Nelson has the highest percentage of people walking and cycling to work in New Zealand (18%, 2013 census) – a reflection of both ongoing commitment to investing in their walking and cycling network and a bike-friendly climate. The provision of good quality, well-located cycling facilities has also resulted in a large number of students regularly cycling to school.

Nelson has a vision of ‘making cycling a safe, convenient and commonplace way of getting around Nelson’ and aims to increase the number of cycling journeys, improve safety, realise health benefits for Nelson residents of all ages, and increase mobility and independence for the ageing population.

The Urban Cycleways Fund helped accelerate the Nelson coastal route which provides a popular and useful link between Nelson city, along the state highway corridor, to Tahunanui and the airport. 

Download the Nelson Urban Cycleways map [PDF, 728 KB]

View the latest project updates for on the Nelson City Council website(external link)

Nelson coastal route

This 7.2 km stretch of shared paths and the Saltwater Creek bridge will complete the primary routes on Nelson’s cycling network. These facilities connect residential areas around Tahunanui into Nelson CBD along a scenic coastal route, as well as providing connections to recreational facilities and schools.

The Nelson coastal route provides a safer, off-road route for people in Western Nelson to travel to the CBD by bike. It separates cyclists from high-volume traffic and passes close by to schools. The route connects into the Great Taste trail, part of Ngā Haerenga – the New Zealand cycle trail.

Our partners

Nelson City Council