Scottish Express

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Scottish Express Adventure Transport in the top of the South Island
https://scottish-express.nz/

Competitively priced transport option to the regions best mountainbike, tramping and outdoor destinations

So we’ve run the Nelson Skycrest Route a few times now, and the feedback has been brilliant—people love the route. As we...
19/10/2026

So we’ve run the Nelson Skycrest Route a few times now, and the feedback has been brilliant—people love the route. As we’re always looking for ways to improve access to it, we’ve come to realise that the full Skycrest Route isn’t for everyone.

So we’ve introduced another variation that lets you finish back at your own car, either via the Coppermine Trail or the Dew Lakes Track.

This option knocks around 330 metres off the climbing( more if you take Dew Lakes track) and gives you a smoother track surface to descend on

Next scheduled run is 30th January, or hit us up for a deal on custom transport to make up you own schedule... sunset on Fringed Hill?

Cracker day on the Old Ghost Road yesterday.Immaculate conditions for the adventurers I dropped in the morning — and too...
19/10/2026

Cracker day on the Old Ghost Road yesterday.
Immaculate conditions for the adventurers I dropped in the morning — and too good an opportunity to pass up for my own Ghost Road mission.

A day ride one one of our hire bikes out to Ghost Lake Hut for a well-earned sausage sizzle, then back down the mountain to the Cruiser.

The Old Ghost Road never disappoints

Well, that’s a wrap on an epic Skycrest Weekend!Six people up yesterday, another nine today—and we were also able to sup...
18/10/2026

Well, that’s a wrap on an epic Skycrest Weekend!

Six people up yesterday, another nine today—and we were also able to support the Nelson Tramping Club with cost-price shuttles up to Maungatapu Saddle.

We also picked up three hikers from the Motueka Tramping Club for a halfway boost up the track.

All up, that’s 31 people delivered to Maungatapu Saddle this weekend. A huge effort by everyone out there—and great to see the hills so busy.

No rest for the wicked though… tomorrow morning we’re straight back into it with an Old Ghost Road drop-off. We’ve packed our own bike, plus a couple of tasty sausages for a snack at either Lyell or Ghost Lake—depending on how the legs are holding out.

Then it’s a descent back to the cruiser and the drive home.

Next per seat special on the Skycrest route is on the 30th January

16/10/2026

Just two seats left for tomorrows Skycrest route, and the Weather couldn't have lined up better!

11/10/2026

Time is getting short to get your tyres on the Heaphy track before the biking season closes next month.
In light of this we've got a few really cool ways to get you on not only the Heaphy but the Ghost road too.
Next week it kicks off with transport for bikepacking the Ghost and Heaphy tracks and then we move straight into our labour weekend special a fully supported $250 Ghost road Heaphy Combo with K500 bikepacking support options
This labour weekend is the last public holiday that the Heaphy track is open!!!! So this special transport gets you a fast and light option to get you through both tracks without having to take a wad of time off work!!
Time to keep an eye on the weather forecast and get a flexi seat on Air NZ!!
Head to the website monthy specials for more info😘

We've been promoting the Nelson Skycrest route quite a lot lately, and for good reasons, as its such a fantastic walk.Ho...
11/10/2026

We've been promoting the Nelson Skycrest route quite a lot lately, and for good reasons, as its such a fantastic walk.
However we don't want people to forget that the Skycrest route runs in the Nelson City Council reserves, and that theres plenty more walking opportunities in the these reserves.
If you'd like to try out some other the other routes in the reserves we have some bikers and hiker/runner shuttles happening on the 17th October(this Sat) that allow you to do some other interesting loops in the local hills.
Head to the Monthy specials on the website to find out more

Next weekend is a double-header for the Skycrest route—the Maungatapu to Fringed Hill day hike—and the weather is lookin...
10/10/2026

Next weekend is a double-header for the Skycrest route—the Maungatapu to Fringed Hill day hike—and the weather is looking perfect!

In a Facebook post back on 15 September, we shared a few photos from the eastern section of the route, along with a sneaky overnight stay at Dun Saddle.

Yesterday, we biked in via the Coppermine Trail to take photos and grab some footage of the Wells Ridge route over Wooded Peak. This section is often overlooked, but it offers fantastic views across Tasman Bay and out to the surrounding mountains.

History buffs can also check out our side quest to explore some historic mining tracks—see my other post.

There are still a few seats still available on both the 17th and 18th October Skycrest trips. Planning further ahead? We also have seats available for 30 January.

Can’t make those dates? Get a crew together and get in touch about custom transport.

Head to the Monthly Specials section of our website to find out more.

We’re always on the lookout for new adventures—and sometimes they start with a good yarn and a look at some old maps.We ...
10/10/2026

We’re always on the lookout for new adventures—and sometimes they start with a good yarn and a look at some old maps.

We bumped into Ian from Easy Trail Services Limited in a supermarket aisle and got talking about the work we’re doing in the council reserves with the Skycrest Route. Ian has spent plenty of time tidying up the Coppermine Track through his business, and he’s also explored some of the history connected with the Coppermine Trail

He told me there were tracks on the side of Wooded Peak(bullock track) that predated the Coppermine Track. That got me curious, so yesterday we headed into the hills by bike for a long day of investigating. We found and followed the original bullock track, dating back to around 1855. It was the main access route to the mines before the Coppermine Track we know today came into use in 1862.

We followed the old track from the Coppermine across the northern flanks of Wooded Peak, right up to the treeline. Our next adventure will be to trace it back through the forest from Junction Saddle.

It’s pretty amazing that so much of the dry-stone walling—around 171 years old—has survived along the track.

Next time you’re riding the Coppermine, pause on the descent and look across. Squint a little and you might spot the track cut into the hillside—it’s the uppermost one. There are also some great views of Dun Mountain from these slopes.

A great source of information about this area is the Book "High Hopes" by Mike Johnstone published by Nikau press

Sometimes it’s hard to explain what goes on behind the scenes to make someone’s adventure flow smoothly.Adventuring in a...
03/10/2026

Sometimes it’s hard to explain what goes on behind the scenes to make someone’s adventure flow smoothly.

Adventuring in another country can be a little tricky. There are always little idiosyncrasies you haven’t thought about until you first step foot in your destination.

As seasoned adventurers ourselves, we go to great lengths to help people have a smooth transition into adventure here in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Our bike hire service is a classic example. It goes well beyond simply handing over a bike. We help with route planning and interactive maps, tyre and equipment choices for the route, and weather alerts while you’re en route.

There are a lot of moving cogs in getting a bikepacking adventure underway, and we know this all too well. We’re adventurers too — our advice comes from the real world, and our bikes and equipment are tested and refined to handle the rigours of backcountry routes like the Kahurangi 500.

Tomorrow, this hire bike heads out on a 1,000km+ South Island route.

Let the adventure begin. 🚴‍♂️🗺️

Just a heads up we now have an extra Skycrest shuttle happening on the 17th October at pp pricing.Great chance to get ou...
02/10/2026

Just a heads up we now have an extra Skycrest shuttle happening on the 17th October at pp pricing.
Great chance to get out for a good day in the hills and be home in time for supper!!
Head to Monthly specials on the website

Address

168 Cleveland Terrace
Nelson
7010

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+64210547138

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