4WD Trails in Bay of Plenty

Bay of Plenty offers a mix of coastal back-roads, forestry access, and the volcanic plateau fringe. The eastern Bay — Ōpōtiki to East Cape direction — has some of the most scenic and least-visited 4WD country in the North Island.

The Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park (on the BOP/Hawke's Bay boundary) is the major DOC area for 4WD access. Rotorua's Whakarewarewa Forest has limited vehicle access but is heavily used by mountain bikes. The Whakatāne River valley and the Waiotahe Valley forestry blocks offer day-trip driving.

Year-round driving is possible with mild winters. Summer is the most reliable for access, particularly to the coastal back-roads which can flood in winter rains.