Wild Things - New Zealand's trail running community
New Zealand's trail running community

Login



don't have an account?

Motatapu River Track, Otago

Trail Directory proudly supported by Further Faster

Update Your Header Picture

Motatapu River TrackBeginner

Submitted by Malcolm Law

Info Info
Map Loading

Trail Information

10.30km

75m

75m

 

Otago

Wanaka

Front country - easily accessible

Out and Back

Totally/mostly flat

Riverside
Open farmlands

Beginner

1:15 (Slow)
0:55 (Moderate)
0:40 (Fast)

-4.1%

+4.1%

Download PDF Guide
View trail on Capra App

Fastest Known Times (FKTs)

Please set your gender to see your position on the FKT leaderboards.

Men

Show more

Women

Show more

Filter FKTs

The more , the harder the FKT will be to beat. Learn about Fastest Known Times.

Missing your time?

Register or login as a VIP and get yourself on the FKT leaderboard!

Register Now

Description

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.


Trail Community

Find people who are interested in this run.

You must register or login to view this content.

Features of interest

The Motatapu Gorge at the far end of the track is quite spectacular and well worth a look.


Make Up of Run

Easy Single Track: 100%


Route Data

Reviews:

You must register or login to view this content.

Photos:

You must register or login to view this content.

Your Trail Wishlist

All the runs that are on your To Do list (no limit).

Add to wishlist view wishlist

Your Trail Dreamlist

The runs you most want to do (limited to 10).

Add to dreamlist view dreamlist

Wild Explorers

I did it!
  • Access

    From Wanaka drive out of town on Mt Aspiring Road through Glendhu Bay until you reach the Motatapu River. Immediately after crossing the bridge turn left and 100m up the dirt road is a car park opposite the DoC toilet.
    From the car park walk back across the bridge. The trail starts just the other side of the river on the right hand side of the road.

    Car park is safe but take the usual precautions with valuables.

    19 km

    18 minutes

    No

    No

  • Staying Safe

    Easy.

    Make navigation of this route super-easy by using the Capra app on your phone. View on Capra .

    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.

  • Sponsor this trail

    If you are interested in learning about sponsorship opportunities, please get in touch below:

    Submit

Got a favourite trail? Tell us about it.

Share the love and add your favourite trail(s) to our growing trail directory.

Submit A Trail

Become a member today

Start enjoying the many benefits to becoming a member of our thriving community.

Become a member

Great brands at great prices with our VIP member's discount

Stay up to date

Sign up to our newsletter for latest offers and trail guides

Share this trail with a friend:

VIP Membership

Please register as a VIP or login to your VIP account to view this content.

Cancel Login Register

Membership Required

You can see up to three trail guides without being logged in but after that we require you to be logged in to your Free or VIP account. If you don’t yet have an account you can register here.

Login Register