As Spring has arrived, more people will be out and about cycling on The Great Taste Trail. There will be a few pleasant surprises waiting for them and none more so than in the Ngatimoti area.
The Nelson Tasman cycle trail network has been added to over the winter months, with work ongoing to create a riverside path between Ngatimoti and Pokororo, in the stunningly beautiful Motueka River Valley, (Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/map/29088/motueka-and-the-motueka-river-valley ) . This new path on the Great Taste Trail will include the Pokororo swing bridge. This bridge is well-used by locals and it will now have some structural work done to it to make it a bit less swingy. The path is waiting for a couple of small bridges to be installed so as of September it is not completed.
The exciting new development of River Haven riverhaven.kiwi on the site of the former Dunbar Estate, will be a welcome addition to the cycle trail. The first phase is now onsite…. a very cute duo of ‘retired’ electric vans. They have been retired from road use and now have been repurposed to create a coffee cart and by summer ‘Sweet As’, the second van, will be the ice-cream shop. This will prove a very popular stop for cyclists and passersby. The vineyard and picnic seats and tables will provide a lovely spot to sit and relax with a Sublime coffee and a tasty treat enjoying unspolit rural vistas with the backdrop of Kahurangi National Park to admire. If you have your e-bike’s charger with you, you can plug that in too while enjoying a break. Their opening hours will change as the season kicks in, so check in advance before you plan your day’s adventure in the beautiful Motueka valley.
The team at River Haven are working hard to get the next phases of this new Ngatimoti hub in place. More dining options, sourcing and using local produce and a general store will be available soon. Great food in a great location along the Great Taste Trail is synergy in action.
