Tākaro Trails is thrilled to unveil a unique addition to their self-guided day tour lineup—the “Pub, Gin & Winery Half-Day Cycle Tour”
With shuttles leaving Ahuriri at 12pm Thursday through Sunday, this tour promises an unforgettable blend of cruisy cycling, spectacular scenery, and palate-pleasing pleasures.
The Pub
The adventure starts at midday when you and your bike will be picked up from the Tākaro Trails HQ in Ahuriri and delivered to our favourite local, The Puketapu Hotel, for a delicious lunch that will make sure you have the energy you need for an afternoon of cycling and sampling.
The Wineries
After lunch cyclists will begin their return journey back to Ahuriri and the Tākaro Trails HQ via 2-3 wineries of their choosing.
First wine tasting experience in line is at the renowned Church Road Winery. Nestled amidst the vines below the Sugarloaf Hill, Church Road’s cavernous cellar door sets the stage for a journey that intertwines the flavours of world-class beverages with the joy of cycling.
Just a short cycle further along Church Road (for which the winery is named) is the famous Mission Estate, New Zealand’s oldest winery.
From Mission Estate, more avid wine tasters have the option to cycle out to Crab Farm in Bay View, while those who are ready to move on to the “Beer” and “Gin” portions of their afternoon cycle tour can head back in to Westshore and Ahuriri.
The Beer
In Napier’s Westshore you will find New Zealand’s oldest licensed pub, The Westshore Beach Inn.
First licensed in 1851, The Westshore Beach Inn today boasts a revolving menu of over 30 beers on-tap featuring various breweries and microbreweries from all over New Zealand
The Gin
Continuing on to Ahuriri, gin connoisseurs may choose to stop into Napier’s very own (award winning) gin distillery, the National Gin Distillery. The tasting room is in the stunning Rothmans Building where cyclists can try the National Gin Distillery’s range of core and seasonal gins featuring a variety of local botanicals.
If the ~11 gins at the National Gin Distillery doesn’t feel like enough variety, then just across the train tracks on Ahuriri’s West Quay is Hawke’s Bay institution, The Gintrap Restaurant and Bar, whose ‘Gin Bible‘ features over 300 different gins.
Tākaro Trails owner, Roger Coleman, is particularly enthusiastic about this new half-day cycle tour addition, because, “The inclusion of a gin distillery and brew pub adds great variety for everyone, and the late start ensures flexibility for our diverse group of riders. This is a fantastic expansion to our self-guided bike tour options!”
Tākaro Trails’ ‘Pub, Gin & Winery Half-Day Cycle Tour‘ invites cyclists to savour the rich tapestry of Hawke’s Bay, blending the thrill of cycling with the indulgence of world-class beverages.
‘Tākaro’ means ‘to play. and with each turn of the pedal, a new adventure awaits. This self-guided tour a must-try for both seasoned cyclists and those seeking a leisurely journey through the heart of New Zealand’s wine, brewing, and distilling culture.