Premium quality cycling tours based on and around the Great Taste Trail for lovers of food, wine & beautiful Nelson landscapes
We work with you to plan your personalised adventure on two wheels. When you cycle with us, you can relax and enjoy the freedom of cycling, with all the knowledge and support you need. So whether you have half a day or a few days, we’ll help you make the Great Taste Trail, your trail.
Plains and Coast
4 Days: Kohatu - Stoke - Mapua - Motueka - Kaiteriteri
This popular off-road tour option enables you to follow the historic rail route and cycle through the iconic Spooners Tunnel, along rivers, through regenrating forest, vineyards and historic towns. Then along the coast with its many artisanal delights, ending at the golden sands of Kaiteriteri.
Coastal Classic
3 Days: Mapua - Motueka - Kaiteriteri
Beaches, vineyards, boardwalks and galleries, this tour enjoys the highest concentration of places to eat, drink and soak up the many wonders of the Great Taste Trail. Family friendly, this tour is divided into manageable chunks so there’s plenty of time for you to stop and enjoy the delights each day.
Luxury Cycle & Sail
7 Days: Nelson - Abel Tasman National Park
Leave Nelson on two wheels and return six days later on a luxury yacht. Your guide will take you on a personalised tour along the Great Taste Trail and into the South Island’s golden crown, Abel Tasman National Park, exploring the Top of the South in decadent style.
Loop the Loop
5 Days: Tapawera - Kaiteriteri - Mapua
Keen to tick off the whole Great Taste Trail circuit? This tour is for those with the fitness and fortitude for on and off-road cycling. The diverse landscapes and sense of achievement are well worth it and you’ll get to enjoy some remote and rugged scenery for your efforts.
Beers, Blades & Balls
Tailored for you
A bespoke tour that can include diverse activities such as golf, forging a knife from scratch and a cycle ride through the iconic Spooners Tunnel. Luxury accommodation and catering options provided, enabling you to relax in the spa and pool each evening. You’ll love this cycle tour option with a twist.
Great Taste Trio
5 Days: Great Taste Trail + Abel Tasman National Park
Enjoy two and a half days of glorious cycling, exploring the Great Taste Trail Coastal Route from Stoke to Kaiteriteri with The Gentle Cycling Company. Then luxuriate in the Abel Tasman Park for two and a half days, staying in the Wilson’s beach front lodges.
Single Day Tours
Guided / Unguided
Check out our full day and half day, guided or unguided packages on the Great Taste Trail. You can choose from our tours: Spooners Tunnel, Marvelous Moutere, Rabbit Island Picnic, Great Taste Wine, one of our Great Taste Beer tours or the Great Taste Goose Chase. We can also design a bespoke adventure for you – get in touch!
Custom Tours
Guided / Unguided
Go it alone, equipped with our maps and trip notes or enjoy our fully guided options with travel support to provide flexibility. There’s a wide variety of activities, such as, a Buddhist Centre retreat, private wine tasting, hop farm tour. We can design a bespoke tour to suit your needs and interests.
The Great Taste Trail
This is a New Zealand Great Ride - 200km long
The Great Taste Trail is a trail built for cyclists, providing an off-road route through some of the most delicious and scenic landscapes of NZ. Much of the trail is easy, flat riding in a heritage landscape of rolling hills and plains, lush valleys and beautiful golden beaches. For foodies, and lovers of wine, craft beer, or art, this trail has it all.
What our adventurers say
Our tours are perfect for groups too...
Proud to be Climate Positive
and Kaitiaki (guardians)
We are continuously evolving and adapting to minimise our impact on this wonderful planet we call Te Ao / Earth. Choosing to offset 120% of the carbon emitted by our vehicles and electricity consumption, the wonderful people at Ekos are rewilding Mohua, an indigenous forest in Golden Bay. We’re proud to support this and other great initiatives to improve the biodiversity and resilience of our natural habitats. We endeavor to reduce our use of precious resources. Furthermore, we take part in community planting, pest eradication programs and regularly clear up around the Great Taste Trail, coast and bush, recycling / upcycling whatever we can.
We are also proud to be part of the Nelson Tasman Zero Carbon Itinerary – click here to check it out.
Local and Proud
A family owned and run business
This is a family business. All four of us are self confessed cycle-explorer addicts and love to explore our backyard on two wheels, regularly disembarking to explore further on two feet. We will help you plan and prepare for pedal powered adventures in our favourite place to peruse!
Our News
Fun for the whole family
Yes the weather is terrible at times now that winter is in full effect. Whilst many cyclists choose Nelson for cycling adventures in the warmer…
Cycle and Sail for Sustainability
You may have seen some our bikes featured on Seven Sharp on Wednesday night. We’re proud to be part of the Nelson Tasman Zero Carbon…
Film Shoot Fun
Tourism NZ have commissioned a new promotional video which is being filmed at various locations around the country. We at The Gentle Cycling Company were…