Tasman's Great Taste Trail is a network of cycle trails of about 175 kilometres around Nelson and Tasman, mostly off-road, linking the city, the coast, the orchards and the small towns, with cafes, breweries and wineries along the way. It is one of the easiest of the Great Rides, with gentle grades and plenty of places to stop, and it suits a family or a first multi-day ride. The weather is the sunniest in the country.
The trail in brief
The trail has several sections, which join to make a loop: from Nelson along the coast to Richmond and Mapua, on to Motueka and Kaiteriteri, and inland through Tapawera and Wakefield, with spurs to the Brightwater and the coast. You do not need to ride all of it. Most visitors choose a section of one to three days, and the coastal parts are the busiest.
Grades are mostly easy, with some intermediate climbs and road sections, and the surface is a mix of sealed path, gravel and boardwalk. Check the operator or the trail website for current closures and detours, as sections are sometimes closed for repairs and flooding.
- About 175 km in sections
- Mostly easy grades
- Check for closures and detours
How many days
A one-day ride from Nelson to Mapua or from Motueka to Kaiteriteri gives a taste, and two to three days covers the coast from Nelson to Motueka and Kaiteriteri with time to stop. The full network takes four to six days, depending on the sections you choose. Riding the Great Taste Trail in a campervan means a base and a shuttle, or a loop back to the van.
Hire bikes and e-bikes are available in Nelson, Richmond, Mapua and Motueka, and some operators run a shuttle and a luggage service. E-bikes make the longer days easier. Book in summer and at holidays, when bikes are scarce.
- 1 day for a taste
- 2 to 3 days for the coast
- E-bikes for the long days
Turn the stops into a trip
Food, wine and stops
The region is known for its food, with cafes, craft breweries and wineries on the trail, and the Mapua wharf is a popular stop for lunch. Motueka has a good market and bakeries, and Kaiteriteri has the golden sand beach. You can stop where you like, and the trail is a good place to take it slowly.
If you plan to taste, leave the van at a holiday park and ride, since you must not drive after drinking. The alcohol and fatigue driving guide covers the limits. Always wear a helmet, which is the law in New Zealand.
- Mapua wharf for lunch
- Kaiteriteri for the beach
- A helmet is required by law
Where to camp
Holiday parks in Nelson, Richmond, Mapua, Motueka and Kaiteriteri give you power, showers and kitchens, and many are close to the trail and hire bikes. In summer, from Christmas to the end of January, they fill, so book months ahead. Many also offer cabins if the weather turns.
Freedom camping in the Nelson and Tasman area is limited, and rules are enforced, as the freedom camping in Tasman guide explains. DOC campsites in the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi areas are a drive away, and the Abel Tasman Coast Track campsites guide covers the walking option.
- Book holiday parks ahead in summer
- Cabins for wet nights
- Freedom camping is limited
Getting there and combining trips
Nelson is about six hours from Christchurch by road, over Lewis Pass or by the coast, as covered in the Christchurch to Nelson guide, and an hour and a half from Picton and the ferry. Nelson has an airport with flights from the main cities.
The trail pairs well with a day in the Abel Tasman National Park, a water taxi along the coast, and a day in Golden Bay. The Nelson, Abel Tasman and Golden Bay guide plans the area, and the Heaphy Track by bike guide covers a harder ride nearby in the cooler months.
- Six hours from Christchurch
- Pair it with the Abel Tasman
- Heaphy Track for a harder ride
Planning the ride in KiwiCamping
KiwiCamping for iPhone covers Nelson and Tasman, mapping DOC campsites, huts and holiday parks with campervan access and facilities filters. Add a base and a backup to a dated trip to see a forecast per place. It has no turn-by-turn directions or live traffic, so rely on the trail's own map for the route.
The app does not take DOC bookings, so reserve on DOC's booking pages. It is free to download, with in-app purchases.
- Save a base and a backup
- Forecast at each place
- Use the trail's map for the route
Places along the way
Check before you go
Rules and conditions change. Recheck the official source and the page for your exact park or campground before departure.
Common questions
How long is the Great Taste Trail?+
About 175 kilometres of connected trails around Nelson and Tasman. Most visitors ride a section of one to three days, not the whole network.
Is the Great Taste Trail suitable for beginners?+
Yes, it is mostly easy, with gentle grades and many places to stop. Hire an e-bike for the longer days, and wear a helmet.
Plan the drive
Save the stops. Plan the whole trip.
Free to download. BookIt holiday parks and tours are free to browse and book; DOC campsites, huts, dump stations, the in-app guides and trip planning need the Premium pass.
KiwiCamping is an iPhone app. There is no Android version.
