4 minute read
RERE FALLS TRAIL
MATAWAI to GISBORNE
1-3 days - 103km
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© AA Traveller 2022
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 sealed roads and easy gravel trails. 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 known for swimming spots which are heavensent 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. The Tairāwhiti river plains are home to Gisborne’s finest wineries, and the city, near where this ride concludes on the coast, is not far. Eastern beaches are sure to warrant a celebratory dip in the sea.
Cycling by Rere Falls © 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 a good selection of accommodation providers including farmstays at several key points. It is recommended that you arrange your overnight stays prior to departure. Cycle Gisborne offer a suite of tour options.
MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE is good around Gisborne and the plains, but patchy or non-existent 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.
Gisborne. BOTH: © Adobe Stock
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, a mix of flat roads, and the Coastal Waipaoa River Trail, bring you to stunning beaches and the Gisborne foreshore.
Follow the Pacific Coast south to reach Hawke’s Bay and the Hawke’s Bay Trails.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRAIL
• Rere Falls are just 500m from Rere Rockslide.
Rere Falls © Adobe Stock
• Eastwoodhill Arboretum offer guided walks, jeep tours and overnight accommodation. Exit via the homestead for high tea with home-made scones.
• Head to Tūranganui-a-Kiwa/ Poverty Bay Flats, also known as the Gisborne Plains, to visit leading many vineyards producing chardonnay, syrah and rosé. Also visit Waipaoa River Valley north west of the city.
• Gisborne Botanical Gardens are bright and beautiful with a large cactus collection.
• Speed down the 60m Rere Rockslide on a bodyboard or inflatable. You can often pick one up discarded ones there.
Rere Rockslide © Tairāwhiti Gisborne
