NELSON, NEW ZEALAND

Bike the Great Taste Trail

Enjoy cycle tours with a personal touch

Premium quality cycling tours based on and around the Great Taste Trail for lovers of food, wine & beautiful Nelson landscapes

We work with you to plan your personalised adventure on two wheels. When you cycle with us, you can relax and enjoy the freedom of cycling, with all the knowledge and support you need. So whether you have half a day or a few days, we’ll help you make the Great Taste Trail, your trail

Gentle Mental Cycling – Mountain Biking is also our passion. We love to create personalised adventures around Nelson’s world class mountain biking trails and parks. We take care of planning, safety and delivering dirty downhill adventures great and small. Read here for more info or check out our MTB page from the menu above

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Abel Tasman Great Taste Trio

5 Days: Great Taste Trail + 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 beautiful beach front lodges.

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Coastal Classic

3 Days: Mapua - Motueka - Kaiteriteri

Beaches, vineyards, boardwalks and galleries, this tour enjoys the highest concentration of places to eat, drink and soak up the many wonders of the Great Taste Trail. 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.

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Plains and Coast

4 Days: Typically Tapawera - Wakefield - Mapua - Kaiteriteri

This popular off-road tour option enables you to follow the historic rail route and cycle through the iconic Spooners Tunnel, along rivers, through regenrating forest, vineyards and historic towns. Then along the coast with its many artisanal delights, ending at the golden sands of Kaiteriteri.

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Loop the Loop

5 Days: Nelson - Mapua - Kaiteriteri - Woodstock - Wakefield - Nelson

Keen to tick off the whole Great Taste Trail circuit? This tour is for those with the fitness and fortitude for on and off-road cycling. The diverse landscapes and sense of achievement are well worth it and you’ll get to enjoy some remote and rugged scenery for your efforts.

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Staycation & Creation

Tailored to you

Stay in luxury accommodation rather than pack and unpack each day. We’ll help you plan a hub-and-spoke itinerary, so you get to enjoy the many delights in the Nelson region. As part of the tour, you will get to work in collaboration with a contemporary jeweler in her gorgeous rural studio. Bring your ideas and get your creative juices flowing to design a bespoke piece of modern jewelry. Continue your adventures in Nelson, whilst your stunning piece of art is created especially for you!

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Gentle-Cycling-Co_Abel-Tasman-Sailing-Adventures-1_800w

Luxury Cycle & Sail

7 Days: Nelson - Abel Tasman National Park

Leave Nelson on two wheels and return six days later on a luxury yacht. Your guide will take you on a personalised tour along the Great Taste Trail and into the South Island’s golden crown, Abel Tasman National Park, exploring the Top of the South in decadent style.

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Single Day Tours

Guided / Unguided

Check out our full day and half day, guided or unguided packages on the Great Taste Trail. You can choose from our tours: Spooners Tunnel, Marvelous Moutere, Rabbit Island Picnic, Great Taste Wine, one of our Great Taste Beer tours or the Great Taste Goose Chase. We can also design a bespoke adventure for you – get in touch!

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Custom Tours

Guided / Unguided

Go it alone, equipped with our maps and trip notes or enjoy our fully guided options with travel support to provide flexibility. There’s a wide variety of activities, such as, a Buddhist Centre retreat, private wine tasting, hop farm tour. We can design a bespoke tour to suit your needs and interests.

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The Great Taste Trail

This is a New Zealand Great Ride - 200km long

The Great Taste Trail is a trail built for cyclists, providing an off-road route through some of the most delicious and scenic landscapes of NZ. Much of the trail is easy, flat riding in a heritage landscape of rolling hills and plains, lush valleys and beautiful golden beaches. For foodies, and lovers of wine, craft beer, or art, this trail has it all.

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What our adventurers say

Excellent

5.0

Jacqueline Foresta

The most incredible bike ride!!! We road the gold trail - around 30km with epic views, two winery’s, and a ferry ride to Mapua. The owners, Bernie and Chris were darling. Fabulous way to spend the day!

Jr Harrison

Bernie & Chris are absolute class acts. What a great company! Were recommended through another vendor.We had car trouble that day and out of the blue They offered to pick us up from the delearship, pick us up from Mapua AND drive us back. Both kind souls, and both very informative and helpful.If you are going to book a bicycle tour in Nelson, book here.

Saskia C

Couldn’t have been more happy with our The Gentle Cycling Company experience. Exceptionally flexible and friendly, and for a fair price. We hired two peddle bikes and one child seat for our two-year old toddler - all conveniently delivered to our accommodation. Helmets, a lock, a repair kit for emergencies and a rainproof bike-bag, all of good quality and well maintained, were included. We thoroughly enjoyed our trips to the Richmond area, to the local Nelson beach and the convenience of cycling into downtown Nelson. Our daughter loved the views, sang songs all the way, while we felt quite safe among traffic of Nelson thanks to well developed cycling paths and trails.Because of our positive experience my husband also decided to rent a mountain bike from the same company in Kaiteriteri to try the bike park, which was a similar great success.

Sheherazad Bhote

We hired e-bikes for the day and rode part of the great taste trail to Māpua. We covered 60km comfortably. Bikes were easy to use, and a variety of sizes were available, smaller e-bike for our 10yo daughter. Much cheaper than other companies and easy pick up at the Tahuna campsite.

Harry Lammich

Outstanding good service!Caro from gentle bike did organize our last-minute bike rental excellently - big compliment!We did enjoy our on short notice organized bike tour from Nelson - Richmond - Nelson. It's always a pleasure to meet such nice and supportive people like Caro.

Sommer Louise

Absolutely outstanding experience. The warm welcome, to the local knowledge on the drive to our destination, the quality of bikes AND a phone call post ride to check in on our experience! Chris made our day. It was exceptional and an absolute must do with The Gentle Cycling Co.

DJ Purvis (scarredNinja)

We rented two e-bikes, one with a kids seat for an afternoon ride around Nelson.As we had a little one (under 5) we need her to ride with us, Chris and Bernie were excellent in being able to accommodate a ride that suited us and we're felxiable in the time and date arranged.Bernie gave great care in setting us up with the bikes, showing routes and helping are little one feel comfortable. We spent three hours riding around Nelson and Richmond and had an excellent time.The bikes were in excellent condition and such a pleasure to ride.Upon return, Bernie gave a couple of sweets to our daughter which she raved about on the way home. Lovely attention to detail and customer care!

william kirkbride

Excellent, professionally operated tour company for bicycles and e-bikes. All equipment included, tire repair, maps, lights. The staff is very knowledgeable on all trails and routes. I highly recommend Gentle cycling for your next adventure!

Neil Arnott

A wonderful friendly team and very comfortable e-bikes available to explore the Abel Tasman bike trails near and far

DR T

Fantastic Experience with Gentle Cycling!We booked the Great Taste Tour (just over 200km in 5 days) almost a year in advance, and from start to finish, the owners were incredibly friendly and helpful. Their attention to detail made the entire experience seamless and enjoyable.The day-by-day guide was absolutely fantastic. The route was easy to follow and the guide provided excellent tips on where to eat, drink, and what must-see spots to check out along the way. It made our journey all the more enjoyable and stress-free.Accommodations were included and exceeded our expectations. We especially loved staying at the Kimi Ora Resort and the Hidden Sculpture Garden cottage—both were unique and memorable.Bag transfers between stops were handled perfectly, and we had zero issues with our luggage. Even when I had minor bike issues, they were quick to resolve everything, which was a huge relief.The ride itself was stunning. Even on the one rainy day, the mix of quiet asphalt roads, gravel paths, and dedicated bike trails kept the journey enjoyable. The distances each day were manageable, with little elevation gain, making it perfect for standard bikes. While I personally enjoy climbing, others might prefer ebikes for the added ease. The bikes provided were simple, reliable, and perfectly suited to the tour.Overall, we wouldn’t hesitate to book with Gentle Cycling again. I highly recommend them to anyone considering a cycling adventure. It was a truly memorable trip!

Kerry Spark

Chris and Bernie were amazing hosts for our large group e-bike tour of Spooners Tunnel. All of us had such a great time! Excellent communication - thank you again!

Margaret Smith

Great experience renting from these guys - had an issue finding the rental place but knowing I am direction challenged they checked in on me via text a few times during my ride on the great taste trail which I really appreciated!

Arnold Bosman

Rented 2 electric bikes for 2 days. One cargo bike so the kid could ride on the back. Bycicles were in great condition. Nice and friendly owners. They know the surroundings and local weather good and are very willing to share, so a lot of good tips for some great days.

Joanne Fong

Chris and Bernie are such lovely and amazing people. They provided us with lots of information on how to e bike through the great taste trail. So many tips and tricks shared by both of them that we made it on our own just fine with some adventure in between 🤣. It was such an amazing cycling tour that I never get to do back in my country and I enjoyed it so much. Thank u Gentle Cycling!

Sean O'Leary

Amazing service. We were travelling in a camper van with no bikes, desperately wanted to get on the trails. Mint condition bikes delivered to Kaiteriteri is an incredible service. We all had a great day. Thanks team.

Annie Evans

We turned up on the off chance for a bike hire to explore the tracks in Tanunanui. We were welcomed and nothing was a problem. Great information about the tracks etc. the bikes were- well maintained and worked well.Chris was super helpful .We’ll definitely return.

kickbuttkiwi

Friendly, prompt and professional service. Bike was great and Chris went out of his way to ensure I had a good experience. Highly recommend.

Joanna Bell

We had a great experience with the Gentle Cycling Company. From the online booking, communication was prompt and helpful. Our self guided ride was enhanced with lots of information on the drive to our drop off point at Kohatu pointing out features, landmarks and places to stop as we made our way back into the city following the Great Taste Trail. The track was easy to follow (mostly) and it was nice to receive a check in TXT message from Bernie to make sure we were doing OK a couple of hours into our ride. Nothing was too much trouble. Thanks team.

Luke Johnson

Our experience with The Gentle Cycling Company's Spooners Tunnel self-guided tour was exceptional, thanks to Chris and Bernie. They provided us with excellent bikes and clear route instructions, making the journey through New Zealand's longest disused railway tunnel truly unforgettable. Chris’s local knowledge on the shuttle up there was very informative, ensuring we knew where to stop for pies and scones. For anyone visiting Nelson, I highly recommend this tour with The Gentle Cycling Company—it's a perfect way to explore the Nelson area at your own pace.

Don Li

Very friendly owners who offered plenty of information about where to go, what restaurants to go to. Would absolutely recommend renting here. Just a heads up for any prospective bike hirers, during the off season, give them a ring first to see where to meet them.

Caroline Bartle

Outstanding service, really made for a very enjoyable experience. One of the best things you can do when you come to Nelson.We felt very looked after and had a great adventure!

Emma Stoneman

Fabulous hosts and instructions. Really prompt and clear comms. Would definitely recommend to anyone wanting to hire bikes Nelson.

Vicki Brooks

We had a wonderful afternoon on our hired bikes from The Gentle Cycling Company. We really appreciated how accommodating and flexible Bernie was with the pick up/drop off arrangements, and she gave great suggestions for our route. The bikes were comfortable and easy to use. We would love to come back and do some more!

Danny Rohrlach

First class customer service. Very friendly and helpful and made sure we had a great day riding in Nelson! The bike was in great condition and we were offered all the helpful accessories. Highly recommend. Thanks again Brighid 😊

Sophie Carson

Had a beautiful day! Bicycles were excellent - all information provided was great including comprehensive maps

Paula Buchholz

Great family owned business! The owner is such a lovely and kind person. Highly recommend!

michele sutliff

Chris was very thorough explaining our cycling options and we had a grand adventure planned for the day. We had a mishap part way into our ride and lost our wallet and car rental key. With the help of Cris and a kind person, all our possessions were recovered. Chris went above and beyond helping us!

Barbara Collett

Great service, great communication friendly staff

Eli v Rooijen

Had an amazing day on the bikes with a family of 9😍 Berny was very helpful and friendly. Amazing route with good recommend stops.Thankyouuu! Dankjewel en groetjes uit Hollandia

Chris Underwood

Don’t bother trying anyone else! Chris could not have been more helpful and the electric bikes we hired for the day were new. Good selection of bikes for tall, short and every one in between.

Jaime Barajas

Even do I didn't ride with them, GCC shuttle me after a long overseas flight from the airport to my hotel. Bernie was on top of my flights and always checking on me all the time.Always nice to be picked up on time in a new country, when your hands are tight up with a big bike bag and luggage. Thanks

Geoff

We had a great 2 day experience on the Great Taste Tour.We had to cancel our planned booking at the last minute, and Bernie organized a replacement tour for us at a very busy time of the year.Although it was short notice, the accommodation and communication was excellent, and we enjoyed a 2 day ride from Motueka to Nelson.Thank you Bernie and Chris for your professional yet friendly attention to detail.

Christine Clock

What an incredible day! Chris was very prompt for our morning collection. He shared very insightful thoughts and information about the tour and the region as we drove. He gave great instruction on how the day would go and then introduced us to our guides for the morning paddle. Our waka paddle tour guides Thomas and Harold did an excellent job of introducing the activity and generously inviting us into their culture and traditions. They encouraged us to join in as much or as little as we felt comfortable. They also did a great job closing the activity and sending us off for the rest of our day.The cycle adventure was absolutely beautiful and the amount of challenge was perfect for us. Chris’s instructions were thorough enough that we never got lost even though there were many opportunities to do so. His suggestion of stopping at Toad Hall was also very welcome and we are glad we did. Thank you Chris and Bernie for an amazing day of adventure!

Hendrikus Tromp

Our recent experience with The Gentle Cycling Co. exceeded our expectations; from the initial planning communications and accommodation bookings with Bernie and then advice and options as we set off. We highly recommend The Great Taste Trail for a mix of scenic riding and incredible choices around hospitality and galleries showcasing NZ's art! Chris shared local knowledge of the region as we returned to base. Thanks so much for making our holiday memorable!

Edward Black

Gentle Cycling did a phenomenal job helping us set up a one week bike trip on the ‘Great Taste Trail’ out of Nelson NZ. We are based in Boston (USA) and found Gentle Cycling through Roar Adventures, a booking agency. Gentle Cycling created a bike trip was customized specifically for us. There is a standard Great Taste Trail trip, but we made requests about distances, accomodations, extra day trips along the way and other things, and Gentle Cycling came through in every respect. Between the beautiful rides, the wine tastings, the amazing Abel Tasman national park, and the great accomodations it was a spectacular trip. We’d love to do it again!

Janet Holmes

Fantastic service Available for advice at all times Great company.

Sunday

Family of 8 and we had the best time! Chris gave us amazing tour map and we had such a great day, we rented the E-Bikes which were definitely worth it and enjoyed the beautiful vineyards. There was something for everyone and was so easy to communicate with Chris pick up and drop off points. We will definitely be back for another tour next time we are in Nelson! Loved it!

Cristina Bernal

Chris & Bernie were very helpful. We took their e-bikes and shuttle to Spooner's Tunnel. We had an amazing time!

Karen Stead

Fantastic company to deal with! Both Bernie and Chris made the whole process so easy....I was booking for a group of 21 and they assisted with picking a route that was suitable for all of us, and were even on call on the day to pick up the bikes from our destination whenever it suited us. Nothing was too much trouble. Awesome comfortabke bikes too! Would definately use again and would recommend them 100%.

tbanger10

Great fun. Track is pretty easy, some slightly tougher off road bits. We didn't get eBikes but assume it would have been a breeze if we did.Seifried was lovely, we ate there as well.We had a quick dip at the beach at Rabbit Island. Beautiful warm water.On our day (busy, summer, great weather) the ferry to Mapua went more often than once an hour. Mapua is so nice.Pick up at 4.30 from Chris was bang on time and we were dropped back at our hotel.One of my favourite things I did on the whole trip to NZ.

Rahel Jobin

Wir haben am Abend kurzfristig beschlossen, am nächsten Morgen mit Fahrrädern die Stadt Nelson zu entdecken (2 Bikes inkl. Kindersitz). Es hat alles wunderbar geklappt und war wohl einer der besten Services, den wir bis jetzt in Neuseeland hatten: die Bikes wurden auf unseren Campingplatz geliefert, 4 Helme, Fahrradschloss, super Einführung inkl. Routentipps usw. wirklich Klasse!!!Vielen Dank für den grossartigen Service!

Beth Ashman

Chris is awesome and the service is fab. A bit of a workout without E-bikes but worth it. Super smooth logistics, thanks!

Katie Kiyokawa

Had such a great experience with the Gentle Cycling Company! All of the equipment was well maintained and they gave a great explanation on using the e-bikes before sending us off. Everyone was incredibly friendly, responsive and helpful. We had a fantastic time on our winery bike tour and would recommend!

Annelies Gerits

We decided to rent a bike at 10am in the morning and an hour later we were already on bikes exploring the Nelson region. Chris is a very friendly and proud owner of thi family company. The bikes were in great shape, we got helmets and locks for Free and even a gel foam Seat if you like. Chris also recommended some family friendly routes.In all a great day out for me and my 3 children are 6,8 And 11.

Colleen Sullivan

Amazing personalised service - accomodating my specific needs. Highly recommend this organisation

Elizabeth Fitzgerald

Great and friendly service. We thoroughly enjoyed biking the Great Taste Trail with our e-bikes.

Proud to be Climate Positive

and Kaitiaki (guardians)

We are continuously evolving and adapting to minimise our impact on this wonderful planet we call Te Ao / Earth. Choosing to offset 120% of the carbon emitted by our vehicles and electricity consumption, the wonderful people at Ekos are rewilding Mohua, an indigenous forest in Golden Bay. We’re proud to support this and other great initiatives to improve the biodiversity and resilience of our natural habitats. We endeavor to reduce our use of precious resources. Furthermore, we take part in community planting, pest eradication programs and regularly clear up around the Great Taste Trail, coast and bush, recycling / upcycling whatever we can.

We are also proud to be part of the Nelson Tasman Zero Carbon Itinerary – click here to check it out.

More About Us

Local and Proud

A family owned and run business

This is a family business. All four of us are self confessed cycle-explorer addicts and love to explore our backyard on two wheels, regularly disembarking to explore further on two feet. We will help you plan and prepare for pedal powered adventures in our favourite place to peruse!

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NELSON, NEW ZEALAND

Bike the Great Taste Trail

Enjoy cycle tours with a personal touch

Premium quality cycling tours based on and around the Great Taste Trail for lovers of food, wine & beautiful Nelson landscapes

Abel Tasman Great Taste Trio

5 Days: Great Taste Trail + Abel Tasman National Park

Coastal Classic

3 Days: Mapua - Motueka - Kaiteriteri

Plains and Coast

4 Days: Typically Tapawera - Wakefield - Mapua - Kaiteriteri

Loop the Loop

5 Days: Nelson - Mapua - Kaiteriteri - Woodstock - Wakefield - Nelson

Staycation & Creation

Tailored to you

Luxury Cycle & Sail

7 Days: Nelson - Abel Tasman National Park

Single Day Tours

Guided / Unguided

Custom Tours

Guided / Unguided

The Great Taste Trail

This is a New Zealand Great Ride - 200km long

What our adventurers say

Proud to be Climate Positive

and Kaitiaki (guardians)

Local and Proud

A family owned and run business

Our News

Gentle Mental Cycling

Cycles of Life

World Famous (in New Zealand)!

Sustainable & Eco-Friendly

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