The Idea vs. The Logistics
Planning a custom multi-day mountain bike trip in New Zealand always starts the same way—an idea sparks, a message gets sent to a mate, and suddenly you’re deep in maps, tracks, and “what if we did this?” conversations. That early stage is always exciting.
I’m the same.
But more often than not, those big ideas start to get watered down. Not because they weren’t good—but because the logistics start stacking up. Shuttle timings don’t quite line up, access points get confusing, gear becomes a question mark, and accommodation starts dictating the trip rather than the other way around.
That’s usually the point where a great trip either changes… or doesn’t quite happen at all.
The Call From Up North
That’s exactly what led to a call from a group up in Northern Australia. They’d seen footage from the New Zealand Mountain Bike Rally and wanted to recreate a similar experience—but in a more bespoke, more relaxed way for a mate’s birthday.
Straight away, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a simple A-to-B. Multiple locations, a mix of riding styles, custom transport for mountain bikers, helicopter access, and a group dynamic to work around—it had all the ingredients of something that could either be an incredible few days… or a logistical headache.
The Kind of Puzzle I Enjoy
To be honest, this is the kind of trip I really enjoy. The more moving parts, the better. It becomes a bit of a puzzle—working out how to connect everything so it actually flows. When it’s done right, the trip feels seamless on the surface, but there’s a lot going on behind the scenes to make that happen.
A few calls later, we had a plan dialled. Built-in contingencies for weather, helicopter flights, a couple of nights at the Wairoa Gorge “billionaire’s lodge,” on-track BBQs, and an itinerary that tied together some of the best advanced riding in the Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough regions
Starting at Cable Bay
We kicked things off at Cable Bay Adventure Park—one of my go-to starting points. It’s a solid testing ground for riders not familiar with Nelson grades, and it gives a good feel for what riding here is all about: hand-cut singletrack, a bit of backcountry flavour, and enough variety to quickly see where everyone’s at.
It also gives us a chance to adjust early. After a few laps and a stop at the café, we sat down, talked through how the trails felt, and tweaked the plan for the days ahead. That flexibility is a big part of making these trips work—especially with a mixed group.
At the same time, we had one eye on the weather. A decent system was building in the Tasman Sea, and it was clear we’d need to stay adaptable.
When the Weather Turns
The next day, that flexibility got tested.
We set off toward the Rameka Track after a quick bakery stop in Motueka, but the weather had other ideas. The system shifted, and suddenly we were driving straight into it. I gave the crew a heads-up on what they were in for… and their response pretty much set the tone for the whole week—they were all in!!
We met them at the bottom, soaked but grinning, after they’d navigated flooded sections and found their way across the Rameka Creek. From there, it was heaters on and into Tākaka to the wholemeal cafe to warm up, refuel, and regroup before salvaging the rest of the day on more sheltered local trails.
Riding the Nelson City Trails
After the deluge of the previous day,the weather improved so we decided to spend some time riding the Nelson City trails—one of the things that makes this area such a good base for a mountain bike trip.
Nelson’s forest-clad hills rise almost straight from the edge of the city, with a network of old forestry roads and 4WD access tracks making it possible to get high quickly and enjoy long descents back towards town. Within around 20 minutes of leaving the city, we had the bikes unloaded at about around 800 metres above sea level.
For the crew, it was a great chance to experience a different side of Nelson riding. We could choose trails to suit how everyone was feeling, while still keeping the logistics simple. If anyone needed parts or a quick mechanical fix, the local bike shops were close by, and once we’d finished riding, there was no shortage of local; watering holes for a chance to talk through the day.
That’s one of the advantages of using custom mountain bike transport in Nelson. You’re not locked into one trail or one starting point—we can adjust the day around the group, the weather, and the type of riding everyone wants to do.
The Nelson City network has plenty to offer, from more accessible trails through to technical riding for experienced groups. We only scratched the surface during this trip, but it gave the crew a good feel for why Nelson is regarded as one of New Zealand’s premier mountain biking destinations.
You can find out more about riding in the area on our comprehensive Nelson mountain bike shuttles page.
Into the Gorge
From there, we shifted into something pretty special—two nights at Wairoa Gorge Bike Park, staying up at Gibbs lodge perched around 900 metres overlooking Tasman Bay.
That place is a bit personal for me. I spent years there building trails and working as the lodge chef for the billionaire. When someone invests $22 million into a park and insists everything is hand-built into the terrain, you end up with something pretty unique.
We stocked up on supplies, headed in, and I drove the crew to the top lodge —sharing a bit of the history of the place and what goes into building trails like that. Then it was over to them to enjoy it.
Evenings up there are hard to beat—pizza in the outdoor oven, a few beers, and stories from the day while looking out over the hills, knowing that you are staying at the top of the trail network, ready to drop in first thing in the morning.
Saving the Best for Last
For the final day, we had a heli drop planned into the Wakamarina Track—one of the classic backcountry (remote, rugged) rides in the region. But again, it came down to timing and conditions.
We split the group, coordinated with a local heli operator we work closely with, and adjusted the plan around low cloud sitting over the drop zone. While part of the crew waited at the heli base, the others held up in Canvastown—burgers, pool, and waiting for the green light.
Eventually the weather opened up, and we moved. As it turned out, there was a spare seat, so I jumped in as well—never a bad way to finish a trip.
The Wakamarina delivered—tight, rooty, technical riding through proper backcountry terrain. We all rolled out the other end in one piece and wrapped things up the best way possible: a charcoal BBQ and a swim in the river.
What Actually Made It Work
Trips like this don’t come together by accident.
Over eight days, we’d covered a lot of ground, adjusted plans on the fly, worked around weather, and kept everything moving without the group ever needing to worry about what came next. From their side, it just flowed.
And that’s really what it comes down to.
It’s not just about getting from A to B—it’s about understanding what people actually want out of a trip, then building something around that and making it work in the real world.That’s the core of our custom mountain bike transport and adventure itinerary service in the top of the South Island.
If You’ve Got an Idea
If you’ve got an idea for a trip—whether it’s fully formed or just a rough plan—I’m always happy to help shape it into something that actually works. From Nelson to Marlborough, we specialise in fully customised mountain bike transport, logistics and itineraries for riders who want more from their trip.
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