Twin Trails
West Coast Wilderness Trail and the Great Taste Trail
Grade 1-3 (Easy to Intermediate) 188km
Cost: Price on application
Why not experience the West Coast Wilderness Trail and The Great Taste Trail all in one tour?
After our clients requested both trails in the one trip, Kiwi Journeys decided to make a tour out of it. It just makes sense, you are already paying for your flights/travel, so why not take in two trails that are diverse, stunning and totally different.
Below is an example of a tour we put together for a party of 14 friends. This particular tour was over eight days but we can tailor the cycle tour to suit your needs.
There are several ways of getting here. Choose to take the scenic Tranz Alpine train to Greymouth, or fly directly into Hokitika from Christchurch. You may also self drive and we can arrange for your vehicle to be safely stored in Greymouth. Nelson boasts the third busiest airport in New Zealand and takes direct flights from all main cities.
Itinerary
Once you arrive into Christchurch Airport, phone The Commodore Hotel on arrival for your free transfer to the Hotel
You are all booked in for a bike tour of the city with Chill Out. Meet at the Commodore Hotel at 3pm where you will be taken to Chill out to commence the tour at at 3.30pm. This is a fantastic tour looking at the city post earthquake. After the bike tour you will use the bus pass given out by the Commodore Hotel to return to the hotel.
Enjoy Breakfast at the Hotel anytime from 6am before meeting at 7am for your transfer from the Commodore Hotel to the Transalpine train station.
Relax with your travel between Christchurch and Greymouth and experience some amazing scenery as you cross the mountainous spine of the South Island of New Zealand. Enjoy the stunningly beautiful, ever changing natural landscapes. Enjoy a light lunch on the train at the fully licensed Café Carriage.
Meet the Kiwi Journeys Team in Greymouth at 1pm and transfer to Hokitika. Enjoy the afternoon and evening in the quaint town of Hokitika.
After breakfast it’s time to start your adventure! On your bikes and cross the Hokitika Bridge and take in the incredible views of the mighty Mt Cook and Mt Tasman.
Cycle through wetlands and native bush and ride the Mahinapua Tramline before giving the bikes a rest at the Treetop Walkway. Here, you will experience the native forest, birdsong and views of Lake Mahinapua by foot from the heights of a tree canopy. Retrace your bike tracks and make your way back to Hokitika. Just prior to reaching Hokitika (4km out) you will stop in and enjoy the West Coast Waterways Scenic Cruise when you arrive anytime between 2-3pm. Here you will enjoy a late afternoon cruise with Gavin, before riding the final 4km ride into Hokitika.
This truly is a magical experience and will be a highlight of your trip.
Up early From Hokitika township, meet the driver at 8.30am and you will be shuttled from Hokitika to Lake Kaniere to start riding. A big day on the bikes with some hills to conquer. The trail will take you through the rugged native bush tracks and open farmland that parallels the Arahura River through to Milltown where you will arrive at Cowboys Paradise. Back on the bikes for a beautiful ride through pristine bushland. Take in the stunning views of the stream below as you cycle across the Macpherson Swing bridge. You have a packed lunch today so you can decide where to rest up and refuel.
The Southern Alps make another welcome appearance today so take the time to snap some photos. From here, a smooth sweeping boardwalk and bush trail will take you down into Kumara.
Hop on your bikes and head to the coast! The last ride of the trip rewards you with flawless views of the Taramakau River before making the journey to the Tasman Sea alongside coastal sand dunes and lagoons.
The ride along the Grey River will take you into Greymouth, where you will meet Kiwi Journeys at approximately 12:00pm at Monteiths and shuttle you to Nelson. (suggest you start riding no later than 9am). Sit back and relax and enjoy this lovely drive which will take you through Reefton, The Buller Gorge and Murchison. This will take approx. 4-5 hours.
You start your first day of cycling by following the Great Taste Trail signs which take you south to the outskirts of the city. Here you enter the old rail corridor, a sealed cycle path that takes you over bridges, under the motorway where you then wind your way around the estuary towards Richmond. Take a stop and enjoy the atmosphere of The Honest Lawyer pub for lunch or continue further and enjoy a pizza at the Eddyline Brewery & Pizzeria.
As you follow the trail towards Richmond, you need to turn off on the coastal route to follow around the inlet. A slight diversion from the trail will take you to Waimea Estates Winery, and/or Grape Escape, and/or Te Mania Wines. This flat grade one section of trail takes in views from the coastal boardwalks of the Waimea Estuary and fertile farmland, home to a range of internationally significant bird species, including the White Heron, and cross the spectacular Waimea Swing Bridge then on to Rabbit Island.
A short trip across the channel on the iconic Mapua Ferry lands you at the Mapua Wharf where you can check into your accommodation before enjoying the galleries, studios, restaurants, cafes, shops and a boutique Brewery. Please note the ferry leaves the island at 10 minutes past each hour with the last one at 5.10pm.
After breakfast in Mapua village at your choice, it’s back on the bikes exploring the Great Taste Trail.
Onward to the quaint village of Tasman, before a steady climb up to Tasman View Road to enjoy the spectacular views of Tasman Bay (this section is grade 2-3 and has a steady climb of 200 meters over 4 km’s). Descend into the Riverside Community and on to Motueka for lunch at ‘Toad Hall’ at the beginning of Motueka township.
As you make your way around the amazing coastal trail of Motueka, enjoy the variety of bird species. You are now approximately 16km’s from Kaiteriteri. This short bike ride into Kaiteriteri takes in boardwalks, bridges, farmlands and orchards through Riwaka before entering the ‘Easy Rider’ trail of the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park.
This 4km section of trail through the mountain bike park takes in stunning native forest. A reasonable level of fitness is required to bike this section and caution must be taken by inexperienced riders as there are tight turns and switchbacks, which can be easily walked.
Enjoy your day exploring the Abel Tasman National Park. You could enjoy a walk in the park, kayak, cruise, or a combination. There are lots of great options and we can certainly help you plan your day.
Kiwi Journeys will collect you from your accommodation and shuttle you back to the airport or your accommodation for those that were wanting to spend another night in Nelson to enjoy the city.
The twin trails can be enjoyed in either direction—beginning in Nelson and heading southwest or starting from the opposite direction for a unique experience. Contact us to discuss how we can tailor this tour to suit your group’s preferences.
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Price on application
Please contact us to discuss your requirements
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Airport transfers
Domestic transfers and transport
All cycle equipment which includes trail comfort bike, helmet, repair kit, panniers, odometer and trail documentation
Bottled Water and Map
All luggage transfers (1 bag per person – limit 15kgs per bag)
Accomodation
Luggage storage for excess luggage available if returning to Nelson after tour.
Meals will either be included in accomodation, booked, or readily available.
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12 months of the year. (Subject to availability)
Start dates are flexible - our Reservations staff will work with you to create an itinerary for your preferred dates (dependent on accommodation availability)
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Enjoy this tour and take the effort out of the hills on our high-end E Bikes (add $60 per person per day)
