A bucket list riding holiday
Kaiteriteri Beach
This is a feature story on Stuff's Upper South Island Travel Guide—words by NMTBC.
Nelson Tasman has long been a bucket-list destination for riders "in the know," often rumoured to be steep and gnarly. While the region does have its fair share of challenging trails, there are plenty of options for riders of all levels. With a 400km trail network within 40km of Nelson’s CBD, the hardest part of your holiday might just be deciding where to ride each day.
The choice is yours. Ride one of the world’s best mountain parks at Wairoa Gorge Bike Park, where hand-built trails wind through beech forests and past stunning waterfalls. Head to Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park for fun, flowy trails and enjoy a swim afterwards at the iconic Kaiteriteri Beach. Or try the privately owned Cable Bay Mountain Bike Park, with shuttle rides and a great café.
Nelson also offers fantastic free local options worth exploring. Ride Koata Park (Codgers) and Waitarake (formerly Sharlands) straight from your hotel door, or head to Silvan and Richmond for a different experience.
You can also use Nelson as your gateway to explore the many multi-day trails in the top of the South Island, including Old Ghost Road, Heaphy, Paparoa, and the Queen Charlotte Trail. Whatever your mood and whatever the weather, there’s something to suit every rider.
Situated just south of Nelson, deep in the Wairoa Valley, The Gorge boasts over 70km of world-class hand-built singletrack. Originally created by a billionaire for his private use, these trails were meticulously crafted by a team handpicked from the world’s best.
The quality of these trails is almost unimaginable, with incredible variation and a wealth of interesting natural and hand-made features. Suitable for intermediate to advanced riders, the trails range from grade 3 to grade 6, offering nearly 1,000 metres of descent on every top-to-bottom run! Each route takes about an hour to complete, including the uplift.
The park is a mix of thick native beech forest, small patches of pine plantation, and a few rocks, roots, and natural features to enjoy. There’s a wide selection of trails to suit all tastes—flowing, bermed, and smooth trails, slow techy rock trails, root-infested off-camber trails, and relaxing waterfall-lined trails.
Now owned by the Crown and managed by the Nelson Mountain Bike Club, the park offers 4x4 shuttles all day long. A highly recommended option is to book yourself (and friends) into the on-mountain accommodation. Enjoy a fire pit, BBQ, or pizza oven under the stars, then roll out in the morning to your waiting shuttle.
Why you’ll love it: A fairytale playground for mountain bikers with stunning views, beech forest, waterfalls, and the best hand-crafted trails you can imagine.
Recommended trails for first-time visitors: Starting from Irvine’s Day Lodge, head onto Devil’s Armour for a short flat pedal to connect to Benched As.
How to get there: The Gorge is an hour’s drive south of Nelson in the Wairoa Valley. You can drive yourself or catch a ride with Gravity Nelson or Scottish Express shuttles.
Price: Gorge shuttle passes are $129. Nelson Mountain Bike Club members receive a $30 discount. Simply join the club and use your membership number in the promo box to receive your discount!
Local’s tip: Stay the night and ride another day. Book a Play & Stay package.
Once a privately owned bike park, "The Gorge" is now a hot spot for shuttle hungry New Zealanders. Join Tom Bradshaw as he takes on this legendary bike park with his mates.
With its diverse trails and breathtaking scenery, it's no wonder Kaiteriteri MTB Park is a favourite among locals and visitors alike.
For first-time visitors, we recommend starting with the "Easy Rider" trail. This beginner-friendly path winds through lush native bush and offers a gentle introduction to the park's terrain.
For those seeking more thrill, the "Corkscrew" trail lives up to its name, with twists and turns that lead to stunning viewpoints and connect you to Jaws—another very popular trail.
Whether you're a seasoned rider or a beginner, Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park is a must-visit destination in the Nelson Tasman region.
Why you’ll love it: Riders love Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park for its well-maintained trails that cater to all skill levels. The park's unique blend of native bush, challenging tracks, and scenic views offers the perfect combination of adventure and natural beauty.
How to get there: Getting to Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park is easy. Located just a short drive from Nelson, head towards Motueka and follow the signs to Kaiteriteri. The park is well-signposted, with ample parking available at the main entrance.
Price: Access to Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park is free! Donations are welcome to help maintain the trails and support the ongoing development of this fantastic community resource.
Local’s tip: Pack your swimwear and make the most of the easy access to world-renowned Kaiteriteri Beach while you’re there!
Silvan Forest is a privately owned yet free-to-access mountain bike park, centrally located in the foothills above Richmond.
To get there, simply follow the signs from the top of Champion Road to the trailhead, where you can start on the awesome climbing track "Alpha." This track takes you all the way to the top of the forest, offering multiple route choices for descending and looping.
Why you’ll love it: Riders appreciate the consistent grade 3/4 trails, which provide a great environment for building confidence while exploring. For more advanced riders, there’s a new freestyle area and some G5 options throughout the network.
Neighbouring Silvan Forest are the Richmond Hills trails, another excellent spot for those who love fast, flowing trails and stunning views. These trails are also free to access. To get there, head to Easby Park off Marlborough Crescent. Linking to Silvan MTB Park via the forestry road network is an easy option as well.
Price: Free
Local’s tip: Stop by the coffee cart on Champion Road for a post-ride coffee and snack, or head to Eddyline Brewery for a well-deserved pint.
Rising to approximately 400 metres, this park offers a diverse range of trails suitable for everyone—from easy, winding grade 2 tracks to daredevil grade 5 downhill descents.
The trail network weaves around three hills that form the backdrop of the city centre, with summits offering spectacular views over Nelson. Whether you choose to take a shuttle (via Gravity Nelson) or pedal yourself, there are plenty of trail options to suit every mood and weather condition.
The Coppermine Trail is also a must-mention, being one of New Zealand’s most accessible alpine trails. It takes you gradually from the heart of Nelson through stunning beech forests to amazing rocky mountaintops. The downhill section is a blast, with stunning views and switchbacks, finishing off with a meandering river trail that takes you back to the city centre.
How to get there: The Codgers trails are just minutes from the city centre, starting from the Codger's Hub at Andrews Field off Brook Street.
Recommended trails for first-time visitors: You can’t beat the Firball trail as a great warmup. Koata Whetu and P51 are other excellent options. Once you’re warmed up, try Turners into Koata Rere jump line—it’s so nice you’ll want to do it twice. For more challenging trails, drop into Hotbox, Smasher, or DivAs on the Codgers' backside.
Price: Free, but visitors are encouraged to join the Nelson Mountain Bike Club. Membership helps support trail maintenance and advocacy for biking in the region.
Local’s tip: After all that riding, the lure of a cold beer and a bowl of hot chips is strong. Many local pubs like Two Thumb Nelson, The Vic, Eddyline, and BurgerCulture Beer House support mountain bikers and offer discounts to Nelson Mountain Bike Club members.
The Waitarake Trails feature a range of easy fire road climbs and epic downhill trails. Once you reach the top, you’ll find a series of hand-built descents, including a continuous single-track route that spans 9km. For those seeking a challenge, the Aorere Trail—a grade 5 descent—is a true enduro experience guaranteed to get your heart pumping. The Waitarake area, formerly known as Sharlands, is owned by Ngāti Koata.
Waitarake offers a wide variety of hand-built trails through forestry and native plantations, featuring everything from technical single tracks and steep loamy descents to national-level DH tracks. The network is linked by forestry roads, making it a great all-weather riding area for gravel grinders.
How to get there: Located just 10 minutes from town on Maitai Valley Road.
Recommended trails for first-time visitors: Warm up with Loam Ranger or Mr Chomper, then push the limits with Keyboard Warrior and Maitai Face. Putakari and Broken Axe are also popular among expert local riders.
Price: Free, but visitors are encouraged to join the Nelson Mountain Bike Club. Membership helps support trail maintenance and biking advocacy in the region.
Local’s tip: After your ride, enjoy a refreshing swim in the Maitai River. Sunday Hole and Black Hole are favourite local swimming spots.
Mountain biking is ingrained in the DNA of locals, with the Nelson Mountain Bike Club (NMTBC) boasting over 3,000 members. Visiting riders are encouraged to join the club, as all membership fees go directly towards making Nelson an even better place to ride.
As a member, you’ll enjoy a range of discounts from local companies, saving you money on everything from bike parts to food, beer, rides, and shuttles—you can easily recoup your membership fees.
