The Gentle Cycling Company

Circuit Tour
Visit some of Nelson’s oldest, newest and best breweries whilst cycling this nice and easy, flat circuit. You’ll hardly work up a sweat whilst riding a few kilometers between each stop; a coastal country pub, McCashin’s Tap Room (the home of Stoke beer & Rochdale Cider), Speights Ale House and the innovative Eddyline craft brewery. With added options including Pic’s Peanut Butter World, the Classic Car Museum, beach / swim / park detour, there’s something for everybody. You will be provided with a beer / cider tasting paddle as part of your tour and be able to watch the beautiful beers being made in the same building whilst you taste and discuss which drink is your favourite.

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Town Tour
After collecting you from your accommodation, we’ll kit you out at our base and send you off on your tour which ends in Nelson with a shuttle bus home if required. You may choose to start the day with a visit to Pic’s Peanut Butter World or dive straight into a brewery with a range of seasonal beers (and cider) on tap and in cans if you would like to stock up for another day. You’ll then make your way along the coast to an old British style pub by the sea, where you can enjoy a delicious drink whilst looking out over the coast. From here there’s a variety of places you can visit as you head to your final destination at the iconic and sustainably operated pub The Free House where you’ll be treated to a selection of fresh brews on tap as part of your tour package. You may choose to stay for the evening and have a peek inside the working microbrewery, or catch the shuttle to your accommodation when we collect the bikes around 5pm.

Take a day to explore the wine country on and around the Great Taste Trail. Linger at the wineries, stop off at cafes & galleries and relax with friends. With this self-guided tour, you will have many options to choose from. Typically starting on the Great Taste Trail Coastal Route, you’ll follow the shoreline with boardwalks and stunning estuary views. The second section is on quiet country roads, passing orchards, arty places and a hop garden. Explore two colonial churchyards en route and the historic village of Brightwater, where the main street is dotted with quaint old cottages and gardens. The third section takes the Great Taste Trail Rail Route back to Stoke, with short on-road detours to visit cellar doors, cafes and a cheese shop. Finally, there are two breweries perfectly positioned near the end of the trail for a celebration refreshment before the short ride back to The Gentle Cycling Company.

Cycle, walk and kayak on this triple treat tour along the coast and explore the stunning 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.

This trip begins with the cycling, and in this supported and partially guided package, we make sure that you get the best of everything the trail can offer. You have the security of a personalised service and we make the arrangements for you so you don’t miss anything along the way. Our detailed itinerary and trail maps provide clear instructions about the route, our favourite places to eat and drink and our recommended detours to special places off the trail. You have the option of vehicle support for the last leg of the trail through the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park. This cycling package includes two nights accommodation.

Base yourselves in a deluxe B&B with pool and spa then enrich your tour with knife making, craft beer tour and a round of golf or two.

Ideal for groups of four to six people who like luxury accommodation without the need to pack up and move each day. Based in the historic town of Wakefield, we will work with you to design a bespoke tour that includes diverse activities such as golf, forging a knife from scratch and a cycle ride through the iconic Spooners Tunnel. With catering options provided to enable you to stay in and relax in the spa and pool each evening, you’re going to love this cycle tour option with a twist.

This tour itinerary will be heavily dependent upon the interests of your group and is ideal for groups of between 4 and 6 people who want to be based in the same, luxury accommodation each night.

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. On this ride, you will follow the Coastal Route of the Great Taste Trail from the Waimea plains to the golden beach at Kaiteriteri, the gateway to the Abel Tasman National Park. Take a ferry built for bikes, cycle through apple and kiwifruit orchards and stop off at the funky cafes. And while you are here (in the heartland of NZ hops) make time to taste the beers at the craft breweries along the trail. There are some hills on this route but nothing much over 100 metres and the views and down hills make it all worthwhile.

Your guide will take you on a personalised tour along the Great Taste Trail and into the 'Tuscany of New Zealand', before you board the Te Harinui to sail around the Abel Tasman National Park, exploring Nelson in decadent style. As part of our ongoing commitment to review and improve the services we provide, we have teamed up with another Zero Carbon operator to create our new Luxury Cycle and Sail Tour. The tour begins with a 3 day guided E-bike tour from Nelson to Kaiteriteri via the finest art galleries, wineries and restaurants where you will indulge yourself with the many delights from the sunshine capital. You will then enjoy a rest day at Kimi Ora Eco Retreat to recharge your batteries in the spa and pool, before setting sail by luxury yacht into the iconic Abel Tasman National Park. Your personal chef creates stunning meals on board whilst you relax, enjoy island hopping, explore the coast and make use of paddle boards, fishing and snorkeling gear. The yacht disembarks back in Nelson a week after you departed, where you will be transferred on to your next adventure.

This ride includes virtually all the off-road Great Taste Trail including the Spooners Tunnel - the bucket-list trip. This popular off-road tour option begins with a shuttle up into the hills above Nelson, enabling you to follow the historic rail route and cycle through the iconic Spooners Tunnel, along rivers, through regenerating forest, vineyards and the historic towns of Wakefield and Brightwater. You’ll then head along the coastal section of the Great taste Trail with its many artisanal delights, ending your tour at the golden sands of sun drenched Kaiteriteri.

DISTANCE COVERED: 112km (Big first day then approx. 20km per day)