Māpua

Māpua is a short trip from either Nelson or Richmond, and the reason to make it is the wharf. The precinct occupies the old coolstore buildings from the settlement's years as a fruit-shipping port, and now holds restaurants, cafés, galleries and small retail. Tasman District Council's own audit of the district's town centres records it with zero vacancies and calls it, plainly, a successful destination — which for a settlement of about 1,700 people is unusual.

Much of that traffic arrives by bike. The Great Taste Trail runs through Māpua, and the ferry across to Moturoa/Rabbit Island is part of the ride — a seven-to-ten-minute crossing on a boat built to carry bikes as well as passengers. It runs daily through the summer season, roughly late September to late April; in winter it sails weekends, school holidays and public holidays only. Check with the operator before planning around it: weather cancels sailings, and the island itself has active logging with roads that can close without notice.

Two seasonal notes worth knowing. The wharf's Sunday market runs only over summer, December to April. And at least one long-standing wharf business closes entirely for winter, reopening in September. Outside summer, ring ahead rather than driving out on spec.