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

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.

Amrith Eldridge

Great service and bikes, would strongly recommend to explore the beautiful network of trails nearby

Kristen Roath

We felt so lucky to find Chris & Bernie and their fleet of e-bikes. Their e-bikes are easy to use and come with side packs or carrying box and locks.They provided maps and detailed directions and helped us find somewhere fabulous to eat on a holiday. If you think you don’t need an e-bike, think again, they make the trip so much more pleasant for a family with differing skill levels. We can highly recommend Gentle Bikes! Thanks for a great day!

Keith Timm

Highly recommend Gentle Cycling! Bernie provided door to door transportation for our Biking and Brews day. She gave us great suggestions, supplied us with comprehensive directions and maps as well! We had a wonderful day!

Mark Anderson

Bernie provided concierge service from the start to end of our ride - Thanks!

Gregory Charte

Amazing experience! My wife and I are on our honeymoon. Chris setup an e-bike for my wife, picked us up and brought us to the coastal access point of the Great Taste trail. We cycled all day. Chris then picked us up once we’d gone as far as we could go on the trail and brought us back. One of the best experiences ever on a bike from someone that rides nearly every day of the year back in the states. 10 / 10 recommend

Ruth Edwards

An amazing and hassle-free experience from start to finish.Our group of five varied in age from 2 to 70 years old. Before our ride Bernie advised the parts of the great taste trail that could best suit our group which was a huge help as we didn’t want to do the full 60kms and weren’t familiar with the trail.On the day of our ride the weather started off a bit rough so Chris tailored our day even further to account for the bad weather and having met the group and assessing our abilities. He drove us further up the trail to skip the more hilly and exposed parts. We stopped at the Jester House Cafe, where Chris was kind enough to have booked us a table ahead of time.Our family had a wonderful day, enjoyed Chris’s company and made lifelong memories! Thanks so much for an amazing experience! We highly recommend The Gentle Cycling Company!

Brantley Porter

Great customer service. Very easy to deal with A+++

George Stevens

Nice folks, pretty good bikes, all good.

Alex Black-Roberts

Bernie and Chris were really helpful and provided a fantastic service

kathryn Edwards

Bernie was so helpful to us on our self guided cycle of the great tast trail last weekend (Nov 3-6th 2023).We hadn’t booked anything through the Gentle Cycle Co but needed a shuttle for 4 of us + bikes from Nelson to Tapawerea as the weather was awful on our first day. Bernie turned up in 10 mins and took us all out to Tapawera in no time at all and was really friendly and informative on the area and trails.She checked in on us via text the next day and then picked us up on the last day and delivered us in time for our flight on Monday midday.We cant recommend Bernie & the Gentle Cycle Company enough, really super helpful & responsive and with all the shuttle equipment and knowledge about the trail, the people and the area!Thanks so much for helping us out Bernie, we’ll be back down for more!

Gabor Flamis

Amazing, very friendly and flexible team who has gone beyond the extra mile to make our cycling experience the best possible.Chris and Bernie and genuine and very experienced people with great quality bikes both electric and push bikes.They also had a good selection of quality kid seats for multiple ages, sizes including trailers etc.Shuttle was on time and entertaining .Thank you Team!! We will be back!

Haley Gray

Fantastic company who went above & beyond to ensure we had a great day out cycling. Great communication, super helpful, very friendly & awesome bikes. I highly recommend to anyone looking to hire a bike while in the Nelson region. Thanks so much Bernie & Chris for everything, you guys rock.

Rachel Healy

Chris and Bernie were so lovely and very helpful and checked in on us during our trip to make sure everything was going well. I’d definitely recommend booking a cycling trip with them!

Margaret Van Wees

Chris and Bernie were great hosts so friendly…helping us with planning our cycle tour along the track from Kōhatu through the Spooners tunnel to Tāhunanui Great advice for some good stops bakery and beer 👍They organised everything great bikes ,lights ,detailed maps even gel seats!!Thank you for a great day I would highly recommend this family company

Brian Desrosiers

Rented a bike for 2 days. Chris explained all the Interesting areas, the route, explained the ferry timeline on Mapua, major land marks, gave me a couple of paper maps, and and ensured I had everything I needed for the bike ride. He was kind enough to let me ride along with his family to Mapua the next day. The bikes were in excellent condition and have a basket or saddle. I would highly recommend and rent bikes from them again without a second thought.

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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