Tunnel & Plains
3-Day Cycling package
Stay at a peaceful country lodge, ride through Spooners Tunnel and see vineyards and artists of the Waimea Plains!
Ride through Spooners Tunnel on the Great Taste Trail and see the vineyards and artists of the Waimea Plains!
Nelson Cycle Hire together with The Pear Orchard Lodge have created this 3-day cycling package that includes peaceful farm accommodation for your whole group (up to 16 guests), as well as e-bike hire, cycle equipment, shuttle service and bike transfers. Includes a FREE winery lunch and cheese tasting!
No need to uproot yourselves every day or transfer your luggage – stay together in a peaceful country lodge for the duration of your trip and just enjoy the journey!
Hop gardens, Spooners Tunnel, picturesque farmland, vineyards, orchards, cafes, river estuary, artists and galleries
- Day 1: Arrive at The Pear Orchard Lodge (in Hope)
- Arrive at The Pear Orchard Lodge in Hope, be greeted by your hosts and make yourself at home. Your bikes will be available for you from the next morning.
- Alternatively, if you arrive at the airport after 3pm, pick up your bikes directly from the airport and cycle out to The Pear Orchard Lodge.
- Day 2: The Tunnel Ride (45km) - Grade 1 & 2
- Tapawera - Spooners Tunnel - Wakefield - Hope
- A shuttle will pick you up and take you to Tapawera
- Cycle towards Kohatu and then Spooners Tunnel
- At almost 1.5 km long, Spooners Tunnel is the longest disused rail tunnel available for cycling in the Southern hemisphere.
- From the tunnel the trail is a 10 km downhill blast. Then you are cycling alongside the Wai-iti river until just before you reach Wakefield
- From here it's an easy cycle through the villages of Wakefield and Brightwater riding through the vineyards, past cafes.
- Take a last opportunity to do some tastings at award winning wineries and boutique breweries before arriving back at The Pear Orchard Lodge.
- Day 3: The Plains Experience (36km) - Grade 1
- Hope - Brightwater - Appleby - Hope
- This loop starts directly from the lodge and takes you past a number of great vineyards, gardens and nature reserves, artists, cafes, restaurants and an amazing cheese shop.
- Cycle down the hill to Brightwater. See vineyards, manicured gardens and a famous pottery artist along the way
- From here ride along the fertile plains of the Wai-Iti and Waimea rivers and stop for a wine tasting along the way
- Enjoy a FREE lazy winery lunch at Harvest Kitchen (lunch platter) before exploring the Waimea Inlet ecological area with its boardwalks and scenic coastal views
- Optional detour: visit a world famous glass blowing studio
- Stop at Old Factory Corner for a coffee and a enjoy a FREE cheese tasting at The Junction Cheese Shop before heading back to The Pear Orchard Lodge
Group cycling package deal for $569 per person all up!
- Includes:
- 3 nights self-catering accommodation in rooms with ensuite bathrooms (twin share either with king or twin single beds)
- 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)
- E-bike and cycle equipment, which includes helmet, pump (shared between the group), locking cable, puncture repair kit, charger, key for ebikes and a small pannier
- Headlamps for Spooners Tunnel
- Trail shuttle transport
- Lunch platter at Harvest Kitchen (Seifried Vineyard) on day 3
- Cheese tasting at The Junction Cheese Shop on day 3
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For flexible package options and extras please contact us: - Larger rear panniers ($30)
- One airport pick-up and drop-off per group ($30pp)
- Single room supplement ($255)
- Homemade continental farm breakfast ($20 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)
- Pre-/post-tour accommodation
Contact us to book this cycling package deal!
- Conditions:
- Package available all year
- Minimum 8 pax
- Maximum 16 pax per group
- Subject to availability
- Seasonal surcharges may apply
Let us know if you have any questions!
