the Motueka River on the western shore of Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere. It is the second largest in the Tasman Region, with a population of 8,280 as of June 2021. The surrounding district has a number of apples, pear, and kiwifruit orchards, as well as growing a variety of specialized crops such as hops. The area formerly served as the main center of tobacco growth in New Zealand. A number of small vineyards have also been developed.
Nearby beaches (such as Kaiteriteri and Marahau) are very popular with holidaymakers, and the area around Motueka has one of the country's highest annual sunshine-hour indices. Motueka, as one of the nearest towns to the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks, has become the base of many tourism ventures, as well as in Nelson Lakes National Park, and in other recreational areas. Extensive limestone cave systems (including Harwoods Hole in the Tākaka Hill area north of Motueka) attract cavers and rock climbers. Sea kayaking, tramping and canyoning now attracts many thousands of visitors each year.
Many artists live in the area around Motueka, especially potters and reggae musicians. The Riverside Community, in nearby Lower Moutere, is a pacifist intentional community. Founded in the 1940s, it is New Zealand's oldest cooperative living community.