The cycle is a tour is a circuit through forest and then farmland, from Picton to Blenhein then a long uphil slog along the long Wairau Valley gaining 700m to the alpine village of St Arnaud before descending back to Nelson and following the scenic coast back to Picton.
Picton to Belenheim
40km, Grade 2/easy, 2 hours
A short and easy ride from Picton following SH1 through farmland with beautiful backdrop of South Island hills.
Belenheim to St Arnaud
95km, Grade 3/intermediate, 7 hours
Day 2 is quite long, and climbs to 700m. Most of the altitude is gained quite gradually making it an easier day than first appeared. Fabulous ride through the Wairau Valley with vineyards and pastureland views making for a spectacular ride.
St Arnaud to Nelson
90km, Grade 2/easy, 5 hours
Start Day 3 by retracing the previous day’s route back up the hill towards Blenheim.
Once on the road to Nelson, only two significant climbs remain and both are encountered during the first half of the ride. Traffic is light and the rolling terrain and view across the valley make for enjoyable cycling. Around 35km the road climbs again but You could be forgiven for thinking otherwise. It seems to the naked eye as if it slopes downhill quite considerably. Your straining legs, however, will confirm that this is not the case. It really is quite a bizarre sensation.
The busier SH6 (50.4kIn) is a straight, moderately busy and rather uninteresting road. Fortunately, it’s slightly downhill and there are more things to distract you off the route. The town of Wakefield (60kIn) has a number of shops, and the Pigeon Valley Steam Museum, containing an interesting Collection of vintage machinery, is close by.
The road continues through more strung-out settlements, passing a succession of orchards. In Brightwater there’s a monument marking the birthplace of Lord Rutherford, the Nobel-prize winning scientist who discovered the atomic nucleus.
The SH6 becomes busier through Richmond (76.5kIn) as the bypass joins the main road. It continues through Stoke before reaching the coast at Tahunanui, an old-time beachside holiday spot. A cycle lane makes the final kilometres most enjoyable,
Nelson to Havelock
75km, Grade 2/easy, 7 hours
The first 10km of the day are flat, the road hugging the coast alongside the waters of Nelson, Haven. Traffic is heavy at first but steadily diminishes as you get further from Nelson. Heading inland the route is flat for the first 3km before commencing the first and smallest of three significant climbs.
This first relatively short climb is a good warm-up for the longer ascent of Whangamoa Saddle, (16km) Although the gradient is quite gentle, the road climbs for a considerable 7 km.
The straight high-speed descent levels out at around 29km, where a grassy picnic area offers a good spot to take a break. There are a few more kilometres of easy peddling before the final big climb of the day over the Rai Saddle, a 6km ascent that steepens as you near the summit. The Rai Valley is reached as the descent ends. Once out of town the road rolls gently through pleasant farming country before reaching Pelorus bridge (55km). The last 20km to Havelock are fairly flat, mostly following the Pelorus River.
Havelock to Picton
36km, Grade 2/easy, 2 hours
This short day allows plenty of time to enjoy the breath taking scenery along the route and still arrive in Picton in time for the early afternoon ferry.
Not far out of Havelock the route crosses a bridge over the Kaituna River and start to climb. The descent that follows is an absolute joy, just steep enough to ensure that you need not touch the pedals but so gradual that the benefits the modest climb are extended over several very picturesque kilometres above the azure waters of Pelorus Sound.
After about 8km of bliss the road turns inland towards Linkwater (I1.5km). There’s little here but you can buy a cold drink at the petrol station. The road is flat and straight as it passes through some nice rural countryside, meeting the water again at Okiwa Bay.
The road rises and falls sharply as you drop into and climb out of a series of delightful little bays. At the Governor’s Bay lookout there are fantastic views over the sparkling waters of the sounds as well as a walk trail leading to the beach below. The sight of pretty Picton and the ferry terminal below, on the final sweeping descent into town, makes for a memorable finish to the ride.
