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Bikes, breweries and beautiful countryside in Nelson, New Zealand

With more than 250 beers brewed in New Zealand, embarking on a Beer Country Ride through the Land of the Long White Cloud seems like an absolute must-do. Just west of Nelson, the Upper Moutere region is rich in hop plantations that craft local ales.Those who take a medical job in New Zealand can embark on one of these journeys by way of the Gentle Cycling Company, which takes you along serene roads in the backcountry of the Nelson region.

On both sides of you, you'll see hop gardens and kilns separating the homes of numerous local artisan food growers and artists alike. Most of these microbreweries are housed in Victorian farmhouses and other unsuspecting residences, with many beer makers completing a majority of the process from the comfort of their homes.

One particular hop grower named Guy Coddington is typically within sight when you pass his garden and he loves to give visitors insight on the prosperous industry, according to the New Zealand Herald.

"The deal with Guy Coddington is that he'll come and talk to my cyclists if he's not too busy," Gentle Cycling founder Rose Griffin told the news source. According to Griffin, the hops grower has more downtime to chat than cyclists might expect, despite the status of the rapidly growing business.