Got a hankering to really test the legs? We’ve put together a comprehensive list of our favourite big missions around Nelson Tasman — whether you're looking for a huge day out, backcountry gravel grind or multi-day adventure, we've got something for ya!
This guide covers the basics (grade, distance, elevation/duration, access), plus a detailed track overview and up-to-date access information. And it wouldn't be complete without our go-to foodie & recovery stops on the way.
Most guides will focus on the good stuff and gloss over the bad, but we'll tell you straight up the downsides of each track. Better to go in with realistic expectations than be caught unawares, we reckon! So pick your poison and have a blast out there folks.
Heaphy Track
🔵 Grade: 3/4
🚲 Distance: 78km
📝 Itinerary: Brown Hut → Perry Saddle 17.5km, Perry Saddle → Heaphy Hut 40.5km, Heaphy Hut → Kohaihai 20.4km
❓ What to expect: ever-changing landscapes, a well-graded track and well appointed huts.
👎 The poos: West Coast sandflies, faffy access, scenery isn't Old-Ghost spectacular, a long ass drive home
Tussock tops, ancient beech forest, giant nīkau palms and the roaring West Coast sea — the Heaphy has a bit of everything. This is one of New Zealand's great backcountry rides and, if you've got the legs for it, an absolute bucket-list mission.
The 78km route crosses the wild heart of Kahurangi National Park, linking Golden Bay with the West Coast. Starting at Brown Hut, the track climbs steadily through beech forest towards Perry Saddle, before opening out onto the vast Gouland Downs. From here the landscape continues to change as you roll across wide tussock country, through limestone country and along the Mackay Downs before beginning the epic flowy descent towards the Heaphy River.
And then things get tropical; the western side of the track descends through increasingly lush rainforest, with towering rimu, rata and kahikatea giving way to nīkau palms and the sound of the Tasman Sea. The final stretch follows the Heaphy River towards its mouth before finishing at Kohaihai.
Don't let the beautiful scenery fool you into thinking this is an easy Great Walk with bikes. The Heaphy is a tough ride. Expect long climbs, narrow and sometimes rough track, rocky and muddy sections, bridges and plenty of places where the sensible option is to get off and walk. DOC rates it Grade 4, and you'll want to be a confident, fit rider with a reliable bike and some solid backcountry skills.
Most riders will want 2–3 days to complete the route, staying in the huts or designated campsites along the way. The huts need to be booked in advance, and you'll need to carry everything you need for the trip — including food, clothing, overnight gear and enough bike tools to sort yourself out if something goes wrong.
There's also a pretty important catch: mountain bikes are only permitted from 1 May to 30 November. Bikes must give way to walkers, and neither E-bikes nor night riding are permitted.
Weather can change quickly, particularly on the exposed sections, and the West Coast side gets a lot of rain. Check the forecast before you go and be prepared for everything from sunshine to sideways rain.
Access:
The Heaphy is only open to mountain bikers May 1st to November 31st. The eastern side beings near Collingwood in Golden Bay, along a long dusty gravel road. The western side is even more remote, with a very long drive down the coast to Westport. We'd highly recommend letting a shuttle company take care of the logistics, or if you can swing the expense: a scenic flight with Golden Bay Air is one heck of a way to wrap up your trip.
Our Fav Refuel Stops:
→ Little Wanganui Hotel, Little Wanganui
→ The best icecream in the world from Calamity Jane's, Murchison
→ Tutaki Bakery, Murchison
Coppermine Trail
🔵 Grade: 3 to Coppermine Saddle / 4 from the Saddle to Maitai Dam
🚲 Distance: 30km, plus 10km back to Codgers Hub
📝 Elevation: +900m
❓ What to expect: a challenging but rewarding Nelson classic, featuring a long steady climb, rugged landscape and wicked descent
👎 The poos: mtb descent is two-way (watch for hikers), the pedal out the Maitai is LONG
Check out GMBN's cracking YouTube video
Big ride, big views, big day out. Worth the effort? Absolutely.
The Coppermine Trail takes you from the CBD straight into the backcountry, climbing from the edge of Nelson all the way into the rocky tops of the Bryant Range before delivering one hell of a descent back down the Maitai Valley.
The trail is rich in industrial pionerring history, being New Zealand's first railway. Built by about 200 men in under a year, the horse-drawn tramway carried ore 21.5km from Dun Mountains down to the port in Nelson. You'll find a bunch of information and interpretive signs along the route.
The ride starts right in the heart of Nelson, then heads up through Codgers bike park and onto the historic Dun Mountain Railway route. It’s a long, steady climb rather than a total sufferfest, with increasingly impressive views across Tasman Bay as you gain height. Eventually the forest gives way to the rocky, windswept tops around Coppermine Saddle.
From the Saddle, settle in for around 10 km of rocky, rowdy descending, weaving through beech forest, rock gardens and alpine terrain before eventually popping out at Maitai Dam. From there, it’s an easy pedal through the pretty Maitai Valley and back into Nelson.
The full loop is best suited to fit, experienced singletrack riders on a full-suspension mountain bike. The trail is Grade 3 as far as Coppermine Saddle, with the descent from the Saddle to Maitai Dam rated Grade 4. If you’re not feeling the full adventure, you can turn around at Coppermine Saddle (or Third House) and enjoy the ride back the way you came.
Although the ride itself might take around 4–6 hours, we reckon you should give yourself the whole day. There’s a lot to take in up there, and you’ll want time to stop, admire the views, eat all your snacks and generally soak it up.
A few things to know: this is a proper backcountry ride. You’ll be a long way from help, mobile reception is patchy, and alpine weather can change quickly. Pack plenty of food and water, spare tubes/tools, first aid and warm/wet-weather gear, and check the forecast before heading out. Better to carry it and not need it than wish you had it halfway down the hill. Also, no dogs are permitted on the Coppermine.
Access:
Park at Codgers Hub on Brook Street and head up Tantragee Road, following signs for the Coppermine. The entire length of the track is well signposted. When you pop out right at the end, turn left and follow Maitai Valley Road back to Nelson.
After a guided trip? Check out the legends at Cycle Nelson.
Our Fav Refuel Stops:
→ Coffee @ The Roost!
→ Bobby Franks, The Wood
→ Mr Kaarage, Kirby's Lane
→ The Dog's Bone, Wakatu Square
→ The Freehouse, Nelson
Rameka Track
🔵 Grade: 4
🚲 Distance: 6.9km
📝 Elevation: +302m | -459m
❓ What to expect: Not a manic downhill — just a really fun, old-school bit of singletrack with plenty of character and cracking views across Tasman Bay.
👎 The poos: logistics can be faffy, many creek crossings
A little slice of Golden Bay goodness. The Rameka Track is narrow, rooty and delightfully technical, winding its way through native bush towards Takaka.
The trail kicks off at Canaan Downs with about 100m of climbing to the start of the track. The upper section rolls gently downhill, but there’s still plenty of pedalling involved, with rocky sections, roots and a handful of mostly rideable creek crossings to keep things interesting. The track weaves through native bush, pine forest, limestone outcrops.
Then things get way more fun: the bottom section gets steeper and damper as you head into the gully. There are two tracks (The Klicks) that weave through the trees and across one another, with plenty of purpose-built features for extra spice — race a mate for some dual slalom vibes!
Keep in mind: this track is two-way, so watch out for riders coming the other way. The Odyssey is a spicier downhill option you can take from about the halfway mark.
Access:
Logistics can be tricky; we'd recommend getting dropped off and picked up, organising a two car shuffle, or if you're super keen — pedalling back to the top!
Our Fav Refuel Stops:
→ Toad Hall, Motueka
→ Dangerous Kitchen, Takaka
→ The Wholemeal Cafe, Takaka
→ Incredible burgers from Roots Bar, Takaka
→ Thomas Bros Real Fruit Icecream, Riwaka
Kill Devil Pack Track
⚫ Grade: 4/5
🚲 Distance: 18.7km one way
📝 Elevation: +1300m -1044m
❓ What to expect: A rugged, historic backcountry track with a cracking climb, rewarding you with epic views and a real sense of getting off the beaten track.
👎 The poos: so much suffering
If you like your rides remote, rugged and with a healthy dose of suffering, the Kill Devil Pack Track is calling. Not one for a casual Sunday pedal — but one hell of an adventure if you've got the legs for it.
This trail wastes no time heading uphill — with 58 switchbacks grinding their way up Kill Devil Spur towards the Lockett Range. Once you reach the ridge, the effort starts to pay off with some properly spectacular backcountry scenery.
The riding is rough and rocky, with a mix of technical terrain, short smoother sections and moderate to steep gradients. This isn't your average manicured MTB trail — expect rocks, roots, rough edges and a few sections where hopping off and carrying the bike is absolutely fair game. It's a challenging ride for fit, experienced mountain bikers who are comfortable well away from civilisation.
Along the way you'll pass historic huts and remnants of the area's gold-mining and farming history, including Tin Hut and Riordans Hut, before reaching Waingaro Forks Hut. These huts make a great overnight option if you're keen to turn this into a proper backcountry mission.
A few important things: this is remote, challenging terrain, so come prepared. Take plenty of food and water, navigation, repair gear, first aid and appropriate weather gear. E-bikes aren't permitted, and mountain bikes are only allowed as far as Waingaro Forks Hut.
Fun fact: kill devil is an old 17th century name for rum.
Access:
From Nelson, head over the Takaka Hill and turn off onto Uruwhenua Road. There's a designated carpark near the Alpacas Off Grid accommodation at the road end.
Our Fav Refuel Stops:
→ Toad Hall, Motueka
→ Dangerous Kitchen, Takaka
→ The Wholemeal Cafe, Takaka
→ Amazing burgers from Roots Bar, Takaka
→ The Mussel Inn, Golden bay
Rainbow Road
🔵 Grade: 3
🚲 Distance: 112km
📝 Itinerary: St Arnaud → Coldwater Stream 46km, Coldwater Stream → Hanmer Springs 69km
❓ What to expect: Stunning alpine vistas, a big saddle climb and classic gravel riding.
👎 The poos: power lines ruin scenic pics, there's no escaping the weather, sharing the road with cars & motorbikes
The Rainbow Road is proper high-country riding, linking St Arnaud with Hanmer Springs along an old stock route through some seriously spectacular backcountry.
From the edge of Nelson Lakes National Park, the road winds through beech forest, open tussock country and rugged mountain landscapes. You'll pass remote huts, campsites, working farms and cross plenty of streams.
The route passes through Rainbow Station and Molesworth Station, following a gravel road as it gradually climbs deeper into the high country. Expect potentially deep river crossings, rough gravel, long stretches without seeing a soul and a whole lot of sheep.
The real highlight comes as you climb towards Island Saddle at 1347m, the highest point on the route and the boundary between Marlborough and Canterbury. The climb is a real granny-gear grind, but the views across the surrounding mountains and glacial landscape are well worth the effort. If you've got time, the short detour to Lake Tennyson is well worth adding to the itinerary. It's also a bloody stunning campsite — in low wind!.
From the saddle, the landscape changes as you make your way towards Hanmer Springs, with a long descent into town and the promise of a very satisfying soak in the hot pools at the end.
This is a remote and challenging ride with no shops, cafés or dairies along the way. You'll need to be self-sufficient with plenty of food and water, navigation, repair gear and appropriate clothing for rapidly changing alpine weather. There are campsites and backcountry huts along the route if you're making a multi-day adventure of it.
The road passes through private working farms, so check access conditions before you go. During the open season, a $5 toll applies at the Rainbow Station gate (take cash); outside the open season, landowner permission is required.
You can ride it as a serious one-way mission from St Arnaud to Hanmer Springs, or use it as part of a bigger South Island bikepacking adventure. Either way, this is the sort of ride where the journey is very much the point.
Access:
Just a 1 hour drive from Nelson, the Rainbow Road begins just outside of St Arnaud. Option to save yourself some pedalling by parking at the Rainbow Skifield turnoff. The road is open to the public from Boxing Day (December 26th) until Easter Monday.
Our Fav Refuel Stops:
→ Pizza from the Alpine Lodge, St Arnaud
→ Soak at Hanmer Springs Hot Pools (not a food stop, but a must do)
→ Maruia Hot Springs, ditto above
→ Tutaki Bakery, Murchison
The Old Ghost Road
🔵 Grade: 4
🚲 Distance: 85km
📝 Itinerary: Lyell → Ghost Lake Hut 30km, Ghost Lake Hut → Specimen Point 38km, Specimen Point → Seddonville 17km
❓ What to expect: incredible alpine landscapes, a grunty climb, flowy forest descents & cosy, fully kitted huts.
👎 The poos: a chunky, gruelling climb to Ghost Lake, expensive compared to DOC tracks, West Coast sandflies, a long drive back to Nelson
Big mountains, ancient forest, rocky ridgelines and rushing river gorges. The Old Ghost Road is one of New Zealand’s great mountain bike adventures — a remote, rugged journey through the Lyell Range and some spectacularly wild West Coast backcountry.
Following an old gold-miners’ road, the route winds its way through native forest, open tops, river valleys and high alpine terrain. There are long, steady climbs, technical rocky sections, and some absolutely cracking descents. It’s not all about speed, though — this is a ride where you'll want to stop regularly, look around and wonder how the hell you got your bike up there.
The route climbs from the Buller River through the historic Lyell area before heading deep into the mountains. The high point is Ghost Lake Hut, perched high above the bushline with enormous views across the surrounding ranges. From there, the trail traverses the tops before dropping through the forest towards the Mokihinui River.
At 85 km the Old Ghost Road is very achievable as a multi-day adventure, with huts along the route making it ideal for bikepacking. You'll want to be comfortable riding technical Grade 4 terrain and prepared for some serious climbing — this is definitely not a cruise to the pub and back.
And then there’s the weather. You’re in the West Coast mountains folks! Conditions can change quickly, and the route is remote with limited opportunities for assistance. Pack accordingly, carry enough food and water, take proper repair gear and check the forecast before you leave.
Allow 2–3 days to properly enjoy the route rather than racing from hut to hut; you’ll definitely want time to soak up the scenery.
Access:
Very easy access from Lyell Campground on State Highway 6, just over 2 hours drive from Nelson. The track ends at Seddonville on the West Coast, which means a looong drive back. We'd recommend organising a car transfer (offered by Buller Adventures), a shuttle, or key swapping with someone biking the track in reverse.
Our Fav Refuel Stops:
→ The Rough and Tumble Bush Lodge, Seddonville
→ Little Wanganui Hotel, Little Wanganui
→ Calamity Jane's, Murchison
Queen Charlotte Track
🔵 Grade: 3/4, with some steep sections you'll probably push
🚲 Distance: 73.5km
📝 Itinerary: Ship Cove → Camp Bay 28.5km, Camp Bay → Torea Saddle 24.5km, Torea Saddle → Anakiwa 20.5km
❓ What to expect: Ocean views, sections of lush native bush, ridgeline singletrack and a surprising amount of elevation.
👎 The poos: real steep, punchy climbs, never leave civilisation proper, expensive!
The QCT is a completely different riding experience. A scenic water taxi ride will take you from Picton out to the far reaches of Marlborough Sounds. You can choose the utterly boujee option of having your gear transported from lodge to lodge, where your only tasks for the afternoon will be to take a warm shower, eat a lavish dinner and put your feet up. Check out accomodation options here.
Winding its way through the heart of the Marlborough Sounds from Meretoto/Ship Cove to Anakiwa, the 73.5 km track follows a spectacular mix of coastal forest, open ridgelines and turquoise coves. There are sensational views across Queen Charlotte Sound and Kenepuru Sound pretty much everywhere you look.
The riding is a real mixed bag. There are smooth, flowing sections, rocky and rooty singletrack, steep climbs, technical descents and some narrow, exposed sections where you'll want to pay attention. The track is officially graded 60% Grade 3, 30% Grade 4 and 10% Grade 5, and most riders will find themselves pushing the bike in places, particularly through the tougher central sections. The section from Camp Bay to Torea Saddle is the big one, with long climbs and ridge-top riding. It's a deceptively tough ride, so we'd highly recommend taking advantage of the accom and luggage transfer options!
Allow 2–3 days to ride the full track, or head in from Anakiwa for a fantastic day ride. Water taxis from Picton make it easy to chop and change your plans as needed.
A couple of things to know before you go:
~Parts of the track cross private land, so you'll need a Queen Charlotte Track Land Cooperative Pass ($50) for the relevant sections.
~Mountain biking is permitted year-round except between Ship Cove and Kenepuru Saddle, which is closed to bikes from 1 December to 28 February.
~There are no bike repair facilities along the track, so bring the tools and spares you need to sort yourself out.
~If you want to save some cash and skip the water taxi at the end, you can pedal the 22km back to Picton
Access:
Catch a water taxi from Picton to Ship Cove in the Marlborough Sounds; there are several options available but we loved our experience with Cougar Line.
Our Fav Refuel Stops:
→ Punga Fern Restaurant, Punga Cove
→ Furneaux Lodge, Endeavour Inlet
→ Toastie Lords, Picton
→ The Coffee House, Rai Valley
Looking for more biking adventures beyond Nelson Tasman? Check out:
→ Paparoa Track
→ West Coast Wilderness Trail
→ Kawatiri Trail
→ The Whale Trail
→ St James Cycle Trail