Motu Trails

Be Set Free

Explore Now
Icon

Welcome to Motu Trails

A Great Ride of Ngā 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

  • Banners
  • Banners
  • Banners
  • Banners
  • Banners

1 of 3

Pakihi Track

  • Distance 20kms
  • Time 3-6 hrs
  • GradeAdvanced
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. This is an advanced (grade 4) mountain biking adventure, suiting mountain bikers with good off-road riding skills and considerable riding experience. Be sure to read the safety information below, before making a decision to ride Pakihi Track.
See more

Latest News

Banners
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 ...

See more
Banners
Pakihi Track safety advice
January 7, 2023

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

See more
Banners
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...

See more
Banners
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...

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

See more
Banners
Historic seats on Pakihi Track
March 30, 2022

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

See more
Banners
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 ...

See more
Banners
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.

See more
Banners
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.

See more
Banners
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...

See more
Banners
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...

See more
Banners
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, ...

See more
Banners
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...

See more

Explore

Cover Image

Services

 
Cover Image

Stay

 
Cover Image

See & Do

 
Cover Image

Popular Itineraries

 
Cover Image

Eat & Drink

 
Cover Image

  • "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 -

  • "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 -

  • "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 -

  • "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 -

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

    — Trail Survey -

  • "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 -

  • "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 -

1 of 7

#motutrails#nzcycletrail

Proudly supported by

  • Department of Conservation
  • Tairawhiti Gisborne
  • Opotiki Coast
  • The New Zealand Cycle Trail
  • Whakatohea
Logo Dark
  • Great Rides Logo
  • For maps of Motu Trails and all Great Rides,
    download the Great Rides App
  • © Motu Trails 2021. All Rights Reserved.
  • Website by
    Maverick Digital