3 minute read
RERE FALLS Trail
BEST FOR: ‘Yee-har’ descents through rural backroads and bucolic scenery.
MATAWAI to GISBORNE
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1-3 days/103km
Switching between wide open roads and countryside to natural landmarks that require closer inspection, time spent off the bike is just as rewarding as time spent on it.
You can bump along one of New Zealand’s most remote regions year-round and in either direction, but the Matawai to Gisborne route enjoys longer stretches of descents, including the 4km Wharekopae Hill, whereas the opposite direction requires some serious effort. Either way, the trail presents hillside, fertile flats and high-country farmland, connected via gravel and sealed roads.
As a 103km Grade 3 ride, experienced cyclists often like to complete this journey in one day, while others break it down into several. The trail is laced with swimming spots which are heaven-sent when you’ve worked up a sweat. Rere Rockslide is such a place: a 60m natural slide formed from polished rock.
The embankments are perfect for leisurely picnics and nearby Rere Falls spills off a wide ledge into a welcoming lagoon. For shady respite, Eastwoodhill Arboretum is a 135ha labyrinth of cool woodland, with both flat walkways and those that climb steeply to gain far-stretching views.
Poverty Bay Flats is home to Gisborne’s finest wineries, and the city, where this ride concludes, is just 7km further. Stunning eastern beaches are sure to warrant a celebratory dip in the sea.
Wharekopae Hill on Wharekopae Rd © Mead Norton Photography
TRAIL INFO
TRAIL GRADE:
MATAWAI TO GISBORNE GRADE 3 (INTERMEDIATE)
BE PREPARED: Always pack warm and weatherproof clothing as weather conditions can be unpredictable in the inland parts of the ride. You will be riding between mountainous conditions and a warm coastal breeze. There is accommodation at several key points. It is recommended that you arrange your overnight stays prior to departure.
MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE: Coverage is good around Gisborne and the plains, but patchy or nonexistent inland.
DRINKING WATER: There are limited services on the trail, so you are advised to carry sufficient water and food for the duration of your ride.
Cycling by Rere Falls © Mead Norton Photography
Riding the trail
The trail can be ridden in either direction – though you’ll get much more downhill by starting from the historic village of Matawai (linking to the Motu Trails) and ending your ride in Gisborne.
From Matawai, you have 7km riding on SH 2 before turning off onto a quiet, rolling country road, peaking at an altitude of 600m. After another 7km, the road becomes gravel for the next 27km and features some solid climbs. The spectacular scenery is a mix of high-country farms, forested reserves and peaks.
The sealed road resumes soon before you reach Rere Rockslide and Rere Falls. A little further, Eastwoodhill, the National Arboretum of New Zealand, has a stunning display of exotic and native trees. Walking tracks offer an opportunity to see many rare and unique species; accommodation is available. The trail carries on down to the fertile Tairāwhiti plains, home to some of Gisborne’s finest wineries. From there it’s easy going on flat roads to central Gisborne and stunning beaches.
Follow the Pacific Coast south to reach Hawke’s Bay and the Hawke’s Bay Trails. For more information, check out: motutrails.co.nz
Gisborne © Damon Meade
Highlights of the trail
• At Eastwoodhill Arboretum there are guided walks and Jeep tours. Exit via the homestead for high tea with home-made scones.
• Poverty Bay Flats, also known as the Gisborne Plains, is where many of the vineyards are leading producers of chardonnay, syrah and rose.
• To speed down the 60m Rere Rockslide you’re going to need a bodyboard or inflatable. Fortunately, there’s usually a skip brimming with discarded ones.
• Rere Falls are just 500m from Rere Rockslide and year-round spectacular.
Rere Rockslide © Tairāwhiti Gisborne
Cook's first landfall
The Cook Landing Site National Historic Reserve on Kaitī Beach Rd in Gisborne marks the place where James Cook first set foot on New Zealand soil. His statue can be found at the end of Waikanae Park and on Kaitī Hill, which is well worth the climb for the incredible views alone.
