MOTU Trails Waiaua Motu Road Ge R Otara River N E a V R I a R R a a M K Ku E Au O R I a Otara Road W 2 Motu Road Trail
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35 Bay of Plenty Dunes Trail © AA Traveller 2018 JACKSON ROAD Tirohanga 2 End of Dunes Trail OPOTIKI MOTU Trails Waiaua Motu Road ge r Otara River n e a v R i a R r a a m k ku e au o R i a Otara Road W 2 Motu Road Trail Meremere Hill Takaputahi Road Pakihi Road Pakihi Road end Toatoa Boulders Campsite Papamoa Hill (Toatoa) 2 Te Waiti Road Pakihi Track Pakihi Stream Whitikau bridge Te Waiti Hut Pakihi Hut PAKIHI TRACK / MOTU ROAD JUNCTION Motu Road MOTU TRAILS Motu Road © Neil Hutton Onukuroa MOTU TRAILS TRAIL INFO DUNES TRAIL to LOOP RIDE Motu River MAP LEGEND Motu 1-3 Days open section café/restaurant Motu Falls Bay of Plenty coastline for 10km. Motu Falls 1-3 days 10-91km 10-91km start / finish point toilets It’s ideal for all riders and there’s a Road shop next to the Tirohanga Beach point of interest camping Motor Camp selling ice creams i-SITE Visitor shelter , where and drinks – just the ticket for a Centre Be set free on an Eastland escapade hut Motu Road beautiful summer’s day! hill / mountain trails lead you on journeys from cruisy seaside TRAIL GRADES: The Motu Road Trail runs from accommodation bridge rides to remote wilderness adventures. the end of the Dunes Trail to the DUNES TRAIL state highway town rustic settlement of Matawai, 67km GRADE 2 (EASY) 2 he Motu Trails have it all, and links to the Rere Falls Trail from away. It follows a quiet country road MOTU ROAD TRAIL to Opotiki with three trails to choose Matawai to Gisborne. MATAWAI past scenic farmland and through GRADE 3 (INTERMEDIATE) from (or you can combine Waioeka River Rere Falls Trail T Clinging to the sand dunes forested conservation reserves. PAKIHI TRACK Gisborne them all), you can enjoy a ride no alongside the sparkling Pacific There are plenty of hills that require GRADE 4 (ADVANCED) matter your age, fitness level or Ocean, the Dunes Trail is an easy reasonable fitness, especially riding LOOP RIDE GRADES 2-4 riding ability. Cycle for a few hours, Opotiki Jackson Jackson Road Toatoa Pakihi Track Motu Matawai Motu Road Opotiki gravel path running parallel with the from the coast to Matawai, but the (EASY-ADVANCED) Road Junction or a few days. The Motu Trail also 10km 67km 44km views are incredible and there’s MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE: 800m 600m DUNES TRAIL MOTU ROAD TRAIL PAKIHI TRACK lots of freewheeling to get your Mobile phone coverage is 400m 200m Dunes Trail © Jim Robinson heart racing. very poor and will sometimes OPPOSITE: Motu River 0m © Linear Photographs The Pakihi Track is the third disappear. You can get coverage on the Dunes Trail and coming trail in the Motu trilogy and the back into town after the most challenging, set in splendid Pakihi Track. isolation. Although it’s mostly look out for... Meet Motu DRINKING WATER: downhill, it includes Grade 4 Motu Community House is a very It’s recommended that you snorkelling and deep-sea fishing. (Advanced) mountain biking on a Gateway to the East Cape popular place to stay, offering carry all your own water. Tank Just 7km out of Opotiki is the affordable accommodation (ideal for narrow trail through remote native Opotiki sits at the confluence of water is available at Motu and Hukutaia Domain, the home of a groups) and plenty of tips on what forest. Take your time and admire two rivers and several long, safe, water can be drawn from the 2000-year-old puriri tree known as to do in the area. A 5km detour from the gorgeous views along the way. sandy beaches are nearby. Steep streams along the route. It Taketakerau. To reach it, there’s Motu takes you to beautiful Motu hills, fast rivers and dramatic is recommended that this is a brilliant short walk in a majestic Falls on the wild Motu River. Cross The 91km Loop Ride offers you coastlines surround the town, ripe boiled (for 3 minutes), filtered or pocket of forest. You can’t ride in the high swing bridge onto a beautiful a taste of all three of the Motu for adventure and exploration. treated before drinking. the domain, but it’s a nice rural forest walking track (no bikes). Trails, starting and ending your Down the coast from the town a on-road ride to get there. ride in Opotiki. collection of bays provide good 46 47 Dunes Trail, Motu Trails Ohope Beach now closed to motor traffic, Burma Rd Almost wherever you go along the © Neil Hutton © Whakatane District Council twists through forest that is home to Whakatane-Opotiki coast, you’ll wild kiwi, North Island robin and other see Whakaari (White Island) riding the trail bird life. and Moutohora (Whale island) South of Whakatane, family-friendly on the horizon. Both islands make for spectacular guided trips, one DUNES TRAIL, 10KM Grade 3 (Intermediate) trail through Onepu Mountain Bike Park is volcanically dramatic, the other a remote bush country wilderness. It can only 20 minutes away, while the epic This beautiful trail starts at the be ridden in either direction, but you’ll adventure of Whirinaki/Moerangi track forested bird-paradise. Pakowhai ki Otutaopuku Bridge get the best views (and more downhill is a very achievable drive. According to tradition, the region (Memorial Park) in Opotiki and riding) starting from Matawai. meanders along a spectacular stretch of Beyond the bike, Nga Tapuwae o was settled over 1000 years ago. coast to Jackson Rd (and the start of the Just beyond the tiny settlement of Motu Toi walking trail is a journey through Te Koputu a te Whanga a Toi, Motu Road Trail). is a steep 3km climb, but the views forest and along sublime beaches, Whakatane’s Exhibition Centre, from the top are worth it! The trail then takes you on a voyage of discovery. Hugging the sand dunes, the trail passing important pa sites. Shorter follows the ridgeline where you’ll enjoy provides excellent unspoilt views of the walks include the climb to Tauwhare Mataatua Wharenui, ‘The house lots of freewheeling. Then it’s mostly Pacific Ocean and rugged hinterland that came home,’ is an incredible downhill en route to the coast, where Along the trail Pa which overlooks Ohiwa Harbour, of the East Cape. This is a Grade 2 encounter, while Native Connectionz the Motu Road Trail connects with the and the flat, Whakatane Gardens. (Easy) trail that caters for all abilities shares stories and tastes of the area. Dunes Trail to take you into Opotiki. and fitness levels. The trail has an easy gradient that is enjoyed by walkers, Note: this section is on a road, so be Sublime beaches, lush Eastland runners and cyclists. alert for vehicles, although traffic counts wonderful panoramas so stop and Road Trail, which leads to the start of forest and islands on The paved, flat trail stretching 4km are low. Pacific The return journey of 20km can be admire the view. The trail crosses 25 the Pakihi Track back to Opotiki. beside Whakatane’s riverbank is a bridges, including a 35m swing bridge. the horizon... comfortably ridden in two or three Riders who want a more challenging We recommend you take two days to popular out-and-back cycle, walk or Motor Lodge hours from either end with time to stop ride to Opotiki can divert on to the more OPOTIKI • NEW ZEALAND Pakihi Rd marks your return to ride the loop. The Pakihi Track can also run featuring saltmarsh, varied bird WELCOME for a swim and a picnic along the way. advanced Pakihi Track. civilisation with 23km of gravel/sealed be completed via the Otara Stopbank arm and welcoming life, a busy wharf and the spectacular road and river stopbank trail, back to Trail back to Memorial Park in Opotiki. Whakatane is an ideal hub • Large units suitable for meetings or The Dunes Trail also provides a great PAKIHI TRACK, 44KM Whakatane river heads. You’ll also training sessions - up to 14 people Opotiki. This is a Grade 4 (Advanced) Remember that while the Dunes Trail warm-up for those preparing to tackle for discovering the many find excellent, easy on-road cycling • 10 units with spa baths, 4 x 2-brm This track is ONE-WAY from Motu Rd W trail that requires a reasonable level of and Motu Road Trail are graded Easy the more challenging Motu Road Trail. cycling and outdoor experiences in Ohope, with magical views of the units, 6 x 1-brm, 8 studio units towards Opotiki. It is not a trail to ride fitness. The off-road section includes and Intermediate, the Pakihi Track across the eastern Bay of Plenty • Wheelchair access units • Sky TV MOTU TRAILS at high speed. It starts 29km (about Pacific Ocean and Ohiwa Harbour. MOTU TRAILS MOTU ROAD TRAIL, 67KM steep drop-offs so ride with caution. section of this ride is for advanced and Eastland. Perennially sunny, the • Guest laundry halfway) along the Motu Road Trail and riders only. The historic Burma Rd cycle path links • Continental and cooked breakfasts This trail follows the historic coach road RIDE THE LOOP, 91KM township is a short drive from the includes 20km of advanced off-road Ohope with Whakatane and includes • Wireless internet access from Matawai (about 500m above sea RERE FALLS TRAIL freedom of the Motu Trails and has a • Warm welcome & friendly service riding through splendid isolation. You can have a taste of all three of the option of a 10km loop ride. One level, climbing to almost 800m through range of accommodation and dining the Raukumara Ranges) down to the The largely downhill track takes the Motu Trails, starting and ending in From Matawai, you can ride the Rere of the region’s first connections and options, but that’s just the start.