Motu Trails

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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.

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.
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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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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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Proudly supported by

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