Overview
A six day, self-guided cycling holiday along the Great Taste Trail on New Zealand’s South Island, with a fantastic menu not only of food and wine along the way, but also of landscapes. For starters, you have Nelson on Tasman Bay, gateway to Abel Tasman National Park, and also home to great seafood. Main course highlights include the coastal tracks of the national park, views of the Southern Alps, and taking a ferry across to Rabbit Island.
- Nelson and Tasman Bay
- Abel Tasman National Park
- Mapua
- Rabbit Island
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Nelson
Arrive in Nelson and make your way to your accommodation. If time permitted, take a stroll along the beach or wander around the fishing port. The accommodation is also a short walk from a host of restaurants and cafes.
- Accommodation: The Beachcomber Hotel or similar in Nelson
Day 2: Nelson – Mapua | 32km
Start with a bike fitting and a briefing. Cycle along the Tasman’s Great Taste Trail to Mapua, with plenty of options to explore along the way. Visit the Classic Car Museum, try a craft beer from Stoke or Eddyline Breweries or stop at Pic’s Peanut Butter World. Experience the coastal path, boardwalks and farmland of the Waimea Estuary, home to the white heron. Cross the Waimea Swing Bridge, visit Rabbit Island for a swim. The day ends with a short ferry ride (included) to Mapua Wharf, where you can explore galleries and cafes and try local wines and craft beer.
- Accommodation: Mapua Wharfside Apartments or similar in Mapua
- Cycling for the day: 32km
Day 3: Moutere Hills Winery Tour | 34km
Explore the Upper Moutere wineries, nestled in the foothills of the Kahurangi Range. Cycle through rolling countryside visiting four of the region’s finest wineries: Neudorf Vineyards, Moutere Hills Vineyard, Heaphy Vineyard and Gravity Cellars. Discover New Zealand’s oldest pub, galleries and local produce along the way. Cycle past vineyards, hops and blueberry orchards. Stop for a wine tasting and lunch and one of the wineries before cycling back to Mapua.
- Accommodation: Mapua Wharfside Apartments or similar in Mapua
- Cycling for the day: 34km
- Meals: lunch and wine tasting
Day 4: Mapua – Kaiteriteri | 42km
Start with a short ride through Ruby Bay towards Tasman, offering 360-degree views of Tasman Bay and the surrounding ranges. Continue along the coastal trail, cycling through farmland and orchards, where you might spot birdlife such as the native bellbird, fantail, and tūī. Approach Kaiteriteri, the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park, winding through native beech forest.
- Accommodation: Kaiteriteri Reserve Apartments or similar in Kaiteriteri
- Cycling for the day: 42km
Day 5: Abel Tasman National Park
Swap bikes for backpacks today, as you explore Abel Tasman National Park, renowned for its golden beaches, estuaries, granite cliffs and mild climate. Take a boat ride along the coastline, followed by a walk to Awaroa Lodge for a lunch stop. Continue walking to Tonga Quarry before returning by Sea Shuttle back to Kaiteriteri and your shuttle journey to Nelson City.
- Accommodation: The Beachcomber Hotel or similar in Nelson
- Meals: lunch
Day 6: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of 3-star and 4-star hotels. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
- The Beachcomber Hotel (Nelson)
- Mapua Wharfside Apartments (Mapua)
- Kaiteriteri Reserve Apartments (Kaiteriteri)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Two lunches are included on days three and five. Where no breakfast, lunch or dinner is included, lunches and snacks can be bought from local shops, and breakfast and dinner are available from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This trip is graded easy-moderate and includes daily cycling distances of 30-50km. The route follows a combination of paved trails, quiet country roads and gravel tracks, with the majority of cycling being on flat terrain, with a few steeper sections (read more about difficulty grades). All participants should be able to read a map, follow directions and have a good sense of direction.
When to go
This trip is available all year round, from January till the end of December. The best months to visit are November – March when average temperature is around 22C. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date during the season. For more information, see our blog, Best time to go to New Zealand.
Please note that supplements apply for tours that run over any New Zealand public holidays and long weekends.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this holiday is Nelson (NSN).
By train or bus
By plane: Nelson Airport has regular domestic flights to/from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The closest international airport is Christchurch.
By bus: There is a bus service from Christchurch to Nelson with a change in Blenheim (8h). For information and tickets, visit Intercity or use the Omio planner above.
By ferry: There are return ferry services between Wellington and Picton (3-4h) and bus services between Picton and Nelson (2h 15mins). For ferry times and tickets, visit Interislander and for bus times and tickets, visit Intercity or use the Omio planner above.
Inclusions
Included
- 5 nights accommodation in private en-suite rooms
- 2 lunches
- 1 wine tasting
- Dedicated route map
- Pre-tour briefing
- E-bike rental
- Drinking bottle and t-shirt
- Luggage transfers between accommodations (one piece per person up to 15kg)
- 24/7 phone support by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches and dinners not mentioned as included
- Breakfast
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable locally)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers. (rates only on request)
- Extra nights
- Airport transfers
E-bike rental
KTMs, Haibikes or Cilos e-bikes are included as standard on this tour. All e-bikes are equipped with a helmet, a pannier bag, a repair kit and a pump.
Sample pictures shown above, please note that the exact models may differ depending on availability, but the standard will be the same.
