The Great Taste Trail

Spooners Tunnel & The Great Taste Trail

Located on Tasman’s Great Taste Trail in the Nelson Tasman region, Spooners Tunnel is an iconic 1.35 km decommissioned rail tunnel—the longest in the Southern Hemisphere. Built in 1891, this pitch-black, cool passage requires a bike light and a jacket.

The surrounding trail follows an easy, mostly downhill former rail corridor (Grades 1–2) through pine forests, hop gardens, vineyards, and country towns like Wakefield and Tapawera.

The total trail length is a loop and nearly 200km long

From the coast at Richmond, travelling inland through Wakefield and Kohatu to Tapawera, and then back to the coast at Riwaka, returning along the coast, via Motueka, Lower Moutere, Tasman view lookout, Māpua and Rabbit Island, and then back to Richmond.   

There is an extension from Riwaka to Kaiteriteri and a spur from Nelson connecting to the loop.

The trail commences from three starting places in Nelson: on the Maitai River path in central Nelson, on Beach Road in Tāhunanui, and at Nelson Airport.

You may wish to do part or all of this great cycle tour.

My advice

is to research before taking on trips of this magnitude. Some may wish to pick up small section, whilst others will do the entire trail.

Here is a very good information link to the Great Taste Trail

Be prepared in all ways, small medical kit, food, wet weather gear.

If you need a bike then there are guys that have experience, knowledge and the bikes you need. A few suggestions below.

Gravity Nelson NZ

Biking Nelson

Cycle Nelson