Special Interest Tours - Bike Tours
4-Day Abel Tasman Coastal Experience: New Zealand Luxury Escape
price from
NZ$ 2349
per person (twin share)
New Zealand - South Island 
Self-guided Tour 
4 days 
Nelson 
Kaiteriteri/Nelson 4-Day Abel Tasman Cycle Tour | Luxury Escape | Great Taste Trail, Mapua Ferry & Awaroa Lodge | Private Chartered Sea Shuttle & Freedom Walks | Bikes, Luggage Transfers and Fine Dining Included
Join us on this unforgettable Abel Tasman cycle tour.
This Abel Tasman cycle tour is a bit of a splurge. Four days, three nights. The Great Taste Trail meets two seriously indulgent nights at Awaroa Lodge, tucked away where the road can’t reach.
You’ll ride three to five hours a day, tops. Vehicle-free trail the whole way. Wineries pop up. So do craft breweries and cafes worth stopping for. Day 2 ends with a private chartered sea shuttle straight into Abel Tasman National Park. From there you’re checking into an architecturally designed superior suite for two nights of doing absolutely nothing. Want the same trail minus the lodge splurge? Our 10‑Day Top of the South Cycling Trails loops back to Nelson instead.
A Touch of Luxury on the Great Taste Trail
The Great Taste Trail is one of New Zealand’s official Great Rides. This leg takes its prettiest stretch, Nelson down to Kaiteriteri. You’ll roll past the boardwalks of the Waimea Estuary first. It’s home to White Herons and a handful of other birds you don’t see every day. Then comes the Waimea Swing Bridge. Got a spare twenty minutes and a taste for good wine? Detour to Seifrieds, Nelson’s oldest and biggest winery.
Next up, the Mapua Ferry. It carries you over the channel to Mapua Wharf. Galleries, studios and restaurants line the water, plus the Golden Bear Brewery if lunch is calling. From there the trail heads south through Ruby Bay, Tasman, Motueka. Somewhere around Tasman View Road you’ll climb into a 360-degree view of Tasman Bay. Worth the burn in your legs. Then it’s downhill into Kaiteriteri, the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park.
Two Nights of Bliss at Awaroa Lodge
Here’s the real drawcard: two nights at Awaroa Lodge. Secluded doesn’t quite cover it. This place sits over the wetlands, and you can only reach it by sea or on foot. Native forest wraps around you. Inside, there’s a proper lounge, a library, a bar, even an outdoor pizzeria. Walk to Awaroa Beach if you’re feeling energetic. Or don’t. Kayak instead, out toward Adele Island, where a colony of New Zealand Fur Seals hangs out.
Last day, you get options. Freedom walks. A scenic shuttle back to Kaiteriteri. Or more kayaking, this time around the Astrolabe coastline. Pick whichever suits your mood, because this trip was never just about the cycling.
If you fancy something shorter or a bit more active, check out our other Great Taste Trail cycle tours below.
- 5‑Day Abel Tasman National Park Cycle Tour
- 10‑Day Top of the South Cycling Trails – New Zealand’s Best Routes
- 4‑Day Abel Tasman Coastal Experience – New Zealand Luxury Escape
- 5‑Day South Island New Zealand Wilderness Cycle Tour
- 4‑Day Golden Gorges Cycling Adventure Tour
- 5‑Day Central Otago Latest & Greatest Cycle Holiday
Tour Photo Gallery
Tour Information, Departure Dates & Price
Transportation
- Rental bikes
Tour Departures
- Please review the cruise departure options below
Airport Transfers
- Included
Pricing
-
from NZD2,349
Meals
- Check the meal details in the itinerary
Accommodation
- Boutique Hotels / Boutique B&B's
Cities/Regions Visited
-
Nelson – Mapua – Kaiteriteri – Awaroa Lodge – Abel Tasman National Park – Kaiteriteri – Nelson
Group Size
- no minimum number
Tour Code
- KJ20082026
Pre & Post Accommodation
- Available
4-Day Abel Tasman Coastal Experience: New Zealand Luxury Escape Days
32km
Your adventure starts at our Nelson base, where you’ll be fitted to your bike and briefed on the tour. We suggest arriving by 9am for a 9:30am departure, though this is flexible. Follow the blue Great Taste Trail markers south toward the seaside village of Mapua.
Along the way you can visit the popular Classic Car Museum. Or take the old Railway Reserve cycle path toward Richmond for craft beer at Stoke or Eddyline Breweries, and a stop at Pic’s Peanut Butter World. The trail then crosses the coastal boardwalks of the Waimea Estuary, before crossing the spectacular Waimea Swing Bridge. Wine lovers can detour to Seifrieds, the oldest and largest winery in Nelson.
From here it’s ten kilometres to the Mapua Ferry landing on Rabbit Island. Here you can swim in warm sea waters or wander the white sand beach before crossing to Mapua Wharf. Explore the galleries, studios, restaurants, cafes and the boutique Golden Bear Brewery on arrival. Today’s ride is grade one (easy), leaving plenty of time to relax.
Accommodation: Mapua
45km
After breakfast, ride through Ruby Bay toward Tasman, with a coffee option at the Tasman Store. A steady climb up Tasman View Road follows. You’re rewarded with 360 degree views of Tasman Bay and the ranges beyond. This section is grade 2-3, climbing 200 metres over 4km. From here you’ll drop into the Riverside Community and on to Motueka. The Riverside Cafe or Toad Hall make great lunch or coffee stops.
The coastal trail around Motueka offers gorgeous scenery and a variety of birdlife. From the outskirts of town, Kaiteriteri is roughly 12km away. The ride in takes you through boardwalks and bridges across the farmland and orchards of Riwaka, home to two great cafes and the Hop Federation Brewery. From there, you enter the Easy Rider trail of the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park. This 4km section winds through stunning native beech forest, with tight turns and switchbacks that call for caution.
On arrival, explore the golden sands that mark the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park. From here, your private chartered sea shuttle carries you to secluded Awaroa Lodge for the next two nights.
Accommodation: Awaroa Lodge
Rest day
Today you get to take it easy and enjoy your surroundings. Surrounded by pristine waterways and native forest, Awaroa Lodge makes the most of its secluded location. It’s only accessible by sea or on foot. The main lodge is warm and inviting, with a comfy lounge, library, bar, restaurant and outdoor pizzeria.
Walk one of the many tracks nearby, or take a picnic down to famous Awaroa Beach for the afternoon. For those seeking more adventure, an optional kayaking tour explores Adele Island and its resident New Zealand Fur Seal colony. Little Blue Penguins are sometimes spotted along the way.
Accommodation: Awaroa Lodge
Today offers a choice of freedom walks, cruising or kayaking. NZ Tourism will work with you to confirm your preferred option. Walkers can depart Awaroa Lodge for Tonga Quarry, then be picked up by the sea shuttle to Anchorage Beach. From there, you can take a self-guided walk to Pitt Head or the Te Pukatea Bay Loop Track before the return shuttle to Kaiteriteri.
Alternatively, join a guided sea kayaking trip exploring the Astrolabe coastline and Adele Island’s seal colony. A professional guide shares their knowledge of the park over roughly four hours, lunch included. Whichever you choose, your day ends with transport back to Kaiteriteri, then onward to Nelson or the airport.
Note: Start dates are flexible from September to April, subject to accommodation availability. NZ Tourism will work with you to tailor the itinerary to your preferred dates.
Inclusions & Highlights
- Kaiteriteri
- Cross the Waimea Estuary boardwalks and Waimea Swing Bridge
- Take the Mapua Ferry and explore Mapua Wharf’s galleries and breweries
- Enjoy two nights at secluded Awaroa Lodge, accessible only by sea or on foot
- Take a private chartered sea shuttle into Abel Tasman National Park
- Choose from freedom walks, kayaking or a sea shuttle cruise on your final day
Includes: Airport transfers, all cycle equipment including trail comfort bike, helmet, repair kit, panniers, odometer and trail documentation, map, all luggage transfers (1 bag per person, 15kg limit), Mapua Ferry crossing, private chartered Abel Tasman sea shuttle transfers to Awaroa Lodge, transport from Kaiteriteri to Nelson/Airport, 3 nights accommodation based on twin/double share with breakfast included, 2 dinners at Awaroa Lodge, and luggage storage for excess luggage.
Excludes: All personal items, other meals not listed, travel insurance, eBike upgrades, optional kayaking tours, and pre or post tour accommodation.
eBike Upgrades: Hardtail eBike ($280pp), premium Cilo full suspension eBike, standard frame ($380pp), premium Cilo full suspension eBike, step-thru frame ($380pp)
Optional Extra: Sea Kayaking Seal Sanctuary Tour ($215pp, non-commissionable)
Tour Departure Dates
September to April, subject to availability. Rates valid until 31 May 2026. Seasonal surcharges may apply.
Accommodation
Your nights on this tour combine trailside comfort with genuine luxury. Your first night in Mapua sits close to the wharf. Galleries, cafes and the boutique Golden Bear Brewery are all within easy reach. Your two nights at Awaroa Lodge are the centrepiece of the journey. It’s an architecturally designed superior suite built over the wetlands, accessible only by sea or on foot.
Accommodation is generally 4-star, and in some cases 5-star boutique. All rooms are en-suite, with twin, double or single occupancy configuration available. Breakfast is included each morning, along with two dinners at Awaroa Lodge.
Included activities
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