Leisurely ride along the flat pathways taking in the scenery
Immerse yourself in this natural wonderland on day 4 as you spend the whole day exploring this beautiful landscape
Enjoy the tranquil riding through blissful surroundings
Relax as you pedal, taking in the wonderful vistas along the way
Lose yourself in the awe-inspiring scenery that New Zealand is famous for
Flat and smooth pathways with epic scenery abound on this tour - a superb combination
Ride through this lengthy and historic disused rail tunnel on your way to Kaiteriteri
Read the informative signage along the route as you are guided through this fantastic journey
Explore this beautiful land with new, and perhaps old, friends by your side
Discover the abundant local fare as you travel through this spectacular region
Visit and take the easy trail at the Mountain Bike Park, with a stunning backdrop

Tour de Great Taste Trail: Cycling Tour from Nelson

Duration
6 days
Site savings
$35
From
$1,670 USD
6 Reviews

As the name suggests, this cycling tour of the Great Taste Trail is a journey into food and wine country on the south island of New Zealand. Starting and ending in the scenic, seaside town of Nelson, this tour will delight the senses with the array of wonderful local produce, including some incredible wines! This is a fully guided tour, and you will be looked after from start to finish. Quality accommodation, gourmet meals, all winery visits, transport and a guide are all included. Sit back, cycle a little and enjoy all the best of this beautiful and stunning region of New Zealand.

  • Category
    Easy-going & Leisurely
  • Type
    Fully Guided
  • Duration
    6 days
  • Culture Level
    Familiar
  • Skill Level
    1 - Beginner
  • Activity Level
    2 - Moderate
  • Elevation
    2 - Moderate
  • Terrain
    Coastal
  • Distance
    98.8 miles
  • Avg. Daily Distance
    24.7 miles
operated by
Tour de Vines
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  • Where does the tour start and end?

    The tour starts and ends in Nelson, on the south island of New Zealand. Access to Nelson is relatively straightforward with an airport on the edge of the town (Nelson Airport: NSN) and regular flights with Air New Zealand from all the major cities in NZ.

    Driving is also an option with a scenic drive from Christchurch (416 km/258 mi, so probably worth a stopover en route) or arrive via the inter-island ferry taking you over the Cook Strait from Wellington on the north island to lovely Picton on the south island. Your tour includes pick up & drop off transfers.

  • How long is the tour? How many days riding?

    The tour is 6 days long with 4 days riding.

  • What's the tour like?

    The Great Taste Trail is graded as easy to intermediate, with a couple of hill sections over the 4 days of cycling. A combination of paved trails, quiet country roads and gravel tracks, the majority of cycling is on flat, scenic terrain and is a delight to ride. Average daily distances are 30-40 km (18.6-24.8 mi). The tour will complete the full Great Taste Trail loop, and includes a short shuttle section to keep you off the steep dirt tracks.

  • Is a bike included?

    High quality 24 gear hybrid bikes are included, or choose an E-bike to make the ride a little easier, or if you have any concerns about your riding ability. Additionally, support is never far away.

  • Is there a minimum age?

    Yes, 18 is the minimum age for the tour.

  • If I'm travelling on my own, do I have to pay more?

    If you wish to have your own room or are travelling solo then a single supplement is payable. 

  • Are helmets required?

    A helmet is required to be worn on all biking activities and is non-negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you won't be allowed to cycle.

    The tour operator does have helmets available to hire but if you have your own this is preferable so that you are comfortable with a well-fitted helmet.

  • What sort of support is there?

    You have the services of a local guide cycling with you. A support bus carries all luggage and will always be available for anyone at any point during the day. If for instance you want to take a day off the bike, or if a particular day seems a little hard, the bus will take you for as long or as little as you wish it to. The guides are enthusiastic experts on the local area and will be able to sort out any problems or special requests that you might have.

Overall Rating:
5.0/5
View all 6 reviews
Robert & Lorraine
(Review obtained from Tour Operator)

We loved the tour, the company of friends, your great organisation and Sean’s hard work. Thank you once again. It won’t be our last Tour de Vines.

A slice of heaven: Great Taste Trail New Zealand
Ann B
(Review obtained from Trip Advisor)

The area around Nelson on the northern tip of the NZ South Island is a hidden gem. I can confidently say the best way to discover this varied landscape (rolling hills, vineyards, mountains and coast) is on two wheels.
I have just returned from the Tour de Vines six day Great Taste Trail guided tour and it's one of the best holidays I've had.
Scenery: the "great taste" means experiencing a wide variety of scenery. I was jumping off my bike regularly to take another photo of picture postcard views.
Bikes: I loved my bike (hire included). She was a sturdy hybrid with a comfortable saddle, 24 gears (including a "granny gear" for the occasional slog up a long hill) but surprisingly nippy.
Accommodation: Varied between a traditional NZ pub, self-contained villa with stunning views over the ocean, and a bed & breakfast. But all were very comfortable and clean.
Food: Damn! Even with all that cycling I came home 2 kgs heavier. The food was excellent. The area is famous for seafood and we ate well (possibly too well in my case) every day. Most meals were included (a couple were at our own cost) and two meals were beautiful "picnic" lunches. A highlight for me was dinner al fresco at a property out in the country, eating home-cooked gourmet food under a huge spreading tree watching the sun go down.
Wines: What a great area for wine lovers. We cycled through/past acres of vines. The area is famous for its wines, particularly its sauvignon blanc, riesling, pinot noir and pinot gris. We had the opportunity to taste these and other varieties at a number of boutique wineries.
Extras: As well as the wine tasting visits, we went to WOW (World of Wearable Art) in Nelson which also included about a billion dollars worth of classic cars. And a day easy-walking and swimming in the stunning Abel Tasman National Park.
Fitness: We had a large group and the fittest could possibly give Cadel Evans a run (spin) for his money. But I never felt any pressure to keep up and could happily pedal at my own pace. And of course there was the trusty sag wagon if you really couldn't pedal any more. If you are not a regular cyclist, I would recommend upping the kilometres to 50-100 a week to get the best out of this tour.
Niggle: Just one "area for consideration". The daily notes were not always accurate about the terrain or challenges. The roads were more often "undulating" rather than "downhill" all the way. But I know that the tour is still a work in progress and am sure this will be remedied.
I started the tour not knowing any of the other riders but ended with lots of new friends. Thank you Damien and Sean for a fabulous time.

Great taste trail Nelson New Zealand
Renee M
(Review obtained from Trip Advisor)

Just completed the great taste trail from Nelson New Zealand.
5 nights of cycling and 1 day hiking Abel Tasman national park.
Shaun and Damian were excellent tour guides and support. Accomodation and food was fantastic. Every you asked for
They helped with everything, even with getting a wash and blow dry at a local hairdresser in Mapua.
I would recommend Tour De Vines for any age.

View all 6 reviews