Otipi Road

Otipi Road

(Motu River

East Cape)

Otipi Road is a track in the East Cape initially built to survey the upper Motu for a potential hydro dam. The dam was never built, but the road remains - mainly used by locals to go hunting, or for access to the Motu river for rafting trips.

The track crosses a river at the start and then climbs up a big ridge, and descends the other side to stop at the Motu river. Its about 35km or so, but the pace is fairly slow with a few slips, washouts and lots of overhanging foliage. A few ruts and cross axles. I think DOC permission is required now.  When we went through there was one culvert that was getting cut away on both sides like an hourglass that was in danger of closing the track. 

There are some  rough campsites at the river, where we stayed and camped the night.

Start of Otipi Road