Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Masterpiece glass is blown at
Höglund Glass Art
(
www.hoglundartglass.com
; 52 Lansdowne Rd, Ap-
pleby;
10am-5pm)
, where you can watch Ola the master and his colleagues working the
furnace.
Just up the road is the turn-off to
Rabbit Island
, a recreation reserve offering estuary views
from many angles, sandy beaches and plenty of quiet pine forest. The bridge to the island
closes at sunset; overnight stays are not allowed.
Seifried
(
www.seifried.co.nz
;
cnr SH60 & Redwood Rd; 10am-5pm)
winery sits at the Rabbit Island
turn-off. It's one of the region's biggest, and is home to a pleasant garden restaurant and
the delicious Sweet Agnes riesling.
As you reach the end of the inlet, you can either continue along SH60 or detour along
the original coast road, now named the
Ruby Bay Scenic Route
. Along it lies the settlement of
Mapua
at the mouth of the Waimea River, home to arty shops and eateries including the
Smokehouse
(
www.smokehouse.co.nz
;
Mapua Wharf; fish & chips $8-12; 11am-8pm)
, where you can get
fish and chips to eat on the wharf in the company of seagulls, as well as delicious wood-
smoked fish and pâté to go. There's also delightful indoor dining at
Jellyfish
(
www.jellyfishmapua.co.nz
;
Mapua Wharf; lunch $13-20, dinner $25-35;
)
, where fishy dishes sit amid an
inspiring menu of fusion cuisine.
In the same wharfside cluster you will undoubtedly sniff out the
Golden Bear Brewing Com-
pany
(
www.goldenbearbrewing.com
; Mapua Wharf; meals $10-20)
, a microbrewery with tons of stainless
steel out back and a dozen or so brews out front. Authentic Mexican food will stop you
from getting a sore head. Occasional live music, takeaway beers and tours.
A few kilometres before the scenic route rejoins SH60 is
Jester House
(
www.jesterhouse.co.nz
;
320 Aporo Rd, Tasman; meals $13-23; 9am-5pm)
. It alone is a good reason to take this detour, as
much for its tame eels as for the peaceful sculpture gardens that encourage you to linger
over lunch. A short, simple menu puts a few twists into staples (wild pork burger, laven-
der shortbread), and there is local beer and wines. It's 8km to Mapua or Motueka.
Moutere Hwy
This road traverses gently rolling countryside, dotted with farms, orchards and lifestyle
blocks. Visitor attractions are fewer and far between, but it's a scenic, bucolic drive non-
etheless, particularly fruitful in high summer when the berry farms are on song. Local pro-
ducers and artists are listed at
www.moutereartisans.co.nz
.
