Skip to content

Coastal Classic

3 Days: Nelson - Mapua - Motueka - Kaiteriteri

Family friendly - 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

On this tour 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

Boardwalks, bridges, fruit farms and coastal views will keep you entertained as your ride to Moturoa / Rabbit Island. You’ll take a ferry built for bikes to get to Mapua, with fine art, food and refreshments set right on the picturesque wharf

Whilst you’re here in the heartland of NZ hops, make time to taste the beers at the craft breweries along the trail. Nelson, Mapua and Motueka all have craft breweries to tantalise the taste buds

There are some rolling hills on this route but nothing too steep and the panoramic views are awe-inspiring on a sunny day

Quick Details:

DURATION: 3 or 4 days (extra night in Mapua / Kaiteriteri recommended)
DISTANCE COVERED: 70km total (approx. 25km per day)
PRICE: From $1,100pp dependent upon accommodation rates, season, duration and group size
SUITABLE FOR: Families and friends who want a modest amount of cycling each day. You’ll have plenty of time to stop and enjoy the great tastes along the way
INCLUDES: Mostly flat coastal cycling on well-formed trail with a few hills to provide stunning views of Nelson’s coast, orchards and mountains

*Discount applies when booking 4 or more adults
**Ideal for people who want to enjoy the coast, wineries, art and tasty places

The Itinerary

Tahunanui → Mapua → Motueka → Kaiteriteri (69km)

Today offers an easy, flat ride—an ideal, gentle start to your cycling adventure. As you leave Nelson, popular spots like The Honest Lawyer Pub or the café at Pic’s Peanut Butter World make great stops for a snack or drink

Once you hit the Great Taste Trail Coastal Route, you’ll enjoy a smooth ride around the scenic Waimea Estuary, heading toward Rabbit Island Beach. If you’re in the mood for more options, consider a detour to Old Factory Corner for a taste of delicious local food

Along the way, you’ll pass by Seifried Estate Winery, with its renowned Harvest Kitchen restaurant—perfect for a leisurely stop. Take a moment to relax, enjoy a swim, or have a picnic on the beach before catching the ferry from Rabbit Island to Mapua Wharf. The wharf has a laid-back, summery vibe, with kids swimming, lively cafés, restaurants, wine bar and another brewery to explore

Mapua is full of charming spots, from its quirky galleries to delightful restaurants and pubs. There’s live music throughout summer, so whether you’re in the mood for art, craft, or tasty food, there’s something for everyone to enjoy

ADD AN OPTION: Extra night in Mapua

We highly recommend spending two nights in Mapua to fully soak in this vibrant, arty village. Take your time exploring the local galleries, shops, wine bars, breweries, and cafés. You can also follow the locals to the estuary for a swim at high tide, or join the kids diving off the wharf for a bit of fun. With its relaxed atmosphere, Mapua offers plenty to keep you entertained on a leisurely rest day.

With two nights in Mapua, you’ll also have the perfect opportunity to embark on a scenic ride inland to the charming village of Upper Moutere. Known for its stunning boutique wineries, rich history, and New Zealand’s oldest pub, the Moutere is a haven for those with an appreciation for art, wine, or craft beer

This day trip is a must for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the region’s history and culture

Today’s ride takes you from Mapua to Motueka, with some challenging hills along the way, offering fantastic views of the surrounding region. Leaving Mapua, the Great Taste Trail hugs the coastline, passing through the tranquil settlement of Ruby Bay before tackling a moderate 1km climb on a sealed trail that leads to an elevated route above the coast, nestled among apple orchards. Enjoy a scenic and gentle downhill into Tasman village, where you’ll find a village store, a charming café, and a stylish pottery. If you have time, consider a detour to the beachfront on the Kina Peninsula

The route then turns uphill for a longer 3km climb to Moutere Ridge. The next 4.5km gravel section winds along the ridge, with some climbing and descending (elevation around 110m). It’s not a long section, so take it easy and savor the stunning views. Don’t miss a stop at the café located at the Riverside Community—the oldest alternative community in New Zealand

As you approach Motueka, the trail passes by Toad Hall Café and Townshend Brewery, a perfect spot to unwind with food and a cold beer under the shade of the big oak trees. The final stretch into Motueka is flat, following the estuary waterfront, with picturesque gardens and grassy beach reserves along the way. Be sure to check out the Saltwater Baths and the old wharf before you reach the township

This section is short and mostly flat—until the end. It’s in “honesty box” country, so keep an eye out for fresh, in-season fruit like apples, kiwi, cherries, grapes, feijoa, citrus, and peaches

Leaving Motueka, the trail heads towards Riwaka, a charming village known for its fantastic café, hops and local craft brewery, so be sure to stop and explore. After Riwaka, the trail cuts through a vibrant kiwifruit orchard before reconnecting with the coast

Next, it dips and rises beside the road for a while before entering the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park. This 3.1km section is smooth and well formed, following the “Easy Rider Trail” through the park. The smooth surface isn’t technical, but the tight corners may make some riders prefer to take it slow or walk through them

As the trail winds through the bush and pine trees, you’ll soon catch your first glimpse of the destination—Kaiteriteri Beach with its stunning golden shores. This beach is the gateway for boats heading into Abel Tasman National Park

All of our Coastal Classic packages include door-to-door return transport from Kaiteriteri, bringing you and your bikes back to Nelson

ADD AN OPTION: Extra night in Kaiteriteri

Why not extend your trip with a relaxing stay in Kaiteriteri? The area offers a variety of high-quality accommodation, including an Eco Resort featuring a vegetarian restaurant, spa, massage services, and a pool. It’s the perfect way to unwind after your adventure

ADD AN OPTION: Abel Tasman National Park Day

Add an Option: Abel Tasman National Park Day
Staying in Kaiteriteri makes it easy to use the next day to explore Abel Tasman National Park. The beachfront is just a short walk from your accommodation, where you can begin your day trip

Wilsons Abel Tasman offers a range of single-day trips. For the greatest flexibility, their Open Day Pass is a great option or choose from a variety of full-day kayak trips.

When we book your Park Day as part of your cycling trip, we’ll ensure your itinerary flows seamlessly

More Information

Personalised trip route notes with tasty places to visit (sent on receipt of full payment)

Door-to-door transport from Nelson / airport to our base on the first day

Personalised pre-ride briefing

Our exclusive Good Things Maps – topographic style maps

24 speed comfort trail bike, helmet, lock & toolkit (e-bike upgrade available at $50 per bike per day)

Accommodation for 2 nights (typically)

Mapua Ferry tickets

Daily luggage transfers (by 3pm)

Bad weather and emergency support

Passenger and bike transfer, Kaiteriteri to Nelson on the final day

Door-to-door transport from our base to Nelson / airport on the final day

Prices are $NZD and include GST of 15%

Please view our terms & conditions at https://www.gentlecycling.co.nz/terms-and-conditions

Our self-guided package price includes accommodation and we have been out and about along the trail to find the best accommodation in each village. It includes motels, B&B’s en-suite cabins in holiday parks, and simple country pubs. These are all close to the trail, and close to cafes for meals.

The starting price for our these packages uses simple en suite accommodation in holiday parks or simple country pubs.

We can also price your package using upgraded accommodation, staying in B&B’s or motels. The total additional price for this upgrade is likely to be between $50pp and $100pp.

The Gentle Cycling Good Things Maps are included in our packages. These are waterproof, topographic-style maps. They illustrate our exclusive recommendations for detours off the trail to visit all our favourite places. For the adults, we provide tips for the best local food, wine, craft beer, art, history and landscape. And for the kids, we’ve thought of fun things along the trail that will add something special every day. So everyone can enjoy the journey.

Our itineraries are designed to make it easy for you to add a day trip in the Abel Tasman National Park. Boats travelling into the park depart from the beachfront at Kaiteriteri. By staying a night in Kaiteriteri, you will be within easy walking distance of the beachfront. And if your cycling trip finished in Kaiteriteri, we will arrange your transport from Kaiteriteri back to Nelson, or to the airport, after your Park Day. Book your Wilsons Abel Tasman trip with us and you pay the same price as when you book it yourselves and we will ensure your whole itinerary fits together seamlessly.

Due to health and safety concerns, the maximum bag weight for our luggage transfers is 15kg. We can provide secure storage for extra luggage at our base.

We have plenty of free, off-street parking for your vehicles at our base.

Interactive Map

Explore the Coastal Classic ride with the interactive map below. Use the + to zoom right in and explore the landscape on the trail. Click on the orange symbols and the blue route line for more information.

What our adventurers say

Excellent
5.0
Chris was a super nice chap who set us up for a great mini adventure. Lovely vineyards and a well organised outing, we loved it!
Organised a shuttle to Kaiteriteri. Chris was great. Super helpful and informative. Very happy with exceptional service. Thankyou
We did the Loop the Loop tour and had a great experience with The Gentle Cycling Company.
Above and beyond service and communication right from first enquiry to the end of the tour. Thanks Bernie for your extraordinary support.
We can highly recommend The Gentle Cycling Company.
So easy, booked on line easy and straightforward. Excellent I information and guide to where to go, what to see and how to use the bikes. Great for the whole family and experience level. Highly recommended
Amazing experience, such beautiful nature and so much knowledge from the hosts ❤️
A very good experience 😊 Everything is perfect at " the gentle cycling company". I'm paraplegic , they had a e- handbike. With it I had a very pleasant ride. Bernie and Chris were extremely nice and attentive. Thanks a lot
Great service. Chris picked us up at the airport and dropped us back after 2 days at Wairoa Gorge. Really quick and efficient way to get Nelson riding in.
On time, helpful and friendly.
A great way to do it.
Thank you Petra for your amazing service, smile and local knowledge of in and around Nelson! We loved our beer at Sprig and Fern, found an amazing water hole to swim in at Maitai River, rode into Nelson and along the costal track towards Rabbit Island. Highly recommend The Gentle Cycling Company. Bikes are super comfy, sturdy and come with everything you need.
My wife and I rented E bikes for the day. We had a small issue with one if the bikes and they were more than fair in adjusting the bill. Good people and would not hesitate to use again.
Great services, bikes are awesome and the staff were really friendly. Will be back
Hired a bike from Gentle Cycling to do the ride to Mapua and back, and it did not disappoint. They supply everything you need for a great day out - good quality bike and clear maps on paper and digital. Definitely recommend.
On initial contact - both Chris and his wife were very warm and friendly. When we collected the bikes at Kaiteriteri Chris had set up each bike to our individual specification which made for a very comfortable ride and there was no need for to adjust bikes during the hire period. Wonderful bikes, great riding. Both bikes were very new and well maintained. Great trails - really enjoyed the day. Thanks Chris!
Super Service. Fahrrad war auch top. Man hat bevor man die Tour gestartet hat, alles erklärt bekommen und sehr viele Tips und Informationen zur Strecke bekommen.

Wirklich sehr empfehlenswert.

Noch besser würde es mir gefallen, wenn man das Fahrrad noch eine Stunde später zurück bringen könnte.
We rented a full suspension mountain bike to ride Kaiteriteri Mtb Park. It was high quality, good dropper post and he quickly threw on spds for us. The bikes are perfectly located right by the beach, camper van park and on a trail to get to the very fun Mtb park. We biked a loop or two, went to the camper van to change and then swim in the ocean. We did that cycle over and over all day because getting to Mtb and swim in the ocean is awesome. Be sure to have a lock of course! Chris was super nice, helpful and we will be using their great company again!!! On a side not, Chris is the kinda guy you wish you could hire to join you on the ride for great happy conversation.
We rolled up on a whim on a Sunday. Didn’t have much hope for a worthwhile ride or even to get a bike rental. The team rolled out the best treatment, Got us what we needed and got us on the road. Chris gave us a very informational shuttle to the start of the ride which turned out to be unforgettable. Great distance, gorgeous views and delicious food.

You’d have to be Mental, not to go Gentle!
Bernie and team were fantastic. The bikes were ideal for the gravel pathways, and the maps and directions provided were extremely helpful. I highly recommend The Gentle Cycling Company!!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
A wonderful friendly team and very comfortable e-bikes available to explore the Abel Tasman bike trails near and far
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!
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!
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
Friendly, prompt and professional service. Bike was great and Chris went out of his way to ensure I had a good experience. Highly recommend.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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 😊
Had a beautiful day! Bicycles were excellent - all information provided was great including comprehensive maps
Great family owned business! The owner is such a lovely and kind person. Highly recommend!
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!
Great service, great communication friendly staff
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
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.
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

You might also like...

The-Gentle-Cycling-Co_Plains-and-Coast-Home

Plains & Coast

4 Days: Kohatu - Stoke - Mapua - Motueka - 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.

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

Luxury Cycle & Sail

6 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.

Ebiking-in-Autumn-10

Loop the Loop

5 Days: Tapawera - Kaiteriteri - Mapua

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.

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!

Newsletter Sign-up

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our latest offers, tours, events, news and updates directly in your inbox. We will not spam and you can cancel at anytime.

Newsletter Sign-Up

Nelson Address (Headquarters):
Tahuna Beach Holiday Park, 70 Beach Road,
Tāhunanui, Nelson, 7011

Kaiteriteri Address:
Kaiteriteri Waterfront, Kaiteriteri Sandy Bay Road,
Kaiteriteri, Tasman, 7197

Phone: 0800 932 453
International: +64 3 929 5652
Email: info@gentlecycling.co.nz

Google Rating
5.0
Based on 199 reviews
Google Rating
0
Based on 0 reviews

Cycles of Life Ltd has a Safety Management System that has been audited and certified by Qualworx against the Safety Audit Standard for Adventure Activities

Sustainable & Eco-Friendly

Carbon Positive Certified 2024

We are evolving and adapting to minimise our impact on this wonderful planet we call Te Ao / Earth. Choosing to offset 125% of the carbon emitted by our vehicles and electricity consumption, the wonderful people at Climate Positive are extending the Waipoua Forest – home to the finest Kauri trees in Aotearoa. We’re proud to support this and other great initiatives to improve the biodiversity and resilience of our natural ecosystems.

Members of...

Supporters of...

BOOK NOW
Back To Top Click to access the login or register cheese