Upper Moutere: Wine, Cycling and Rural Character

Upper Moutere is a small rural community in the gently rolling Moutere Hills, with views of Mt Arthur from some spots. For trip planning, the area combines a rural setting with specific themes: cycling, wine and local produce. The offerings vary in format—from a shared walking and cycling path to tastings and picnic baskets. This lets you decide which focus should shape your trip to Upper Moutere.

Exploring on Foot and by Bike

The shared concrete and gravel path for walking and cycling was completed in October 2025. It is 1,300 metres long, runs alongside the Moutere Highway and connects the village with the Moutere Hills Community Centre and sports grounds. This provides a clearly defined local connection for walking and cycling. The cycling tours offer a different focus: they travel through vineyards, apple orchards and hop gardens across gently rolling terrain and flat valleys. More challenging climbs lead up from Mapua or Motueka. This means a precisely defined local connection and cycling tours through a variety of landscapes are both available.

Wine, Tastings and Local Produce

Neudorf offers a bookable experience in its vineyard, with a glass of Neudorf wine and picnic baskets featuring selected local products. There is also a seated tasting of organic single-vineyard Moutere wines. The tasting explains the influence of terroir, as well as viticultural and winemaking methods. The formats have different emphases: one combines wine and a picnic, while the other focuses the tasting on provenance and production.

At Moutere Hills Vineyard, the offerings include handcrafted wines made from estate-grown grapes and homemade food prepared with regional ingredients by award-winning chefs. Menus and business details may change, so it is advisable to check them before visiting. The Old Post Office Country Store sells Moutere Gold preserves made locally, as well as fresh local pastries and bread. Product availability may change, so check the current selection before visiting.

Local History and Visitor Information

The Moutere Inn was established in 1850 and is New Zealand’s oldest pub still operating in its original building. St Paul's Church (Lutheran) in Upper Moutere is listed as a Category 2 Historic Place. The church is private and not open to the public. This is important for planning a visit: the church cannot be included as a public sightseeing destination.

Cycling Trips on a Larger Scale: Tasman District

The Tasman District provides its own regional framework for trip planning. The Great Taste Trail is part of Nga Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trail, and offers sweeping views of Tasman Bay, the Waimea Estuary and the Western Ranges. Its coastal route runs from Nelson to Richmond, from Richmond to Māpua, on to Motueka and as far as Kaiteriteri. The rail trail route runs from Richmond to Brightwater, from Brightwater to Wakefield and on to Tapawera. Check for current closures before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Richmond, Nelson Lakes National Park, Ngatimoti, Mahana, Takaka, Parapara, Anatori, Kikiwa.

For the wider travel overview: Tasman District.