A cyclist riding a mountain bike along a gravel path bordered by tall green grass, with a view of the ocean in the background under a mostly cloudy sky. Motu Loop mountain bike trail.
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Tags:
Level: Intermediate
Length: 57 mi (91.7 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Loop
Elevation: -
Total: 3 riders
 

Mountain Biking Motu Loop

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#47 of 172 mountain bike trails in North Island
#7,082 in the world

The Motu Loop combines the best of all three of the Motu Trails. It begins and ends in Opotiki.

Follow the Dunes Trail along the coast until you reach the Motu Road trail, Ride up it for about 40 km to the start of the Pakihi Track. Follow that trail back to Opotiki to complete the circuit.

It's an adventure for intermediate and advanced riders who generally take two days, staying overnight at the Toatoa Farmstay, www.toatoaaccommodation.co.nz.

This is probably the your best option for the Motu experience. You'll get to enjoy the curvy and gently undulating Dunes Trail. Next you'll get a good workout as you ride up Motu Road. You'll climb 660m but the gradient is well controlled and never very steep so you'll be able to enjoy the back country bush and remote farms. The Farmstay at Toatoa is 15km before the start of the Pakihi Track and is an interesting part of the whole adventure. They offer a very reasonable package that includes dinner, breakfast and a packed lunch. And they'll bring your overnight gear up from Opotiki and take it back down the next day.

Next is the ride down the Pakihi Track. It's absolutely stunning. You're in rugged, remote and spooky Jurassic Forest on a benched track cut into steep slopes. It descends slowly and steadily - you hardly have to pedal! This trail is classed grade 4, advanced, mainly because of of the side exposure which is scary but many intermediate riders ride it, walking here and there. About tweny five awesome kilometers you reach the bottom, come out of the forest and follow roads to Opotiki for the final 20km.

First added by Jim Cummings on Jul 14, 2014. Last updated Sep 17, 2024. → add an update
Before you go
  • Drinking water: yes
  • Lift service: unknown
  • Night riding: unknown
  • Pump track: unknown
  • Restrooms: yes
  • Fat bike grooming: yes
  • E-bikes allowed: unknown
  • Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
Getting there
The trail starts in the town of Opotiki, at the north end of St John Street.


Motu Loop Trail map

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Trail conditions

Good (Dec 8, 2018)
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Mountain Bike Trails Near Opotiki, North Island

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Beginner | 13 mi
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Intermediate | 60 mi

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