Great Taste & ArtisanS
4-Day Cycling Group package
Stay all together and enjoy the Great Taste Trail, vineyards, galleries and artists of the Waimea Plains!
Get together with a group of friends and enjoy cycling the Great Taste Trail and see the vineyards, galleries and artists of the Waimea Plains!
Kiwi Journeys together with The Pear Orchard Lodge have put together this unique ‘hub and spoke’ 4-day group package that includes peaceful farm accommodation for your whole group (up to 16 guests), as well as bike hire, cycle equipment, shuttle service and bike transfers, so that you can enjoy Tasman’s Great Taste Trail’s Rail Route and Coastal Route, as well as a loop around the vineyards and artisans in the Waimea Plains. Includes a FREE cheese tasting!
See the real highlights of the Great Taste Trail, including hop gardens (unique to the region!), Spooners Tunnel, Kaiteriteri beach, native bush, Moturoa/Rabbit Island and The Junction Cheese Shop. Explore vineyards, fruit orchards as well as galleries and artists in the Waimea Plains.
Golden beaches, Sandspit scenic reserve, hop gardens, Spooners Tunnel, picturesque farmland, vineyards, orchards, craft breweries, quiet country roads, cafes, Mapua Ferry, boardwalk, river estuary, cheese tasting, artists and galleries
- Day 1: arrive at The Pear Orchard Lodge (in Hope)
- Arrive at The Pear Orchard Lodge in Hope any time from 2pm, be greeted by your hosts and make yourself at home. Your bikes will be available for you from the next morning.
- Day 2: The Rail Route (45km) - Grade 1 & 2
- Tapawera - Spooners Tunnel - Wakefield - Hope
- A shuttle will pick you up and take you to Tapawera at 9am
- On your 50min shuttle journey, the driver will share some useful tips about the trail and great lunch and beverage stops
- Briefing and fitting of bikes at Tapawera
- Ride 7.6km through pastoral landscape of the Motueka Valley to Kohatu, where you arrive at Flat Rock Cafe just in time for morning tea
- From Kohatu it's a stready 7.3km climb to Spooners Tunnel, which at 1,352m long, is the longest tunnel open to cyclists in the southern hemisphere
- Enjoy the peace and tranquility of the countryside, while following the old rail corridor 15.9km down into Wakefield, where you have earned yourself a relaxed lunch break. Try the Wakefield Bakery or The Villa for a culinary delight!
- Departing Wakefield, cycle 7.4km beside quiet country roads towards Brightwater where you can have your afternoon tea stop at HQ Café.
- Now it is not even 7km back to The Pear Orchard Lodge in Hope. Cycle over the Waimea River via a swing bridge, through gorgeous vineyards, orchards and farmland.
- Day 3: The Coastal Route (63km) - Grade 1, 2 & 3
- Kaiteriteri - Motueka - Mapua - Hope
- A shuttle will take you to Kaiteriteri at 9am - start your journey from Kaiteriteri around 10.30am
- Start the day cycling 6km through stunning coastal Kanuka forest and orchards on your way to Riwaka, a little town that is world famous for its aromatic hops. Stop here for morning tea or how about a beer tasting at Hop Federation, a local craft brewery?
- Another 10km along Motueka's Sandspit Scenic Reserve take you to Toad Hall, where you can quench your thirst.
- The next, slightly more challenging trail section (grade 3) winds 26km up and over a few hills, past fruit orchards and hop gardens into Mapua, where you should have your well deserved lunch at the wharf. Try The Smokehouse, Jellyfish or taste some craft beer at the Golden Bear Brewing Company!
- Catch the Mapua Ferry across to Moturoa/Rabbit Island and ride along the long beach and the estuary of the Waimea Inlet.
- After 17km you arrive at Old Factory Corner. Enjoy a FREE cheese tasting at The Junction Cheese Shop and have a coffee break at The Grape Escape or Connings next door. From here it's just another 4.5km back home to The Pear Orchard Lodge.
- Day 4: The Plains Vineyards & Artisans Trail (36km) - Grade 1
- Hope - Brightwater - Appleby - Hope
- Start this loop directly from the lodge whenever you're ready!
- Cycle 7.5km to Brightwater and stop at Greenhough and/or Brightwater vineyards for a tasting along the way
- Visit the Gardens of the World and Royce McGlashen's pottery studio before morning tea at HQ cafe
- Marvel at the ancient trees of Snowdon Reserve before heading across the Wai-Iti river to Tasteology@Winelord to tickle your taste buds (2.7km)
- Ride 8.6km through fertile farmland across the Waimea Plains to Seifried Estate, where you can have your well earned lunch at Harvest Kitchen
- Join the Great Taste Trail's coastal pathways and board walks around the beautiful, and ecologically significant Waimea Inlet
- A little 2km detour takes you to renowned Höglund Art Glass Studio. Otherwise continue on to Old Factory Corner for afternoon tea at Grape Escape and a FREE cheese tasting at The Junction Cheese Shop (11km)
- From here it's only 4.5km back to the lodge, so don't forget to stock up on cheese and fresh produce before you leave!
Group package deal for $849 per person all up!
- Includes:
- 4 nights self-catering accommodation in rooms with ensuite and shared bathrooms (twin share either with king or twin single beds)
- Exclusive use of the lodge for your group
- Guest kitchen, dining area and BBQ facilities for self-catering
- Early reception of your supermarket delivery on the day of check-in (Fresh Choice or Countdown both deliver to the lodge)
- Cycle equipment, which includes trail bike, helmet, map, lock, pump, repair kit, panniers and odometer
- Trail shuttle transport
- Mapua Ferry crossing
- Kiwi Journeys drink bottle
- Cheese tasting at The Junction Cheese Shop on day 3 or 4
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For flexible package options and extras please contact us: - upgrade to eBike ($180)
- One airport pick-up and drop-off per group ($37.50pp, min. 8 pax)
- Single room supplement ($385)
- Homemade breakfast ($25 per breakfast)
- Have your evening meals pre-prepared for you from local ingredients by a local chef, ready for you to warm up in the lodge kitchen ($66 per meal)
- Private chef to prepare your evening meals at the lodge ($110 per meal)
- Stay an extra day + water taxi for a day trip into the Abel Tasman ($200)
- Pre-/post-tour accommodation
Contact us to book this cycling group package deal!
- Conditions:
- Package available all year
- Minimum 8 pax per group (smaller groups pay min 8 pax price)
- Maximum 16 pax per group
- Subject to availability
- Seasonal surcharges may apply
Let us know if you have any questions!
