BIKES & BEERS

Surrounded by hops-growing hotspots, Nelson is rightly known as the craft-brewing capital of Aotearoa. To sample some of the harvest, I picked up an e-bike from the superfriendly folk downtown at Kiwi Journeys (kiwijourneys.co.nz) and followed a map along the Nelson Beer Trail all the way to Rabbit Island, a 20km journey with lots of views of Tasman Bay and places to stop along the way. A must-visit is the pioneering McCashin’s Tap Room just outside the city, where a tasting paddle of Stoke beers whet my appetite for pale

ales and pilsners. (It’s also home to Rochdale ciders and Wakachangi lager.) Also, don’t miss The Free House, an award-winning pub inside an old church that offers 13 ever-changing beers on tap with lots of interesting options – I tried one made with seaweed! For more info, visit craftbrewingcapital.co.nz.