Experience Nelson the gentle cycling way. Choose a guided city ride, or take a day to indulge yourself in the most beautiful landscapes of the region.

 

• Come with us on a guided city ride for 1 ½ hours of art, architecture, history and heritage and finish with a complimentary craft beer at a pub that used to be a church
• Pick up a city hire and use our maps for a perfect introduction to Nelson
• Pick up a bike for a freedom hire from our base, 15 minutes from Nelson city centre and we will help you choose a route. Wine and beer tours available
• Cycle on the completed sections of the off-road Great Taste Trail.
• Choose one of our classic country rides or our beer country ride and we’ll transport you in the morning to the start of your ride and meet you again at the end of the day. Gourmet picnics are available and all our country rides end at country pubs!
• Come cycling with a local on a premium guided ride and we’ll escort you to all our favourite places. Wine and beer tours available

 

 
GUIDED CITY RIDE

 

The must-do of Nelson, our very easy culture-vulture tour is the perfect introduction to the city’s art & design, culture and heritage. Hear stories of early settlement, cycle the dress-circle streets, discover some architectural gems of the past and the present and find out where the stylish galleries, funkiest vintage shops and coolest little cafes are hiding. And to wrap it all up, join us for a cold one in a pub that used to be a church before you head off for dinner at your favourite Nelson eatery.

 

• Price $30.00 (includes a convivial drink at the end of the ride)
• Departs 5.30pm daily Monday to Saturday (weather permitting) from the Church Steps, top of Trafalgar St, Nelson city.
  Returns 7pm
• Book now here

 

 
CITY HIRE

 

Hire a bike for a day or a half day of gentle cycling around the city. Our bikes are available most days from Upper Trafalgar St, Nelson, no booking necessary. Just call in to our booking agent, Nelson Escapes (284 Trafalgar St) to arrange your hire. While you are there you can choose a map which shows the best cycling routes. All these rides could be easily managed in half a day, or combine them for a whole day of gentle cycling - and all the routes include great cafes! More information on our city hire here

 

 
FREEDOM HIRE FROM OUR BASE      Map

 

If you want to hire a bike for some independent exploring out of the city centre, we can help. The Gentle Cycling Company HQ is based in Stoke, just 15 minutes by car south of Nelson city, not far from the airport. We’ve got maps and heaps of local knowledge to help you design your own route following the network of cycleways, quiet urban streets and country roads

 

An easy route within a 15 km radius of our base could include historic houses and gardens, the pretty Monaco Peninsula or Tahunanui Beach, WOW World of Wearable Arts and Classic Car Museum or McCashins Brewery. For beer enthusiasts, there are 3 breweries within easy cycling distance of our base.

 

Or go further for a more rural cycling day, take in some wine tasting, and explore some wineries, the picturesque Waimea Plains (yes it’s all pretty flat out here) and maybe the charming village of Brightwater. Just tell us how many kilometres you want to ride and we can advise you

 

Bookings are required, please phone first

• Price $30 (half day) $45 (full day) A limited number of children’s bikes also available
• Book at info@gentlecycling.co.nz

 

 
THE GREAT TASTE TRAIL      Map

 

The first sections of the Nelson Tasman 175km Great Taste Trail are now open for cycling. Both sections are flat and easy, on surfaces of tarseal and compacted stone chip.

 

Stoke – Brightwater 15 kms
This section of the trail takes cyclists from the suburb of Stoke (near Nelson airport), around the edge of Richmond township and out into the rural area of the Waimea Plains. Cyclists will pass estuary edges, vineyards, plantings of berry fruit, kiwifruit, and open grassland. There are 3 craft breweries either on the trail or a just a stones-throw from it. There are 9 cellar doors within easy access of the trail, plus 2 vineyard restaurants and numerous cafes. The last section of the trail, into the pretty village of Brightwater, is due for completion in April 2012. In the meantime, the route into Brightwater travels on a state highway for a distance of 1.2km. There is a wide shoulder on this section of the highway. Brightwater is a very scenic area, rich in history. The village heritage trail passes many original colonial cottage sheltered by old trees and hedges and the birthplace memorial to its’ most famous son, Sir Ernest Rutherford. The gentle agricultural hinterland includes areas of vineyards and plantings of apples and hops. There are 3 historic churches in the area and St Michael’s church, 5 km to the west of the village, has a beautiful wooden interior and tiny bell-ringers’ balcony and cyclists will enjoy exploring the historic churchyards. Royce McGlashen Pottery, home of one of NZ’s leading potters, is also located in the village. The Sprig and Fern pub serves bar meals and local craft beers.

Shuttle pick-ups to or from Brightwater are available - please enquire

 

Rabbit Island 7kms
There is also a section of the Great Taste Trail now open for cycling at Rabbit Island. This section of trail also links to the cyclists’ ferry which runs from Rabbit Island, across to the Mapua Wharf. It is planned that the Rabbit Island section of trail will link to Richmond and Stoke from October 2012.

The off-road trail begins at the causeway bridge at the entrance to the Rabbit Island recreation area and runs to the beach, then travels the length of the beach through pine forest to the ferry landing. The Rabbit Island beach is a popular swimming area, with barbeques big grassy areas and shade trees. Seifried Estates Vineyard and restaurant are sited close to the start of this section of cycleway.

Shuttle pick-ups to or from Rabbit Island or Mapua are available - please enquire
For more information on the ferry http://www.mapuawharf.co.nz/home/flat-bottom-fairy/

Pick up a bike for a freedom hire and explore the Great Taste Trail

 

Bookings are required, please phone first

• Price $35 (half day)    $45 (full day)
• Terrain sealed surface, quiet country roads
• Grade easy
• Picnic available
• Book at info@gentlecycling.co.nz

 

 
CLASSIC COUNTRY RIDES       Map

 

Come and spend a day exploring a gorgeous country area without having to bike out there from town. We’ll transport you from our HQ (or we can pick you up from your city accommodation) to the village of Brightwater, the base for your cycling. And at the end of the day, we pick you up again from the village pub! You ride self-guided using our maps, safe in the knowledge that you can phone us any time for support . You have the whole day to explore, before putting your feet up at the pub like a local.

 

Brightwater is a very scenic area, rich in history. You can choose a route with no hills on quiet roads, or add some hills for a bit of a work-out. The village heritage trail passes many original colonial cottage sheltered by old trees and hedges and the birthplace memorial to its’ most famous son, Sir Ernest Rutherford. The gentle agricultural hinterland includes areas of vineyards and plantings of kiwifruit, apples and hops. There are 3 historic churches in the area and St Michael’s church, 5 km to the west of the village, has a beautiful wooden interior and tiny bell-ringers’ balcony and cyclists will enjoy exploring the historic churchyards. Royce McGlashen Pottery, home of one of NZ’s leading potters, is also located in the village. Visit some wineries, taste the wines or finish with a local craft beer at the end of the day.

 

You can follow one of our classic country rides below or combine them to make up your own route

 

Classic Village to River Ride (11 kms) Explore the village, visit a historic churchyard and a pottery studio before cycling through lush farmland to a beautiful rocky swimming spot

 

Classic Village to Village Ride (14 kms)
Take the Brightwater village heritage trail then cycle through a rural landscape dotted with original farm buildings and old trees to the village of Wakefield

 

Classic History and Wine Ride (21 kms)
Visit historic churchyards and wineries as you cycle a country route that includes a 7km grassy cycleway

 

Classic Beach and Wine Ride (32kms)
Cycle across the fertile farmland to a beautiful swimming beach, visiting wineries on the way

 

 
BEER COUNTRY RIDE

 

Come and explore the hop-growing heart of Nelson, the Craft Brewing Capital of NZ. This is our famous Moutere Beer Country Ride, based in and around the village of Upper Moutere, 32 km from Nelson city – and yes, it’s the only beer country bike ride in NZ! More information on our freedom beer country ride here

 

 
PREMIUM GUIDED RIDES

 

Come with us on a fully-escorted country ride based in the stunning Moutere area, 30 km from Nelson city. These rides are designed to cater for all levels of cyclist and for accompanying non-cycling partners, and we can customise them to cater for fitness and personal preferences. Cyclists ride with the local guide providing vehicle support and regular meeting places along the route as required . Each ride consists of a standard route, which can be shortened or lengthened. The terrain is gently rolling and because vehicle support is provided, cyclists can cycle as little or as much as they choose. There is no cycling on major state highways. For non-cycling partners, we provide a van-based day that includes some walking and extra activities so nobody misses out!

 

We drive from the city to the Moutere valley for this cycling day. The beauty, diverse horticulture and gentle terrain dotted with vineyards and hop gardens make this an ideal cycling area. A tradition of seasonal workers, beginning with hop pickers in the early 20th century to grape and apple pickers today, has created a unique community of people and influences here. Farm architecture - packing sheds, workers cottages and wineries - combined with farming activities, result in a lively rural landscape full of flavour and history

 

Choose from one of our two fabulous premium guided rides:

 

Premium Wine Country Ride
A memorable day in Nelsons’ stunning wine country

 

Premium Beer Country Ride
Ride among the hop gardens, visit a hop kiln and taste the local brews