Art and Food Cycle Tour

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1From Nelson To Wakefield

   After a local transfer from Nelson center to the tour operator's office/the start location, you'll have a pre-tour briefing and be set up comfortably on your bikes. An easy flat ride through the tastiest area of the Great Taste Trail on the Rail Route then awaits. As you cycle the route to Wakefield, you will also pass through Brightwater (14 km/8.6mi), and there are lots of places to detour to on the way. This is the wine cycling day, in the densest area of wineries on the whole of the trail. The wineries here are small and generally family-owned and some have cafes.

   Stop off for lunch or take a side road to explore the lush, flat countryside. The villages of Brightwater and Wakefield are both charming and historic, with their colonial cottages and pretty gardens. Wakefield has a little main street, with some interesting historic commercial buildings as well. The new Spooners Tunnel section of trail can be added to the route today. This section of trail is due for completion by September 2019.
   

   • 13.7 miles
   • Wakefield Hotel

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     Enjoy finding treasures along the way

     Cycle with an informative, detailed map, helping you find the best spots to visit

2. Day 2Wakefield to Mapua via Mapua Ferry

   More flat riding today, across the Waimea Plains to Rabbit Island. The first section retraces the Rail Route from Wakefield back to Brightwater. From here, there are two route options: one takes (mostly) quiet country roads across the Waimea Plains (28 km/17mi). The other retraces the Rail Route back to meet the Coastal Route and on to Rabbit Island (38 km/23mi). The on-road route is a favorite of the tour operator, passing a gorgeous historic church and riding some little roads bordered with hedgerows and scenic rural farmland.

   The Coastal Route follows the edge of the Waimea Estuary, which is industrial for the first 2.5 kms (1.5mi) before the urban spread is replaced with reedy estuaries and birds (look out for Spoonbills). The next section is through pine forest before emerging on the beachfront at Rabbit Island. This area is a favorite spot for picnics and swimming.

   The last section of trail follows the beachfront for approximately 7 km (4mi), to the ferry landing and it is just a 10 minute trip across the channel to the Mapua Wharf. The village of Mapua is a popular destination, with galleries, cafes, a craft brewery and little streets that are ideal to explore by bike.
   

   • 17.4 miles
   • Leisure Park Holiday Park, Mapua

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     Mapua Leisure Park

     Spend 2 nights in the divinely located Mapua Leisure Park in a self-contained cabin

3. Day 3Mapua to Upper Moutere return

   Today’s route is on-road, detouring off the Great Taste Trail up into the rolling hills around the village of Upper Moutere, and this area is a food and landscape lovers delight. There are some little detours which could also be added to your day. A reasonable level of fitness is required as there are some hills. The landscape is rolling with one long, steady climb of approximately 2 km (1.2mi). The route includes one section of 2 km (1.2mi) on a secondary road with no shoulder.

   After the climb from the coast up to the summit of the rolling Moutere foothills (elevation approx 100 m/328ft) the route is a lovely meander on country roads past vineyards and apple orchards to Upper Moutere. Look out for plantings of grapes, olives, black currants and hops and the old hop kilns, colonial farmhouses and interesting farm buildings. Make time to cycle to Neudorf Vineyards, recognized internationally as this region's premiere vineyard.

   In the village of Upper Moutere, visit the fabulous pottery of Katie Gold and Owen Bartlett, call at a pantry store and design studio and relax over a local craft beer at The Moutere Inn, the oldest pub in NZ. And don’t miss the 3km (1.8mi) ride from the village up the gorgeous valley to Forsters at Moutere Hills vineyard, which is a very special place for lunch. Tasteology at Kahurangi Estates is on the way, so you can easily pop in here for some local craft beer or wine as well. Your ride back to Mapua includes a fabulous long downhill as you ride back down to the coast.
   

   • 16.2 miles
   • Leisure Park Holiday Park, Mapua

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     Explore the art of the area

     Discover sculptures and unexpected artistic touches along the route

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     Visit Forsters Moutere Hills Vineyard

     Stop off at this wonderful winery on day 3

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     Mapua Leisure Park

     Spend 2 nights in the divinely located Mapua Leisure Park in a self-contained cabin

4. Day 4Mapua to Motueka

   Today’s ride is from Mapua to Motueka. This is apple country, so look out for the pack-houses and old worker’s cottages on the orchards here. From Mapua, the Great Taste Trail follows the coast to the sleepy settlement of Ruby Bay before a steepish climb of approximately 1 km (.62mi) up onto an elevated route above the coast among the apple orchards. It is a beautiful gentle downhill into Tasman village, where there is a village store and cafe, a stylish pottery and an optional detour out to the beachfront on the Kina Peninsula. The route then turns back uphill for a longer climb of approximately 3 km (1.86mi) to the Moutere ridge.
   
   The next gravel section (4.5 km/2.8mi) climbs and descends as you follow the ridge (elevation approximately 110m/361ft). It’s not a long section so take it easy and enjoy the views. Approaching Motueka township, the trail passes Toad Hall Cafe & Townshend Brewery, a great place to relax with some food and beer under the big oak trees in the garden. The Coastal Route by-passes the long main street of Motueka, taking a pretty route past the old wharf and through an area many visitors miss. The Raumanuka Reserve and adjoining sandspit is a site of historic significance in this area.
   
   

   • 16.2 miles
   • Top 10 Holiday Park, Motueka

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     Motueka Top 10 Holiday Park

     Spend the final night enjoying the facilities at the holiday park in Motueka

5. Day 5Motueka to Kaiteriteri

   This is a short leg, but you need to allow at least 2 hours of cycling time. Leaving Motueka, take time to explore the sandspit reserve before the ride to Riwaka, past the most varied selection of trail-side fruit stalls in the area. Take a detour to the craft brewery at Riwaka too.

   As you rejoin the coast, the trail climbs and drops beside the road for a section before ducking into the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park. This last section of 3.1 km (1.9mi) is intermediate grade and takes the Easy Rider Trail through the bike park. The surface here is smooth and it is not technical, but some riders might want to take it very gently or walk some sections as there are some tight corners. The trail winds down through the bush and pine trees and you will soon get the first glimpse of your destination – the stunning golden shores of Kaiteriteri Beach. The tour operator provides return transport from Kaiteriteri, bringing you and your bikes back to Nelson. Alternatively, you can choose to extend your tour to spend a night in Kaiteriteri, see the main page overview for a description and select the extra night add-on when booking.

   Add on option: Extra night in Kaiteriteri
   Why not enjoy a relaxing stay in Kaiteriteri at the end of your trip. There is a range of accommodation in Kaiteriteri including an Eco Resort, with vegetarian restaurant, spa, massage and pool facilities.
   
   Add on option: Abel Tasman National Park Day
   Staying the night in Kaiteriteri makes it easy to use the following day for a trip in the Abel Tasman National Park. In the morning, it’s an easy walk to the beachfront where your Park Day begins. Wilsons Abel Tasman offer a range of single day trips in the park (standard retail prices apply). For a flexible full day walking trip option, the Open Day Pass is recommended. There is also a range of full day kayak trips available. If you’d like to book a Park Day as part of your cycling trip, the tour operator will ensure your whole itinerary fits together seamlessly.
   
   Contact us if you’d like an additional night in Kaiteriteri or a day in Abel Tasman National Park
   
   

   • 10.9 miles

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     Kaiteriteri Beach

     Arrive in Kaiteriteri at the end of the tour