Last Updated: 4th Jan 2025
Motatapu River Track
Last Updated: 4th Jan 2025
Open
Grunt Factor: 10 ?
Gnarl Factor: 13 ?
10.3km
75m
75m
370m
Last Updated: 4th Jan 2025
Last Updated: 4th Jan 2025
Open
Grunt Factor: 10 ?
Gnarl Factor: 13 ?
10.3km
75m
75m
370m
Front country - easily accessible
Out and Back
Totally/mostly flat
Riverside
Open farmlands
Easy Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +4.1%
Average Downhill Gradient: -4.1%
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1:15
Slow
0:55
Moderate
0:40
Fast
The track starts with a series of steps that take you above the river but within a km (and after crossing a few stiles) you drop back down to river level.
Following the red poles and obvious trail it's a mellow few kms following the track upstream, sometimes close to the river & sometimes a bit further back from it. All the way there are great views of the surrounding high peaks.
After 5k you pass through a gate to reach the downstream end of the Motatapu Gorge, which is well worth a stop to take a look. Then it's a series of steps up to the car park (just to say you did the whole trail.) Before re-tracing your steps downstream make sure you take the 100m stroll to the bridge over the gorge for some gobsmacking views down into the deep bowels of the gorge.
The Motatapu Gorge at the far end of the track is quite spectacular and well worth a look.
If you know of any public toilets near the trail start or on the route, please login and then let us know so we can update this section.
Car park is safe but take the usual precautions with valuables.
19 km
18 minutes
Unknown
No
Easy.
Follow the poles and obvious trail. It's a real challenge to take a wrong turn on this one!
Unknown.
Windproof jacket, First aid kit, Cellphone
Don't drink any of the river water as there are lots of cattle around. Take your own fluids.
Can be muddy after heavy rain, but nothing that will stop you. Can be icy in winter, especially early morning as the sun reaches here quite late.
This is a dual use track so watch out for MTB's.
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Lovely quiet trail away from the maddening crowds of Wanaka at new years! Nice mix of shady and open grass pasture for a mid summer run. Middle portion of trail was a little less used and so slightly overgrown. Can't imagine any bikes come thru here as it's stairs both ends and several unstiled fence crossings.
Highly recommend starting from the Motutapu road end as access from the Wānaka Mt Aspiring road is across a one lane bridge between 2 bends. It also means you get to finish with a swim at the gorge which is stunning.
January 4
Did this one after completing Rocky Diamond Route which is just up the road. Nice flat run along the river. The Autumn colours of the trees were absolutely stunning at this time of year.
April 27, 2022
Best to start on the correct side of the river, unlike us...The western side where the rock climbers frequent is a little tricky to run...
March 6, 2022
Nice easy 1 with a good stair climb at each end to get the heart going!
February 28, 2021
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