Environment

Restoring the dunes

Dunes Trail Restoration Programme

Motu Trails Charitable Trust is a registered care group for the Tirohanga dunes east of Ōpōtiki, which is the area the Dunes Trail passes through. Led by the Trust and Bay of Plenty Regional Council, since 2014 volunteers have planted more than 20,000 plants along the dunes, as part of a wider biodiversity management plan to protect the fragile dune ecosystems.

This successful regeneration project has transformed an environmentally-degraded area into one that is rich in hardy, coast-loving natives such as ngaio, karo, ti kouka/cabbage tree, harakeke/flax and Pohutukawa. Each year it gets better.

Listen to the interview on RNZ with Motu Trails executive officer Jim Robinson here.

Information Panels

"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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Join the Motu Trails community

Make a donation to Motu Trails Charitable Trust; enquire about latest trail conditions; do the trail survey; or, report a trail issue.

Environment

Restoring the dunes

Dunes Trail Restoration Programme

Information Panels

"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"

"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. "

"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. "

"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. "

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

"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. "

"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. "

Join the Motu Trails community