Tour de Great Taste Trail – Self Guided
Duration:
6 Days
Difficulty: Easy/Int (Easy with Ebike)
From
$2799
Welcome to the ultimate cycling adventure on the stunning South Island of New Zealand! Embark on a 5-night, 6-day self-guided cycling tour along the Great Taste Trail, an unforgettable journey through the heart of Nelson’s breathtaking landscapes with Tour de Vines as your trusted companion. This cycling odyssey promises not just a tour, but a sensory experience as you immerse yourself in the flavours, scents, and sights of this remarkable region.
Experience the freedom of cycling self-guided with the confidence of knowing you are fully supported by Tour de Vines.
🌄 Picture yourself pedalling through sun-dappled vineyards, along coastal trails with the Tasman Sea as your companion, and through charming towns brimming with local charm. Don’t miss the enchanting Spooners Tunnel, a historic railway tunnel that adds a touch of adventure to your ride. The Great Taste Trail, renowned for its easy gradients and well-maintained paths, ensures that riders of all levels can revel in the joy of cycling amidst New Zealand’s natural wonders.
🏞️ The tour’s highlights include a day within the Abel Tasman National Park, where you’ll marvel at pristine beaches, lush forests, and crystal-clear waters. Indulge in a seamless blend of walking and boat transfers, and choose a shady view to enjoy your picnic lunch.
🍇 Discover why this part of New Zealand is a haven for foodies, with the trail winding through picturesque landscapes and introducing you to local delights. Savour the freshness of the sea air and let the Great Taste Trail unveil the magic of Nelson’s surroundings. Embark on this extraordinary journey, where every turn of the pedal reveals a new facet of natural beauty and culinary delight. Your adventure awaits! 🌿🚲
What We Love About this Great Taste Trail Self Guided Cycling Tour
- The Great Taste Trail: The cycling on this trail is just brilliant. Bridges, beaches, ferry river crossings, islands, distant alpine peaks and cute towns along the way.
- Nelson: Beginning your journey in Nelson, a city bursting with artistic energy and vibrant galleries.
- Spooners Tunnel Excursion: Exploring the historic Spooners Tunnel, a 1.4-kilometer marvel, adds an adventurous twist to your ride.
- Kaiteriteri Coastal Bliss: Staying 2 nights in Kaiteriteri, a coastal paradise where golden sands meet the azure Tasman Sea, offering a perfect seaside break.
- Abel Tasman National Park Adventure: Experiencing a stunning day in the Abel Tasman National Park, immersing yourself in pristine beaches, lush forests, and seamless cycling, walking, including fun boat transfers.
- Culinary Delights (it's called the 'Great Taste Trail' for a reason): Savouring the local flavors with the trail dotted with wineries, fruit outlets, cafes, breweries and more.
Great Taste Trail New Zealand Self Guided Cycling Tour
You can enjoy this cycling tour on any day or date that suits you, subject only to accommodation availability. Prices and any blocked dates can be seen on the calendar below.
Please note there is a $A100 per person supplement added post booking for tours that run over any New Zealand public holidays and long weekends.
To check accommodation, we request a $400 deposit, which enables us to check and hold accommodation for your preferred dates. This is fully refundable if no accommodation is available (this is rare).
Book online below or contact us +61 3 7068 5000.
What's Included in Your Great Taste Trail Self Guided Cycling Package
This cycling tour is an amazing value when you add up what's included. Here is the list:
- Five (5) nights accommodation (ensuite hotel or B&B style)
- 5 x full breakfasts, 3 x restaurant dinners, 1 x sumptuous lunch, 2 x picnic lunches
- Detailed riding instructions and directions
- On-call support is never far away
- All food and wine tastings and outlet visits per itinerary provided
- Boat transfers to and from Abel Tasman National Park, park entry, self-guided walk in Abel Tasman National Park with lunch.
- Mapua Ferry ticket
- Lightweight fair trade cycling t-shirt and environmentally friendly water bottle
- Amazing memories and an incredible new set of photos!
Bikes
- Excellent, well-maintained hybrid-style bikes with pannier/carry bags available to hire
- Quality E-bikes (step through style on request) also available to hire
- BYO is possible at no extra cost
Trusted Operator
Tour de Vines has been running tours in since 2002 and has been awarded the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025 and is now a Hall of Fame inductee. You can be assured we are a quality operator and want nothing more than for you to have an amazing travel experience.
Self Guided Cycling
Self-guided cycling tours do require participants to be adaptable and able to solve issues whilst on tour. On-call support is included in your tour, but it is expected that you will know how to repair punctures and make minor adjustments to gears, handlebars and seats if required, and if bringing your own bike, then this is expected. For anything more serious, we will be able to assist with a call to our local support number at any time during your trip. You should be able to read a map and follow directions, either on a device or a printed map (supplied), and you have a good sense of direction. Getting a little bit lost or having to ask locals for directions is all part of choosing to travel on a self-guided basis. The maps and directions provided to you are updated regularly and tailored to your specific trip (hotels, restaurants are noted and marked). If this is something that makes you nervous or uncertain, or if you know for sure that you can’t fix a puncture or aren’t confident reading a map, then we do recommend our extensive range of small group fully guided tours where all the stress of navigation, bike maintenance and logistics is all done for you. However, if comfortable with this, then the freedom of a self-guided cycling trip is wonderful, and once confident, can be the preferred choice across our range of cycling tours.
What accommodation is used on this cycling tour?
Accommodation can vary on self-guided cycling tours depending on specific dates and group numbers (is not pre-booked in advance). Accommodation is on an en-suite basis and from 3 to 4 star standard or equivalent. Variations may occur but we normally enjoy:
- Nelson City – Palms Motel http://palmsnelson.co.nz
- Wakefield – Snowball Manor http://www.snowballmanor.co.nz and bushwalk.co.nz
- Kaiteriteri (2 nights) – Kimi Ora Eco Resort https://www.kimiora.com
- Mapua – Korepo Lodge or similar https://www.korepolodge.nz
Are Ebikes available to hire on this self guided cycling tour in NZ?
Absolutely yes.
Choose from step-through style e-bikes or cross-bar style, all set up and ideal for the Great Taste Trail, which has a mix of terrain (some paved, some hard-packed gravel, some road).
Ebike prices can be advised by contacting us or can be booked online via the calendar below.
Is there a minimum and/or maximum number of riders?
Yes.
This self-guided tour requires a minimum of 2 riders to be made available at the advertised price. Single can be accommodated but needs to be quoted. We would recommend joining our small group guided tour (same trip) if single and looking to enjoy this ride.
Groups of up to 20 or more can be accommodated on this cycling tour.
Tour de Vines is a member of the Australian Tourism Export Council
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