The ride starts with an easy 14 km ride down the road to the small village of Motu. From Motu there is a nice 5 km side trip to Motu Falls.
Back on the trail there is a breathtaking climb - both for the scenery and the incline! After riding along the ridge for a while, its mainly down hill all the way to the coast. You are in rugged back-country terrain - there are no cafes or internet coverage - just lots of native forest and back country farms. It's a ride through semi-remote wilderness.
At the coast you join the Dunes Trail and reach Opotiki and civilisation after 11 kms along the coast.
There are several bike hire and shuttle options in Opotiki, Gisbourne and places further away including Rotorua. The good people at at the information centre in Opotiki, www.opotikinz.com, are well informed and helpful.
The Motu Road is almost legendary for its pioneer history and extreme sporting events but the ride down it from Matawai to Opotiki is easy enough and thrilling. Yes, you do have to grunt up some sections but mostly you'll be smiling as the wind whistles past your ears and you're in free-wheel heaven. It's steep rugged country, mainly bush clad but with remote farms in the gentler valleys. The road is mainly gravel and not very steep but it's narrow and there are no guard rails above the steep side exposure.
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