Mountain Biking in Nelson Tasman

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Nelson City Urban Cycle Routes

Starting in the centre of Nelson, there’s no need to arrange a shuttle. Just hire a bike and go! The locals may think of these trails as ‘commuter routes’ but with plenty of pretty things to see along the way, you can be forgiven for using them as a tourist attraction.

Waterfront Ride (11 km/6.8 mi)

Feel the sea breeze on your face! This route starts at Millers Acre Centre (near Trafalgar Centre) and follows Rocks Road along the waterfront, offering stunning coastal views on your way to Tahunanui Reserve.

It’s a perfect easy ride for a beach picnic, a refreshing swim or simply soaking up the scenery before looping back via the Nelson Marina.

Keep an eye out for local landmarks like the historic chain-link fence and Fifeshire Rock, where an early settler ship met its fate in 1842.

Maitai River Ride (3.7 km/2.3 mi)

This is an easy one. Just follow the riverside trail inland along the leafy Maitai Valley, where you’ll discover swimming holes and picnic spots perfect for a summer dip or a peaceful break.

The mostly flat off and on-road cycleway makes this a great family-friendly option, with smooth surfaces throughout.

Keep an eye out for Grant Palliser‘s ‘High Flyers’ sculpture along the route, its shiny stainless steel poles topped with aluminium “boulders” beautifully reflect the river’s energy and surrounding landscape.

Trafalgar Cycleway (4.8 km/3 mi)

Start from Millers Acre Centre by the river and follow the Trafalgar Cycleway along this easy, flat loop.

This family-friendly route takes you past Founders Heritage Park and the Miyazu Japanese Gardens, before continuing to Wakapuaka Cemetery for stunning views.

On your return, stop at Neale Park where the kids can enjoy the playground.

The Old Railway Route (13 km/8 mi)

This trail gives you a chance to nosy around the city and ride along the waterfront. The loop starts by heading south at the Railway Reserve, where Nelson’s trains once rumbled through, and follows the off-road cycleways alongside Whakatu Drive.

You’ll find plenty of spots to pull over for a breather or a picnic along the way, and keep an eye out for “Arrival and Beginning”, a striking sculpture by local artist Mike Hindmarsh made from old railway sleepers.

Monaco Loop (5 km/3.1 mi)

This coastal loop track starts from the Humpback Bridge next to the airport. It’s an easy, family-friendly ride that hugs the water’s edge with lovely coastal views along the way.

Pack a picnic to enjoy beside the water or pop into the Honest Lawyer Pub for refreshments.

The mostly flat, off-road cycleway takes around 25 minutes to complete (with a short on-road section), making it perfect for a quick pedal with the kids.

© www.nelsontasman.nz

Tasman’s Great Taste Trail (175 km/109 mi)

Nothing splits a long bike ride than endless amounts of food stops. Some might say this track can be done in “bite-sized portions”… All bad jokes aside, the Tasman Great Taste Trail showcases the coastal and inland scenery while passing vineyards, breweries and orchards. It’s a laid back off-road ride, which is best done with a few mates at your side.

The Great Taste Trail is a loop track, so you can start anywhere on the route that goes by Nelson, Richmond, Mopua, Motueka, Kaiteriteri, Wakefield, Woodstock and Riwaka. Be aware that you will need to take the Mopua Ferry.

Cycle hire and transport can be organised with Kiwi Journeys in Nelson.

© Schwede66 on Wikipedia

Dun Mountain Trail (43 km/27 mi)

There are several great things about this trail: it’s super easy to get to from Nelson City, it’s a loop trail, it only takes one day to do, it offers incredible views, and has one of the longest downhill mountain bike sections in the country.

The Dun Mountain Trail requires you to be able to take on an intermediate to advanced track (grade 3 and grade 4). Access to the track is at Brook Street, just 2.7 km (1.7 mi) from Nelson City centre.

© Tim on Wikipedia

Heaphy Track (78.4 km/48.7 mi)

Yes, one of the New Zealand Great Walk‘s is open to mountain bikers in the off-peak season (1 May – 30 September). This is a remote, multi-day adventure through stunning landscape that New Zealand is famous for.

Ride through diverse forests, mountain tops, creek crossings and exposed sections. Remember to book the Great Walk huts before your trip.

You will need to arrange transport to and from this track. Bus services go to either end. The Brown Hut end is near Collingwood and the Kohaihai end is near Karamea.

© nut.in.a.hut on Wikipedia

Rameka Track (19 km/12 mi)

Navigate the goblin forests and limestone features, which are all inland in the Abel Tasman National Park. You’ll literally ride through The Hobbit filming locations in the Canaan Downs.

The first half of the track is a challenge over rocks and river crossings, but the rest of the route is pretty easygoing. This is a one-way trail so you’ll need to organise transport.

Find out more about the trail on the Department of Conservation (DOC) website.

© TRAILSOURCE.COM on Flickr

Nelson Tasman Purpose-built Mountain Bike Parks

Downhill mountain bikers will be served in the Nelson Tasman region! The following MTB parks and trails are all manmade for optimal enjoyment. Plus, they are all easily accessible from Nelson.

Sharlands Trails

Situated in Hira Forest, you will need to get a permit to use the trails. Only 10 minutes from central Nelson and running the length of the valley, Sharlands features easy fire road climbs that link several fantastic downhill trails.

There’s everything from the flowing, berm-slapping fun of Keyboard Warrior to the shared walkers track that is Supplejack, right through to Putakari, a sublime creation of rock, root, steep and everything in between.

Richmond Hills

Easily accessed from Easeby Park, off Marlborough Crescent, this trail network is perfect if you’re after fun, flowing grade 3+ trails.

A grade 3 climbing track takes you up to the main skid site, or alternatively, there’s fire road access from the end of Lodestone Road.

From the top, choose from several grade 3/4 descending trails like Loadstone Gully or Bermed Monster for an exhilarating ride down.

Codgers MTB Park

The trails start from Brook Street and Codgers Recreation Hub and are well signposted. Situated in the heart of Nelson, this MTB park features a wide range of trails built to a professional standard, from easy meandering single track perfect for beginners and families to full-on double black downhill runs best left to the experts.

The trails are based around three hills with summits rising to approximately 400 m (1,312 ft), and you can tailor your ride from 30 minutes to several hours. This MTB park has been known to close after storm damage so check if it’s open first.

Kaiteriteri MTB Park

Kaiteriteri is roughly one hour from Nelson at the entrance of the Abel Tasman National Park. The MTB park is down Martin Farm Road, which is a one-minute ride from the centre of Kaiteriteri.

Whether you’re after adrenaline-fueled descents or prefer cruising through stunning scenery before finishing with a swim at Kaiteriteri Beach, this park delivers.