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Tour de Great Taste Trail: Cycling Tour from Nelson
Duration
6 days
Site savings
$35
From
$1,670 USD
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.
- CategoryEasy-going & Leisurely
- TypeFully Guided
- Duration6 days
- Culture LevelFamiliar
- Skill Level1 - Beginner
- Activity Level2 - Moderate
- Elevation2 - Moderate
- TerrainCoastal
- Distance98.8 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance24.7 miles
operated by
Tour de Vines
Tour de VinesQuick Stats
- Duration6 days
- Main DestinationSouth Island
- Distance98.8 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance24.7 miles
- Elevation2 - Moderate
- TerrainCoastal
Itinerary Details
- Day 1Arrival in Nelson
After collection from Nelson airport, you'll head to your seaside accommodation at the Palms Motel. Early arrivals can warm up with a ride around town on the beachfront cycling trail, or simply wander around exploring this lovely fishing port. This evening you will enjoy your first group meal, where you will meet your guide, ask as many questions as you like, and get to know your fellow cyclists. Keep an eye out for local oysters, a gourmet treat included with your restaurant meal.
- Palms Motel, Nelson
- Dinner
- Day 2Nelson to Wakefield
The first morning of cycling following the Great Taste Trail. You will ride the old rail corridor, a sealed cycle path that takes you over bridges, before winding your way around the estuary towards Richmond. You will take a break and explore the interesting ‘World of Wearable Art’ (WOW) museum (entry included). You are soon amongst gorgeous vineyards, orchards and farmland, en route to Wakefield. You will enjoy a winery lunch (included) at the lovely Waimea Estates and sample some of the famous NZ wines. Post lunch you will visit the Grape Escape Café for more gourmet treats, with perhaps a coffee to keep you moving! You will cross the Waimea River via a swing bridge with stunning views of the NZ Alps, and carry on to Brightwater, and then on to the quaint village of Wakefield. The Brightwater to Wakefield stretch has quiet on road sections with minimal traffic, and winds through farmland and a small native forest, into Wakefield where your accommodation awaits.
- 18.6 miles
- 180.4 ft
524.9 ft
344.5 ft - Snowball Manor, Wakefield
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 3Wakefield to Kaiteriteri
You are picked up after breakfast this morning and transferred to the top of a steep section for the downhill ride to Kaiteriteri. Whilst the distance is a bit longer today, it is downhill and flat. A highlight today is the ride through “Spooners Tunnel”: at 1352 metres (4435 feet) long, it is the longest disused rail tunnel in the southern hemisphere. A lovely downhill gradient takes you down to the Wai-iti Domain, before heading over the Pigeon Valley summit and down the Dovedale Valley to Woodstock.There are no eateries along this section so a packed lunch and snacks are provided (included).
On a nice day a swim in the Motueka river makes for an invigorating dip. You will pop in for a beer tasting at The Hop Federation just 380m (1246ft) off the trail in Riwaka. The ride into Kaiteriteri takes in boardwalks, bridges, farmlands and orchards before entering the ‘Easy Rider’ trail of the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park. Once you enter Kaiteriteri, you can explore the famous golden sands and atmosphere of this beautiful town, the gateway to the famous Abel Tasman National Park. Dinner is a free night in Kaiteriteri to dine as a group or strike out and find a venue for some personal time.
- 31.1 miles
- -1,827.4 ft
1,827.4 ft - Accommodation in Kaiteriteri
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks
- Day 4Abel Tasman National Park
An incredible day awaits, exploring the stunning Abel Tasman National Park (some say the 8th natural wonder of the world!). Your tour includes a guided hike inside the National Park with a scrumptious local platter picnic lunch. This is a great active day of walking and exploring this incredible national park. You will walk the most varied section of the Abel Tasman Coastal Track, around the spectacular Torrent Bay estuary to the long, golden sands of Anchorage Beach. The hiking is graded easy, takes around 4 hours total and includes a cruise transfer to and from the start and end points with plenty of opportunities to swim and enjoy the sunny outdoors.
- Accommodation in Kaiteriteri
- Breakfast and Lunch
- Day 5Kaiteriteri to Mapua
After breakfast you will jump on your bike again, bound for Mapua; today's is a leisurely ride with many scenic attractions along the way. You will re-trace your steps back to Riwaka, then make your way around the coastal trail to Motueka, enjoying the variety of bird species and scenery. You will enjoy a lunch stop at the very popular ‘Toad Hall’ (own expense and no they don’t serve toads!) in lovely Motueka. On leaving Motueka, you will pass through the Riverside Community (there is a great café here called the Riverside Café) then head up over Tasman View Road. This section is grade 2-3 and is a steady climb. However, the spectacular views of Tasman Bay make it all worth it! Onward to the quaint village of Tasman, and then past New Zealand’s number 1 café, ‘Jester House’. This is also a recommended coffee/café stop. Enjoy the lovely gardens & feed the ‘Tame Eels’. You are now just 8 km (4.9 mi) from Mapua, where you will stay tonight. This lovely seaside town has a buzzing atmosphere of galleries, studios, restaurants, cafes, shops, a wine bar & craft beer. Your final group dinner is included at a premium restaurant.
- 24.9 miles
- -98.4 ft
669.3 ft
767.7 ft - Mapua On The Water
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Day 6Mapua to Nelson