What’s so Great About the Tasman’s Great Taste Trail
If you have been following our previous blogs, you will recall that we have been cycling sections of the Tasman’s Great Taste Trail.
Click on the following links to read more on the sections of the Great Taste Trail we’ve completed:
They are still working on part of the track but there was another section of the Tasman’s Great Taste Trail we were keen to experience.
Kohatu to Belgrove
Kohatu is where the dedicated cycle trail finishes (or starts). There is ample parking across the road from the Flat Rock Cafe.
The start/finish of the trail at Kohatu
It is a well-formed trail, mainly flat with a couple of road crossing. Being a dedicated cycle path means that we didn’t need to negotiate the many trucks and vehicles that travel SH6.
Shadowing SH6 yet still safe from the passing traffic with dedicated cycle lanes
Although we shadowed the road on our dedicated path, we soon joined the Nelson Railway route until we reached the much anticipated Spooners Tunnel (approx 8 km from our starting point).
Spooners Tunnel
The Nelson Railway route was in use up until 1955 until it was closed, sparking major protests by the locals.
The 1.3km long Spooners Tunnel is now NZ’s (and the Southern Hemisphere’s) longest disused rail tunnel and the 6th longest pedestrian and cyle tunnel in the world.
Suffice to say, it is extremely dark in there! We made sure that we had our headlamps with us and our cycles are fitted with a red tail light.
The warning signs before the tunnel, and into the darkness we go
It is a weird feeling cycling in complete darkness and I always start to feel a little uncoordinated and a tad wobbly. I do find it helps to keep an eye on Scotty’s tail light. Just helps to be able to focus on something. The temperature also drops dramatically. It made my eyes water!
There is a kink in the tunnel so you can’t even focus on the light at the end until you are over halfway through.
We love the feeling you get when you travel through part of NZ’s history. The walls of the tunnel are still caked in silt from the old steam trains that must have chugged their way through here. There is a constant incline so they would have been puffing their way through, belching plumes of smoke, steam and soot. Not so good for the passengers I’m sure.
Onto Belgrove
We emerged from the tunnel into the warm sunshine. It was all downhill to the small settlement of Belgrove (approx 7km).
We cycled through beautiful countryside before reaching the township.
Unfortunately, the Belgrove Tavern was closed but there’s a wooden bench, conveniently located near the entry to their outdoor area. It looked like an inviting rest stop to have our packed lunch.
Belgrove, a busy railway worker’s town for 60 years
Belgrove was a small settlement which soon became a bustling town. It was the basecamp for all the railway workers building the track and tunnel. It remained a bustling settlement for 60 years.
We checked out the Belgrove Railway Windmill (built 1897). There are only two restored Railway Windmills left in the country.
It was then time to turn around and head back to Kohatu. After 32km cycling, it was important to make sure we rehydrated. It was, therefore, a cheeky wine and beer at the Flat Rock Cafe.
They didn’t even touch the sides on the way down!
Check out a video of the highlights of our day on the Tasman’s Great Taste Trail.
What an enjoyable ride, although I hear you about losing co-ordination in the dark – especially a 1.3km tunnel! I really enjoy the way you’ve broken your Taste Trail journey into smaller posts. So much easier to read and not lose focus. Great stuff.
Thanks Joycee, just another challenge – I’m just as bad at co-ordination when on a swing bridge!!!