Motu Trails Cycleway

For decades, the 'boulders' section of Pakihi Track has been a headache, with the track scoured away by the river each big flood, presenting a tricky scramble for track users. Carrying a bike up it was not easy.

Hopefully this is an enduring solution.

In about 15 sessions over several months we've filled gabion baskets with river rock to build a track through the section. This is our best shot.

The first photo shows the section after a flood a few years back — that is, the problem. Photos following that, show the gabion build.

Anyway, Pakihi Track is in good condition. Motu Road will be reopen very soon.

Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand

Pakihi hut is proudly functional rather than fancy and all the better for it. Six bunks + plenty of space under the covered verandah, a stunning location close to the river, and after the recent comprehensive refurbishment by Backcountry Trust, re-roofed, re-painted, dry, and packing a powerful little wood stove.

Pakihi hut is 9.3km from Pakihi road end, 11km from Motu Road. No bookings, hut ticket $10 per night. Plenty of people walk in from Pakihi road end (about 2-3 hrs walk), stay the night, then walk out. It's also used by hunters, track workers, and of course cyclists / bike-packers. At night you'd be very lucky to hear a kiwi, but you'll probably hear ruru (morepork), weka and, come the day, maybe a whio (blue duck).

Talk to the team at Ōpōtiki isite Visitor Information Centre for more.

Motu Road was in full scenic mode this morning. North side of Meremere hill.

Pakihi Track bottom 9km, from the hut to Pakihi road end, was maintained today (8 July 2026) and is in great condition. Top 11km of track last maintained 24 June. With the recent rain everything is about as green as green gets. All photos today.

Update 10 July, lower track still mint, we raked to 3km above hut today (Friday).

Motu Road to Toatoa this morning, hopefully another month and the road will again be clear from end-to-end.

Some neat photos capturing the vibe of Pakihi Track. These taken by Strike Photography, from last summer when Mitch, Haimona and others rode down the track as part of an epic bike packing journey, looping together Rere Falls Trail, Motu Trails and SH35.

Track update 1 July 2026. Pakihi is in VG condition, the bottom half was maintained yesterday, 30 June, no fresh slips or windfalls. Dunes Trail also in VG condition, the gravel always packs down in winter so nice smooth riding. Motu Road, weather permitting, work begins 20 July, to clear the slip and reopen vehicle through-access on Motu Road.

Welcome news on Motu Road 25 June 2026.

Since November 2025, Motu Road has had a large slip blocking through-access. This has impacted lots of trip plans, and made it difficult to get to the top of Pakihi Track. Good news, work on clearing the slip is planned to start next month.

Here are some core details from Opotiki District Council for the clearing of the Motu Road slip.

Council staff and geotechnical specialists have reviewed the results from drilling at the main slip site, they and the contractor are now finalising a safe methodology for removing the slip debris from the road, and, finalising a suitable location for placement of the removed material.

Subject to weather, the aim is to have machines on the ground by 20 July.

Once works begin, the site will be an active construction area and FULLY CLOSED to the public at all times, including outside working hours. This is due to the safety risks associated with earthworks and ground stability. The message is to not enter the site under any circumstances during this time — so please don't.

During work there will still be access to top of Pakihi Track via Motu village/Matawai.

Funding from NZTA/Waka Kotahi will enable the work.

Obviously work progress will be weather dependent.

.. Further updates as they come to hand.

Photo is from above Whitikau valley, looking north, with Motu Road visible. Credit: Ian Mcleod.

Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand

The Dunes Trail 2026 planting concluded with a great turnout of over 30 volunteers — thank you everyone!

A big thank you to RIDE Holidays and their clients, who are supporting Motu Trails Charitable Trust with ten DOC200 traps for our Pakihi Track trapline.

We'll be getting these new traps and putting them out on-track soon.

We have traplines on both the Dunes Trail and Pakihi Track, all entirely volunteer run. And no poison involved.

On the Dunes Trail, Peter cycles the trail several times a week, checking/clearing 46 DOC200 traps. In the last three months alone, these traps have caught 70 rats, five weasels, and one stoat.

On Pakihi Track, Gary tramps up to the hut every few weeks, checking/clearing 39 DOC200 traps, plus two AT220s. In the last three months, these traps have caught 67 rats, nine stoats, two weasels, and several possums.

With RIDE Holidays' generous support, we'll soon have a total of 51 traps on Pakihi Track. Add to that, Whakatōhea Tiaki Taiao have a DOC200 trapline on the full top half of the track. Shout out also to Bay Conservation Alliance who have regularly funded Motu Trails Trust with Erayse bait, and have funded some of our existing Pakihi traps.

Pakihi valley has NI robin/toutouwai, tomtit/miromiro, whitehead/pōpokotea, kiwi, whio/blue duck, longtail cuckoo, etc, while the Dunes Trail area has a range of shore and other birds. Tracks enable trapping, and when people who use tracks provide traps, there's great synergy between recreation and conservation.

Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand