Motu Trails

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Welcome to Motu Trails

A Great Ride of Nga Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trails

Head deep into the east of New Zealand’s North Island and discover the Dunes Trail, Pakihi Track, Motu Road Trail, and Rere Falls Trail! Whether you are wanting an easy bike ride or walk with family or friends, a back-country mountain bike or trail run, or a multi-day bike-packing journey between Ōpōtiki in the Bay of Plenty and Tairāwhiti/Gisborne, you will find it here.

Experience

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Pakihi Track

  • Distance 20kms
  • Time 3-6 hrs
  • GradeAdvanced
OCTOBER 2023: PLEASE NOTE THAT DOC HAS CURRENTLY CLOSED PAKIHI FOR RIDING. FOR UPDATES PLEASE CONTACT US, OR, CHECK 'TRAIL CONDITIONS'. The Pakihi Track is downhill magic – it sweeps through a historic stock route in the magnificent Urutawa Forest, a journey surrounded by fern-filled forest and alongside pristine river pools. The advanced grade reflects that the track is narrow in places, with near-vertical drop-offs to the side. The track also gets rockfalls and windfalls on an ongoing basis. You need sound bike skills and you need to ride with real care. For riding, the track is one-way only, from Motu Road.
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Latest News

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Dunes Trail planting days 2023
May 11, 2023

With cooler temperatures, it’s planting season. There are two more community planting days to be held along Opotiki’s Dunes Trail ...

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Pakihi Track safety advice
January 7, 2023

Pakihi Track is a brilliant journey, but it demands your respect and care all the way

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Trapping on the trails
December 14, 2022

Motu Trails now has predator trapping on both the Dunes Trail and Pakihi Track. There's a total of 75+ traps targeting stoats, wea...

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Top Tools for Trails Trust
July 21, 2022

The team that looks after maintenance on the Motu Trails Cycleway has just been tooled-up with funding from Ground Effect Slush Fu...

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All invited to Dunes Trail 2022 planting days in June
May 27, 2022

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Historic seats on Pakihi Track
March 30, 2022

New bench seats use historic timber, from the first Pakihi stream bridge, built in 1918.

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New shelter for Pakihi Track
March 24, 2022

Pakihi Track users have a new spot to take a rest. A new shelter was recently built alongside the beautiful Pakihi stream, south ...

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New coastal trail west of Opotiki
December 19, 2021

Several kilometres of new coastal trail is now in place along Waiotahe beach west of Opotiki.

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Pakihi Track throws down the challenges
November 1, 2021

Winter/spring 2021 has been a challenging period for Pakihi Track maintenance—though it was a wonderful few months for the forest.

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Making It Better
August 27, 2021

Around Motu Trails, the trail enhancements keep happening. In 2021 we’ve completed a new shelter at the top of Meremere hill on th...

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New shelter for Dunes Trail
July 2, 2019

A new Dunes Trail shelter was finished late-June (except for signage and cultural elements). It is at the eastern end of the Dunes...

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New Motu Road shelter
July 2, 2019

High on the Motu Road above Motu, there's a pull-off where shuttle vans often stop, to drop riders. At this high point, in April, ...

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Check the latest trail conditions
October 1, 2018

Before you ride, be sure you know what to expect. That's especially important for the Pakihi Track, which is back-country and vari...

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  • "It is such a unique and fantastic ride, whether that is just the dunes track or the whole loop, it is just amazing. The track, scenery, signs, the way it has been maintained"

    — Trail Survey, 2021 -

  • "The main reason for visiting was the Pakihi Track, this is an amazing experience though ancient rain forests, one of the best rides I've ever done … Well done the Motu Trust, you have a jewel in the crown in the Pakihi. "

    — Trail Survey, 2021 -

  • "We cycled the Dunes, Old Motu Road through to Motu village. There were lots of kamahi [trees] flowering along the road side. Beautiful bush and scenery. Great ride. "

    — Trail Survey, 2021 -

  • "Just being able to hop on my bike and ride is great. The freedom of being out there. We are so fortunate to be able to do this. All of this, in an amazing environment. "

    — Trail Survey, 2021 -

  • "Loved the whole journey from Rere falls , the rockslide and Motu/Pakihi to Opotiki. "

    — Trail Survey, 2021 -

  • "We love this trail and do it reasonably regularly. On this day the weather was perfect, the sea was as well and we stopped for a swim and a picnic in the middle of the trail. The environment that we ride through is always the highlight - no matter the weather. "

    — Trail Survey, 2021 -

  • "The track was very well built and maintained in a challenging landscape. A beautiful part of the country I wouldn’t have seen if not for the bike and local shuttle service. "

    — Trail Survey, 2021 -

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Proudly supported by

  • Department of Conservation
  • Tairawhiti Gisborne
  • Opotiki Coast
  • The New Zealand Cycle Trail
  • Whakatohea
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