The Nelson Tasman Great Taste Trail

Credit: Dean McKenzie

Nelson Tasman’s Great Taste Trail provides a chance to deep-dive into the Nelson region, eating and drinking your way through some beautiful countryside. The whole ride takes four days comfortably, giving you plenty of time to explore the beaches, rivers, wineries, breweries, cafes and restaurants along the way. But it’s divided into sections that allow you to explore a smaller part of it easily as well. There are many points where the trail comes close to the road so you can stop and start anywhere.

A part of the national Nga Haerenga trail, this trail focuses on some of the foodie delights the Nelson region has to offer. It’s a noted wine region in its own right and home to some excellent craft breweries. There’s fresh seasonal fruit, cheeses, olives and seafood. And it’s the only place in New Zealand that hops are grown commercially in any quantity.

The Great Taste Trail starts and ends in Nelson city, if you choose to base yourself there. There are also a number of accommodations around the circuit so you can leave Nelson for several days and explore. The first section heads south from the city, to Richmond and then out west around the coast of the Waimea Estuary and on to Rabbit Island. Bike the length of the island and cross the estuary on a small ferry (check its timing in advance as it only runs set times, and less in winter).

Mapua is a really nice stop with a brewery and several restaurants and cafes. Or enjoy fish and chips on the wharf. It’s also an ideal overnight stop for your first night out of Nelson.

The ride then ambles through beautiful countryside – olives, pastoral, apples, grapes – to Motueka, then out along the coast to Kaiteriteri. This gorgeous little beach can be a busy spot in summer, but is well worth the visit. If you have time, take the ferry up in to the Abel Tasman National Park and explore there for a day or two. There is some stunning walking and kayaking along the coastal park. Kaiteriteri is also home to the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park, with challenges for any age group.

Credit: Dean McKenzie

The longest section of the trail runs from Riwaka (a short ride from Kaiteriteri) to Kohatu. This 57km stretch is mostly on the road rather than a purpose-built trail, but traffic volumes are not great. This is farming country, hop gardens, berries and apples, a short steep climb up the Stanley Brook Hill, and a pretty section along the Motueka River Valley. Part of this section follows beneath the mighty Mt Arthur Range and mountains of the Kahurangi National Park, a beautiful sight if the weather is clear.

The final sections run from Kohatu back to Nelson, through pine plantation and the Spooners Tunnel - a now disused rail tunnel from the time of Nelson’s short-lived railway - and back down slowly to sea level through the small towns of Wakefield and Brightwater. Once again, this is an area of intense horticulture and farming, and is also home to some excellent wineries. Wakefield is a nice stopover if you want to break this section.

The entire ride is 174kms and is best done over four days, or broken into stand-alone sections. Fly in to Nelson, or drive from Picton (2 hours) or Christchurch (6-7 hours). There is excellent accommodation throughout the Nelson region, but best to book ahead in summer as it is very busy November to April.

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