Page 102 - 2020-ETEC-eBook

GISBORNE - CYCLE TAIRAWHITI GISBORNE
'Cycle Tairāwhiti Gisborne'

Tairāwhiti Gisborne offers superb cycling, with everything from flat, paved trails to
an exhilarating mountain bike park.
From near the city centre, Oneroa
Beachfront Cycle and Walkway offers a
spectacular pedal or walk alongside
Waikanae beach. Often you’ll see surfers
and swimmers in the water and, on a fine
day, you get a panoramic view to the far
headland of Te Kurī-a-Pāoa/Young Nicks
Head.
If you’re keen on a bit more distance, you
can ride further along Centennial Marine
Drive, then gravel road, all the way to the
mouth of the Waipaoa River. Beachfront Cycle/Board walk
At the city-end of Waikanae beach, you - Courtesy of Jim Robinson
can ride past the harbour and up Tūranganui
river, which is New Zealand’s shortest river — just 1200 metres to the confluence of the
Tahuheru and Waimata rivers.
All around Gisborne, you’ll find impressive murals, legacy of projects like 2018’s Sea
Walls, Artists for Oceans and Project Ataahua, as well as the efforts of renowned Gisborne
artist, the late Graeme Mudge QSM.
The trails are all free, but for a guided experience or hire bikes, contact Cycle Gisborne.
If you prefer mountain bike park riding, head to Whataupoko Reserve, just five minutes
from the CBD. This has been a popular mountain biking and walking/running area for
years and recently had a major upgrade.
Whataupoko is not huge, but it’s full of trails wriggling through mostly established
forest. Two ascending trails and seven descending trails span different grade options.
Again, it’s free to enjoy.
Inland from Gisborne, Rere Falls Trail travels the twisting, sometimes-gravel back-
country roads to Matawai. Altogether, this is a 100km journey, termed a ‘Heartland Ride’
of The New Zealand Cycle Trail.
Keen bikers ride the whole Rere Falls Trail in one or two days. Some link in Motu Trails
and ride from coast to coast, Ōpōtiki to Gisborne, or vice-versa. Others prefer cruising the
flatlands between Gisborne and Eastwoodhill, the National Arboretum of New Zealand.
Talk to Gisborne i-SITE to know more about these and other rides, or visit
motutrails.co.nz.

Discover Rere Falls Trail
Rere Falls Trail is a ‘Heartland Ride’ on The New
Zealand Cycle Trail and links with Motu Trails
(pgs 5-7). You can start or finish in Gisborne,
or drive to trail highlights like Eastwoodhill
Arboretum, and cycle from there to Rere Falls
and Rere Rock-slide. Rere Falls Trail follows
mostly quiet back-country roads, with handy
accommodation at Eastwoodhill Arboretum,
Te Wera Homestead, and Matawai Camp.
Cycle Gisborne offer tours, bike hire and more,
including short guided tours in Gisborne.
More: www.motutrails.co.nz Rest stop at Rere Falls
102 Facebook / Instagram, Motu Trails Cycleway - Courtesy of Ray Sheldrake