At a Glance
Enjoy three days' self guided cycling on the best sections of Tasman's Great Taste Trail from Wakefield to Kaiteriteri, and stay at quality 4+ star accommodation. We have everything arranged for you so that you can just enjoy comfortable “peace of mind” cycling holiday on the Great Taste Cycle Trail.
Tasman's Great Taste Trail is a network of cycleways along a sparkling coast, looping through the Tasman region's picturesque countryside dotted with galleries, vineyards and restaurants. The trail is part of Nga Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trail network, one of 22 New Zealand's Great Rides. You will ride on the trail to enjoy postcard-perfect views.
Self guided cycling holidays offer you maximum flexibility in organised travel. I's a great way to explore Nelson at your own pace with easy to follow ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- 3 days of self guided cycling
- Wet weather support
- Daily luggage transfers
- Bike hire, helmet & repair kit are provided
- Personalised pre-ride briefing
- Mapua Ferry tickets included
- Exclusive waterproof topographic maps, personalised trip notes
- Bookings for tastings at wineries and breweries (if required)
- Bookings for lunches and dinners (if required)
- 2 nights' boutique comfortable accommodation (4 to 4.5 star) on a twin share basis (single supplement available at additional expenses)
Itinerary
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Cycling distance: approximately 44 km (Easy to Moderate Grade). Pick up from your Nelson accommodation and transfer to the depot for a bike fitting and pre-trip briefing. Then transfer to Wakefield to start your cycling adventure. The ride today consists of two sections: the first section follows Great Taste Trail Rail route from Wakefield to the trail junction near Stoke. The second section follows the Great Taste Trail Coastal Route to Rabbit Island and Mapua. Today's ride is flat all the way, and the Rail Route section includes the densest area of wineries on the whole of the trail. Wakefield is a charming village with an interesting little main street, an old pub, some great cafes and some interesting historic buildings. The section from Wakefield to Brightwater is one of the cyclists' favourites, dotted with large oak trees and interesting farm buildings. Brightwater village is also historic, and the café here is very popular with cyclists. You might also want to stop and relax at one of the breweries near the trail junction in Stoke, before taking the Great Taste Trail Coastal Route towards Mapua. The Coastal Route follows the edge of the Waimea Estuary, which is industrial for the first 2.5 km before the urban spread is replaced with reedy estuaries and birds (look out for Royal Spoonbills). The next section is through pine forest before emerging on the beachfront at Rabbit Island. This area is a favourite spot for picnics and swimming. The last section of trail follows the beachfront for approximately 7 km to the ferry landing and then it is just a 10 minute trip across the channel to the Mapua Wharf. The village of Mapua is a popular destination, with galleries, cafes, a craft brewery and little streets that are ideal to explore by bike. Overnight in Mapua in a B&B in the heart of the village. |
B&B in Mapua (4 star)
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Cycling distance: approximately 26 km (Easy to Moderate). 54km if you take the detour Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your accommodation. Today you have the option to follow the Great Taste Trail Coastal Route directly to Motueka, or to start the day with some extra distance, exploring the extremely picturesque Upper Moutere area. Upper Moutere Detour We recommend a visit to Neudorf Vineyards, where you are welcome to take a picnic and relax on the lawn with a glass of their gorgeous chardonnay. Wines from Neudorf Vineyards have found their way onto the wine lists of several great European restaurants. In the village of Upper Moutere, visit the fabulous pottery of Katie Gold and Owen Bartlett, call at a pantry store and design studio and relax over a local craft beer at The Moutere Inn, the oldest pub in New Zealand. Your ride back to Mapua includes a fabulous long downhill as you ride back down to the coast. When leaving Mapua, the Great Taste Trail Coastal Route follows the coast before heading inland, with a steepish climb of approx 1 km up onto an elevated route above the coast. This is apple country, so look out for the orchard packing sheds and interesting little workers cottages tucked amongst the apples trees. Leaving the village of Tasman, expect another slow climb, this one of around 3 km up to the Moutere ridge. The next gravel section (4.5 km) climbs and descends as you follow the ridge (elevation approximately 110 m.) It's not a long section so take it easy and enjoy the views. There are three authentic "Nelson-style" cafes on your route today, with interesting gardens and great food and coffee. There are tame eels at one cafe and another is on the site of Riverside Community, the oldest alternative community in New Zealand. The section of trail through Motueka avoids the town centre and follows around the estuary waterfront, past gardens and grassy beach reserves. Look out for the open air Saltwater Baths and the old wharf. Motueka is bustling during the fruit-picking season and pretty sleepy the rest of the time. Overnight in Motueka. |
Nautilus Lodge Motel (4.5 star)Breakfast |
Cycling distance: approximately 17.5 km (Easy to Moderate). Enjoy a relaxed breakfast. Todays ride from Motueka to Kaiteriteri the ride is flat until the end. Following the wine cycling of previous days, today is "honesty box" cycling, so have some coins handy and pick up some fresh fruit (in season) including apples, pears, nashi, grapes, feijoas, citrus and melons. Leaving Motueka the trail heads to Riwaka, a cute little village which is home to a great cafe and a craft brewery. After Riwaka, there is a section that goes right through a kiwifruit orchard before the trail rejoins the coast. The trail then climbs and drops beside the road for a section before ducking into the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park. Your trip ends with a door-to-door transfer back to Nelson today, departing Kaiteriteri at 2:30pm. Estimated arrival time in Nelson is 3:30pm. |
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Daily departure on request. Please contact us for group bookings.
More Info
The departure point is Nelson, New Zealand.
How to Get to Nelson, NZ
BY SEA
Regular Cook Strait ferries provide vehicle and passenger access between Wellington in the North Island and Picton in the South Island.
BY AIR
Nelson is fortunate to have five airlines servicing the region: Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Originair, Sounds Air and air2there in and out of Nelson Airport, along with Golden Bay Air, based at Takaka in Golden Bay.
BY ROAD
The Nelson Tasman region is accessible by road from Christchurch, Blenheim, Picton, the West Coast and Murchison.
Nelson Tasman has sunny Mediterranean climate. Summer months have long sunny days with sunset at around 8.30pm. The summer temperatures average a high of 24 degrees celsius and low of 12 degrees celsius. There are 7 rain days on average, during summer.
Day 1: Wakefield - Mapua (44 km cycling)
Day 2: Mapua - Motueka (26 km cycling) or via Upper Moutere (54 km cycling)
Day 3: Motueka - Kaiteriteri (17.5 km cycling)
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.
Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.
A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 60 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 60 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.
Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.
General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 60 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 60 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance
Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.
Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.
Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.
Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.
Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.
Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.
Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The walks take place in very special wilderness settings. The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a walk with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the walk has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any walk up to 60 days prior to departure if a minimum of 4 walkers are unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the walk or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.
Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.
Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.
For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.
Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.
