Tunnel & Artisans
3-Day Cycling Group package
Stay all together and see Spooners Tunnel on Tasman's Great Taste Trail, vineyards and artists in the Waimea Plains!
Stay all together as a cycling group and enjoy Tasman’s Great Taste Trail’s Rail Route, as well as a loop around the vineyards and artisans of the Waimea Plains.
Kiwi Journeys together with The Pear Orchard Lodge have put together this unique ‘hub and spoke’ 3-day group cycling 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 transfer, so you can just sit back and enjoy the ride. Includes a FREE cheese tasting!
See Spooners Tunnel, vineyards, fruit orchards and farmland, the Waimea Inlet, The Junction Cheese Shop and other artisans in the Waimea Plains.
Spooners Tunnel, picturesque farmland, vineyards, orchards, quiet country roads, cafes, 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 (easiest) & 2 (easy)
- 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 Plains Vineyards & Artisans Trail (36km) - Grade 1 (easiest)
- 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 $639 per person all up!
- Includes:
- 3 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
- Kiwi Journeys drink bottle
- Cheese tasting at The Junction Cheese Shop on day 3
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For flexible package options and extras please contact us: - upgrade to eBike ($120)
- One airport pick-up and drop-off per group ($37.50pp, min. 8 pax)
- Single room supplement ($289)
- 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!
