MOTU Trails The Motu Trails have it all... be set free with awesome riding along stunning beaches and through native forest.

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1 1-3 DAYS 11-91km MOTU Trails The Motu Trails have it all... be set free with awesome riding along stunning beaches and through native forest. With three trails to choose from (or the option of combining them all) the Motu Trails offer a range of cycling itineraries depending on your age, fitness level and riding ability. You can ride for a few hours or a few days, with trails ranging from an easy ride along the coast through to an advanced mountain bike ride deep in the bush. The Dunes Trail is an easy gravel path running parallel with the coastline of the Bay of Plenty for 11km. It s ideal for all riders and there is a shop next to the Tirohanga Beach Motor Camp selling ice creams and drinks just the ticket for a beautiful summer s day! The Trail goes from the end of the Dunes Trail to the rustic settlement of Matawai, 67km away. It follows a quiet country road past scenic farmland and through forested conservation reserves, with just the right amount of hills to suit those keen to build up their fitness. The Pakihi Track is the third trail in the Motu trilogy, and although it is mostly downhill it includes Grade 4 (Advanced) mountain biking on a narrow trail through remote native forest. The 91km Loop Trail offers you a taste of all three of the Motu Trails, starting and ending your ride in. Motu Trails Motu Trails Charitable Trust Trail Info 1-3 Days 11-91km TRAIL GRADES: DUNES TRAIL - GRADE (EASY) MOTU ROAD TRAIL - GRADE 3 (INTERMEDIATE) PAKIHI TRACK - GRADE 4 (ADVANCED) LOOP RIDE - GRADES -4 (EASY-ADVANCED) MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE: Mobile phone coverage is very poor if not unavailable on most of the trails. You can get coverage on the Dunes Trail and coming back into town on the Pakihi Track. DRINKING WATER: It s recommended that you carry all your water. Tank water is available at Motu and water can be drawn from the river and streams along the route, however it is recommended that this is boiled (for 3 minutes), filtered or treated before drinking. 36

2 Jackson Road Jackson Road Toatoa Motu Matawai 11km 67km 44km DUNES TRAIL MOTU ROAD TRAIL PAKIHI TRACK Bay of Plenty OPOTIKI Waioeka River Dunes Trail Tirohanga Otara River Otara Road Waiaua 35 JACKSON ROAD End of Dunes Trail Trail Raukumara Range AA Traveller 015 Meremere Hill Takaputahi Road Pakihi Road Pakihi Road end Toatoa Pakihi Track Pakihi Stream Toatoa Hill Whitikau bridge Pakihi Hut PAKIHI TRACK / MOTU ROAD JUNCTION Onukuroa MAP LEGEND open section start / finish point point of interest café/restaurant toilets camping Motu River Motu Motu Falls Road Motu Falls i-site Visitor Centre hill / mountain bridge town 1 shelter hut accommodation state highway Waioeka River to MATAWAI to Gisborne LOOK OUT FOR... Activities On the border of the Bay of Plenty and Eastland, sits where the Waioeka and Otara rivers meet. The town is a delightful holiday spot thanks to its coastal location and temperate climate. With a driftwood-lined coast and an enchanting atmosphere, offers up a pristine ocean playground. The beaches here are long and unspoiled and only speckled wth visitors during summer, and the rivers are well stocked with fish. Watersports abound here choose from kayaking, scuba diving, surfing and swimming. Motu Falls From Motu take a 5km detour to visit the beautiful Motu Falls on the wild Motu River. Enjoy the swing bridge over the river en route and look out for grand old miro and rata. Birdlife is plentiful here, including fantails, kereru, kaka and North Island weka. LEFT: - Otara River looking west 37

3 RIDING THE TRAIL Dunes Trail, 11km This beautiful trail starts at the Pakowhai ki Otutaopuku Bridge (Memorial Park) in and meanders along a spectacular stretch of coast to Jackson Rd (and the start of the Motu Road Trail). Hugging the sand dunes, the trail provides excellent unspoilt views of the Pacific Ocean and rugged hinterland of the East Cape. This is a Grade (Easy) trail that caters for cyclists of all abilities and fitness levels. The trail has an easy gradient that is enjoyed by walkers, runners and cyclists. The return journey of km can be comfortably ridden in two or three hours from either end with time to stop for a swim and a picnic along the way. The Dunes Trail also provides a great warm-up for those preparing to tackle the more challenging Trail. Trail, 67km This trail follows the historic coach road from Matawai (about 500m above sea level, climbing to almost 800m through the Raukumara Ranges) down to the Eastern Bay of Plenty coast. This is a Grade 3 (Intermediate) trail through remote bush country wilderness. It can be ridden in either direction, but you ll get the best views (and more downhill riding) starting from Matawai. Just beyond the tiny settlement of Motu is a steep 3km climb, but the views from the top are worth it! The trail then follows the ridgeline where you ll enjoy lots of freewheeling. Then it s mostly downhill en route to the coast, where the Trail connects with the Dunes Trail to take you into. Avid riders seeking a more challenging ride to can divert off the Trail on to the more advanced Pakihi Track. Pakihi Track, 44km The Pakihi Track is a one-way track riding from Motu Rd towards. It is not a trail that is to be ridden at high speed. It starts 9km (about halfway) along the Trail and includes 0km of advanced off-road riding through splendid isolation. The largely downhill track takes you through magnificent bush, with wonderful panoramas that will demand many stops to appreciate the view. The trail crosses some 5 bridges, including a 35m swing bridge. Pakihi Rd marks your return to civilisation with a 4km road ride through bush and farmland to. This is a Grade 4 (Advanced) trail that requires a reasonable level of fitness. The off-road section includes steep dropoffs that require a cautious approach. Dunes Trail, Motu Trail Whakatane Beacon Ride the Loop, 91km You can have a taste of all three of the Motu Trails, starting and ending in. Head off along the Dunes Trail, which links directly with the bottom of the Motu Road Trail, which leads to the start of the Pakihi Track to take you back to. We recommend you take two days to ride the loop. Remember that while the Dunes Trail and Trail are graded Easy and Intermediate, the Pakihi Track section of this ride is for advanced riders. place of Potiki 45km E of Whakatane on SH Magnolia Court Motel Reservations: Cnr Bridge & Nelson Sts, Ph: E: magnolia.crt.motel@xtra.co.nz PERFECT FOR CYCLISTS 13 spacious ground-floor studios, 1 & -brm units with queen-size beds Continental breakfast Near shops/restaurants, opposite garden & park Serviced daily Ample off-street parking for boats, trailers, buses WiFi access Tariff: $105-$155 ( persons), extra $0 Spacious grounds allows room for cycles & vehicles Garaging for safe cycle storage Separate accommodation blocks Caters for privacy and relaxation Eastland Pacific Motor Lodge OPOTIKI NEW ZEALAND WELCOME Large units suitable for meetings or training sessions - up to 14 people 10 units with spa baths, 4 x -brm units, 6 x 1-brm, 8 studio units Wheelchair access units Sky TV Guest laundry Continental and cooked breakfasts Wireless internet access Warm welcome & friendly service All units totally refurbished 5 brand new luxury Cnr Bridge & St John Sts, Ph: Fax: eastlandopotiki@xtra.co.nz Reservations: Resident Hosts: Lyn & Gary Savage 38

4 things to do... Early morning muster Susie Hamilton / Tourism Eastland ALONGSIDE THE TRAIL Enjoy coastal outlooks, rustic townships and forested reserves. The Dunes Trail is accompanied by magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean, White Island and East Cape ranges. On the Pakihi Track you ll pass through the picturesque Urutawa Conservation Area. Keep your eyes peeled as it s common to spot native birds in this area. The 49ha Whinray Scenic Reserve is a beautiful area of native forest and waterfalls that is accessible from Motu Falls Rd. You can explore this reserve by following the 6.3km Whinray Scenic Reserve Walking Track, which takes in the dense forest and its abundant bird life including kiwi, kereru, tui and kaka. Alongside the Trails, about halfway between Matawai and Motu, you can see remnants of a bridge built as part of the Gisborne to Moutohora railway line, which opened in 1917 and closed in Near Matawai you can connect with the Rere Falls Trail, which runs through to the long white beaches of Gisborne. Hukutaia Domain Hukutaia Domain s magnificent puriri tree, known as Taketakerau, is estimated to be over 000 years old and is definitely worth a look. The domain is 5km south of and is one of New Zealand s finest reserves of native plants and trees, and there are plenty of other parks and gardens to explore as well. 39

5 Morning walk Don Pearson / Tourism Eastland CAPTAIN COOK MADE LANDFALL IN GISBORNE IN 1769 I ve ridden all over the world and the Pakihi Track is right at the top of my list of trails I must ride again. Gisborne, our chardonnay capital, is one of this country s biggest grape-growing regions with 000ha of vineyards, much of it dedicated to the acclaimed chardonnay. The Gisborne Wine Centre can set you off in the right direction with wine tours to the region s best vineyards. This prosperous port city also possesses many other reasons to pay a visit, not least a bustling marina with top-notch cafés and restaurants. Museums, art galleries and long Holiday Park Chris Southwood Freelance writer for Australian Mountain Biking white beaches Wainui is one of the country s best are also drawcards. The Rere Falls Trail joins the Motu Trail at Matawai to provide the ideal cycle link through to Gisborne. The trail can be ridden in either direction, although you will get the best views (and more downhill riding) starting from Matawai. This ride includes 7km of SH. The terrain includes a wild landscape along a smooth gravel road and sealed roads through rolling hill country, farms and forest 39 Potts Ave, Phone/Fax: reserves. Highlights along the Rere Falls Trail are the unique Rere Rockslide and the iconic Rere Falls, and Eastwoodhill, the National Arboretum of New Zealand, where stunning exotic and native trees are on display in 135ha gardens. The trail continues to Poverty Bay Flats, home to some of Gisborne s fi nest vineyards, and along the city s riverside cycle and walkway, ending up at the i-site. THE LONGEST WHARF IN NZ AT TOLAGA BAY IS 660m LONG WHINRAY SCENIC RESERVE WITH NATIVE FOREST AND WATERFALLS COVERS 49HA THE BEAUTIFUL LAKE WAIKAREMOANA WAS FORMED APPROX 00 YEARS AGO Gisborne after Colonial Secretary William Gisborne 185km SE of Whakatane on SH Accommodation: Features: Relax in a rural sitting, only 00m walk to Communal kitchen, metered showers, laundry, TV town centre with a range of cafés, restaurants and lounge, Freeview TV, Zenbu WiFi, swimming pool, shops. 100m to boat ramp and the Motu Cycle Trail, playground and dump station. 3.5km to beach. Our accommodation options are: Tariff: accessible park motel, self-contained units, kitchen persons $5-$11/night; sites from $15/person, cabins, powered and non-powered sites. seasonal rates may apply. Visa, Mastercard, EFTPOS. Tirohanga Beach Motor Camp SH 35, Tirohanga Beach, Ph/Fax: tmcamp@xtra.co.nz 40 Tirohanga Beach Motor Camp: the right place to start your Motu Trail Adventure. We have a variety of accommodation & are situated on the Dune Trail to assist you in making this ride something to remember. Don t rush home; enjoy our beautiful beach & see what has to offer. One of the trail s OFFICAL PARTNERS. Give us a call if you need some advice on or check out our website