Opotiki: Cycling between coast and forest

Opotiki combines varied cycling routes with beach access points and special places around the town. The 90 km Motu Trails Loop follows the coast, crosses a mountain range and reaches deep into forest country. If you like to focus on a specific route when choosing a holiday destination, you can plan to use Opotiki as the starting and finishing point for this loop. The Dunes Trail also offers its own way to explore the area on foot, by bike or running.

Cycling routes with different profiles

The Dunes Trail starts at the Pakowai-ki-Otutaopuku Bridge in Memorial Park, at the end of St John’s Street in Ōpōtiki. It is classified as a Grade 2 trail and is easy to walk or cycle. Walking, cycling and running are all activities the trail is intended for. At the start, there is parking, a drinking fountain and toilets—useful points of reference when visiting the trailhead.

Another route description concerns the Ōpōtiki-Ohiwa Trail: it includes an approximately 2.5 km, almost entirely flat connection from the Dunes Trail start in Memorial Park to the Waioeka-SH2 Bridge. Its length and flat profile differ considerably from the 90 km Motu Trails Loop. When choosing where to stay, you can consider whether to use Opotiki as the starting and finishing point for a long, varied route or whether you are interested in a short, almost flat connection.

Trail and beach access

The Dunes Trail passes through culturally significant land in the Ōpōtiki area. Along the trail, there are many places with formed paths leading down to the beach. This combines following the trail with the option of including beach access in your visit, without limiting the trail to a single activity. When choosing holiday accommodation, you may therefore want to consider whether you would like to use the town as a base for cycling, walking or running, or mainly explore the coast and its access points.

History and cultural significance

The Opotiki War Memorial commemorates men from the eastern Bay of Plenty who fought and died in the First and Second World Wars. The memorial also continues to serve as the annual focal point for Anzac Day commemorations. This combination of remembrance and continuing commemoration gives the site special significance in the town.

Opotiki Hotel is also part of the town’s historic streetscape: among the town’s surviving hotels, it has the oldest exterior appearance and is still used for its original purpose. Hukutaia Domain is also located near Ōpōtiki. A 2,500-year-old Puriri tree stands there and is highly sacred to local Māori. These places are quite different from the landscape-focused trail experiences and offer other points of interest if you are interested in history and cultural significance.

Choosing Opotiki as a holiday destination

In the centre of Ōpōtiki, Whitikau Playground is next to Whitikau Reserve. If you would like to discover other places, you can also visit Waihau Bay.

For the broader travel overview: Opotiki District.