The Motu Challenge

OPOTIKI’S Motu Challenge is one of the country's premier Multisport races, with over NZ$50,000 worth of prizes. It is regarded as the North Island’s Premium Multisport Event. Winners include Richard and Elina Ussher and Gordon Walker.

A gruelling but fun event held in and around Opotiki, in the Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand, the Motu has four stages: 65km Mountain Bike, 17km Run, 52km Road Cycle, and Multisport stage with a 27km Kayak, 8km Road Cycle and 3km Run to the finish.

Competitors, their supporters and the event's spectators enjoy rugged terrain and some of the finest scenery of any Multisport event in New Zealand. The race is run through native bush clad gorges, valleys and hills and down the Waioeka River. The Mountain Bike stage has been voted the best mountain bike section of any race in New Zealand.

The event is well supported by the Opotiki community and many locals turn out on race day at the prize giving and to watch the race itself. Opotiki's locals love having this great event in their community and go out of their way to make visitors feel welcome. Motu Challenge weekend is always a great one!

STAGE ONE Mountain Bike - 65km

sponsored by Potts & Hodgson

Elliott Street, Opotiki start. The course follows the East Coast Scenic Highway out of Opotiki, turning right at Waiaua onto the Motu Road. The first 12km are on sealed road (State Highway 35) and the next 53km is on the winding, hilly Motu gravel road. The stage ends at the Motu School after a fast narrow downhill ride.

This route was well used by Maori Chief Te Kooti during the19th Century as the only direct route between Poverty Bay and Opotiki. It is now a winding metal road that sees little traffic but is rich in history. The road is one of the best Mountain Bike rides through native bush in the country, offering many bush archways with panoramic views beyond. This leg of the race has been voted the best Mountain Bike section of any race in New Zealand in a recent Internet poll. No service vehicles, spectators, or assistants may use the Motu Road. All race support traffic must travel to Motu via State Highway 2.

STAGE TWO Run - 17km

sponsored by Opotiki Four Square

Motu School start. Metal road, bush track then metal road. The metal road start takes competitors to the Whinray Scenic Reserve, where the route follows the historic Whinray Track. Competitors cross the Motu Falls swingbridge, a cooperative venture between the Department of Conservation and the Motu community. Competitors must walk over this bridge. Whinray Track is a consistent gentle uphill with good visibility and a firm gravelled surface. The run emerges onto a metalled road to return competitors to Motu School.

STAGE THREE Cycle - 52km

sponsored by Opotiki Tyre Services

The route follows State Highway 2 from the Motu School. Competitors ride to Matawai Township on SH 2, turning right to Traffords Hill and the Waioeka Gorge Scenic Reserve. The reserve is a popular hunting and tramping area, with numerous historic sites including two bridges conserved by the Department of Conservation at Manganuku and Tauranga Valley. There are also numerous camping opportunities and short walks. The stage continues down the Waioeka Gorge to end at Oponae.

STAGE FOUR Multisport - 38km

sponsored by Two Fish Cafe

Competitor must Kayak, Cycle and Run to the finish in Opotiki.

Kayak - 27km
Grade one and two down the Waioeka River, to the end of the gorge. Kayakers will enjoy spectacular bush scenery and unobtrusive road support the full length of the Kayak stage.
For information on water levels and conditions at the Waioeka River, please click here.

Cycle - 8km
A flat sprint along State Highway 2 to the old Dairy Factory.

Run - 3km
Through the outskirts of Opotiki to the finish line at the Opotiki Domain. Stage four competitors must complete this section in full.