Tasman's Great Taste Trail

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Tasman’s Great Taste Trail is one of New Zealand’s Great Rides, a scenic and urban coastal ride that is most often experienced as a multi-day adventure.

At 174km, the trail is also able to be broken up into bite-sized pieces for short morning rides and afternoon adventures, weaving in and around the coastline and offering stunning views of Tasman Bay, the Waimea Plains and the Western Ranges.

Treating riders to an array of extraordinary sights and experiences, the trail lands riders right on the doorstep of cellar doors and vineyards, seaside restaurants, craft breweries, orchards, art studios and galleries, all of which showcase the visual, artistic and culinary ‘tastes’ of the Nelson Tasman region.

Landmarks and hotspots along the way include the submerged wooden boardwalks in the Waimea Estuary, the much-loved Mapua Wharf, the rolling Ruby Coast hills, the Janie Seddon shipwreck, the golden sands of Kaiteriteri Beach and the historic Spooners Railway Tunnel. The long sandy beach of Rabbit Island is connected with Mapua Wharf via a cycle ferry that crosses the inlet, whilst the journey from Belgrove is the perfect opportunity to indulge in artisanal flavours as you pass five of the regions 21 cellar doors.

The accessibility and adaptability of the trail differentiates it from many of New Zealand’s other Great Rides, enabling people of all ages and abilities to indulge in the Nelson Tasman’s great tastes at their own pace, and in their own way. Local cycle hire, tour and transport businesses make the experience even easier, offering rentals, pick ups and drop offs at various points along the trail. Additionally, the trail abounds with places to eat and stay, so you’ll never be far from somewhere to refuel or rest for a while.

A majority of the trail is easy, flat, off-road riding, although some on-road sections still remain. There are a few grade 3 sections in the hill valleys.

Photo credits: (1-2) Chocolate Dog Photography, (3-5) www.nelsontasman.nz, (6) KiwiJourneys, (7-8) George Guille Media, (9) Virginia Woolf Photography.