What is included in the booking?

Bookings include guided riding, bike fitting, airport or accommodation transfers when selected, and use of a full-suspension MTB; e-MTB upgrades are available for an extra fee.

What are the age limits and group sizes?

The operator accepts riders aged 12–65 and limits groups to a maximum of 12 for safety and quality guiding.

How fit do I need to be?

You should have moderate fitness and be comfortable on singletrack; guides will tailor routes from easy loops to technical climbs to match ability.

Can I upgrade to an e-MTB?

Yes—the e-MTB upgrade to a Trek Rail+ or similar is available for the listed rate to help with climbs and extend ride options.

Where and when do we meet?

Standard meet is 9am at the Nelson Airport base, 1 Trent Drive, Nelson Airport, with a bike-fitting and transfer to the trails shortly after.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellation terms are handled on Cycle Nelson's website; check the operator's T&C page for full details before booking.

Codgers / Silvan Guided MTB Tour — Nelson's Coastal & Forest Singletrack | Bike Tour | E-Bike

Adventure Brief

Spend a half day riding Nelson's best singletrack with local guides who stitch coastal views, flow trails, and technical pitches into one unforgettable loop. Full-suspension bikes and optional e-MTB upgrades mean rides can be tailored to your energy and skill level.

5-6 hours

moderate

From NZ$305.13

On the Codgers / Silvan Guided MTB Tour, mountain biking in Nelson feels like getting the town's best trails handed to you on a silver platter. Based at 1 Trent Drive, Nelson Airport, Nelson 7011, New Zealand, Cycle Nelson runs tailored half-day rides through coastal-view loops, flow-filled singletrack, and rolling native forest that show off why this corner of the South Island is a go-to for riders.

Guides collect riders from Nelson Airport or central accommodation before bike fitting and a short transfer to trailheads. Over roughly 5-6 hours you'll ride either a full-suspension mountain bike (Scott Genius or similar) or upgrade to a Trek Rail+ e-MTB for bigger elevation with less fatigue. The itinerary typically runs from a 9am meet and fitting, a 10am start on the trails, and a 2pm finish with returns to accommodation by mid-afternoon - simple logistics that let you focus on lines instead of maps.

Trail character here is varied: fast, groomed singletrack that flows through native beech and broadleaf forest; technical, rocky pitches that reward committed body position; and coastal ridges where scrub gives way to wide water vistas. Look for compact, root-strewn switchbacks and open ridgeline stretches that frame Tasman Bay on clear days. While the region doesn't rely on one blockbuster landmark, its mix of coastal headlands, estuarine viewpoints, and well-maintained trail networks feels distinctively Nelson.

What sets this operation apart is local knowledge. Cycle Nelson's guides point out the best lines, quieter viewpoints, and efficient link trails that stitch multiple trail systems into one satisfying loop. Small group sizes (max 12) and tailored difficulty - from cruisy loops to technical climbs - mean riders leave either exhausted or grinning, often both.

Practical perks matter: airport transfers, bike fitting, and guide-led line choice remove the usual NZ logistics headache. Expect to encounter local birdlife along shady sections and occasional coastal breezes at higher vantage points. The price reflects gear quality and convenience: standard bikes are included; e-MTB upgrades are available.

Practical details are straightforward: rides run for about 5-6 hours with a typical schedule that starts at 9am at the Nelson Airport base and finishes mid-afternoon; the operator accepts riders aged 12-65 in groups capped at 12. Pricing is transparent: $290 includes transfers and a full-suspension MTB (Scott Genius or similar), while a $340 option upgrades you to a Trek Rail+ e-MTB. Check Cycle Nelson's site for cancellation terms and to confirm airport collection or self-drive arrangements today.