Motu River

Motu River is the major waterway in the eastern region of the North Island of New Zealand. It rises on the southern side of the Raukumara Range south of Opotiki, and winds its' way east and cutting its way through the steep mountaneous ranges finally spilling out into the Bay of Plenty to the north.
The Mâori name Môtu means cut off, isolated. This refers to the district around the headwaters, which since ancient times has been considered to be in the middle of nowhere because of the thickness of the forests which surrounded it.

The river passes through mostly uninhabited hill country, very steep and still thickly covered in rainforest. A mid-20th century proposal to dam the river for hydroelectricity was rejected.

The Motu River provides anglers with an excellent backcountry fishing opportunity, home to a large population of brown trout in the upper reaches. Good populations of brown trout reside in the middle and upper reaches with catches averaging around 1 to 2 kg (2-5lbs).
The upper reaches of the Motu River are easily accessible meandering through a mixture of open farmland and bush country. This stretch of water holds a good population of trout (and an even larger population of eels).

The river is prone to quick discoloring after heavy rain and generally carries colour and its water throughout the year. Consequently, trout are hard to spot and so most fishing is done blind. It does offer excellent dry fly and nymph water as well as offering plenty of opportunity for spinning. It is a remote river and is protected by a National Water Conservation Order.

Below Motu Falls the middle reaches are very rugged and inaccessible. The section should be left to the very energetic and experienced angler and is best suited to spin fishing. This stretch of the Motu River is ideal for a rafting, fishing wilderness outdoor camping package.

The Raukumara Ranges that the Motu runs through is also home to a large resident herd of red deer and wild pig. It is common to see animals from the raft and hunting is definitely an option.

Motu River above SH35

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