Waioeka Gorge SH2 — Opotiki toGisborne.
Distance
145 km
Duration
1 day
Climb
900 m
Waioeka Gorge SH2 — Opotiki to Gisborne.
State Highway 2 links the eastern Bay of Plenty to Gisborne by threading the deep, native-forest Waioeka Gorge along its river. Over 100km with no towns — tight curves, one-lane bridges, dense bush, and the climb over the Raukumara Range at Matawai before the drop to the sunrise city. One of the North Island's finest and least-crowded motorcycling roads.
Quick facts
SurfacePaved
Distance145 km
Days1
Total climb900 m
DifficultyModerate
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The route.
OpotikiStart · Start in Opotiki, the eastern Bay of Plenty gateway. Fuel up — the gorge has no services for over 100km.
Waioeka Gorge Scenic ReserveScenic Point · SH2 threads a deep native-forest gorge along the Waioeka River — sweeping curves, one-lane bridges and dense bush. The heart of the ride.
MatawaiScenic Point · A tiny highland settlement on the Motu River headwaters in the Raukumara Range. The climb out of the gorge crests here before the descent toward Gisborne.
GisborneEnd · End in Gisborne, among the first cities in the world to see the sun. Chardonnay country, surf beaches, and Captain Cook's first New Zealand landing site.
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