Last updated November 2026
Away from the beach on Moturoa / Rabbit Island, a pair of easy grade 2 forest tracks wind through the pine plantation beside the estuary, giving families and beginner mountain bikers somewhere gentle to ride off the main Great Taste Trail.
The Moturoa Forest Track can be ridden as a 9 km loop via Bird Road or a shorter 5.5 km loop via Tawa Road, and the 2 km Conifer Park track links into it.
The council calls the main track family-friendly and suitable for learner and intermediate riders, and the Nelson MTB Club, which says the council built and manages the trails, recommends the area for family rides and beginners. Start from Ken Beck Drive or from Conifer Park on Cooper Road.
Practical Information
- Start
- Ken Beck Drive, or Conifer Park on Cooper Road (off Ken Beck Drive)
- Moturoa Forest Track
- 9 km loop via Bird Road around the western part of the island, or 5.5 km loop via Tawa Road
- Conifer Park track
- About 2 km through pines; links to the forest track
- Grade
- Grade 2 (easy) on both
- Surface
- Forestry tracks, generally flat, with some soft sandy spots
- Suits
- Learner and intermediate riders (council); family rides and beginners (Nelson MTB Club)
- Dogs
- Not allowed on Rabbit Island
- Land owner and manager
- Tasman District Council
- Status
- Check Tasman District Council’s mountain bike page and the Heart of Biking trail notices for current closures before you ride
About Moturoa / Rabbit Island Forest Tracks
Moturoa / Rabbit Island is better known as a beach, and the Nelson Tasman Cycle Trail Trust notes it is popular for swimming and picnics. The island also has a pine plantation forest, and that is where these tracks run, on council land beside the estuary.
The Nelson MTB Club says the council built and manages the trails. Both are grade 2, generally flat, and run through the pines on established forestry tracks, and the club pitches the area at family rides and people new to mountain biking.
The Great Taste Trail also crosses the island on its way to the Māpua ferry, so the forest tracks are easy to add to a longer day on the coastal route.
Choosing a Loop
Moturoa Forest Track
The main track gives you a choice of two loops. The longer one, via Bird Road, is 9 km. Cutting back via Tawa Road makes a 5.5 km loop. Both are graded 2 and mostly flat.
Conifer Park
Conifer Park, on Cooper Road off Ken Beck Drive, has its own track of about 2 km through the pines. It links to the Moturoa Forest Track, so you can start here and join the longer loops.
Riding on Sand
The tracks are generally flat, but the council notes some soft sandy spots on the forest track, so expect some slower going in places and ride to the conditions. Leave the dog at home: dogs are not allowed on Rabbit Island, and the trust lists the island among the Great Taste Trail sections where dogs are banned.
From locals
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long are the Rabbit Island forest tracks?
The Moturoa Forest Track is a 9 km loop via Bird Road or a 5.5 km loop via Tawa Road. The Conifer Park track is about 2 km.
Are they suitable for kids?
The Nelson MTB Club says the trails suit beginners and families, and both tracks are graded 2.
Where do I start?
From Ken Beck Drive, or from Conifer Park on Cooper Road, off Ken Beck Drive.
Can I bring my dog?
No. Dogs are not allowed on Rabbit Island.
Who looks after the tracks?
Tasman District Council. The Nelson MTB Club lists the council as land owner and says it built and manages the trails.
Are the tracks flat?
Generally, but the council notes some soft sandy spots.
Do they connect to the Great Taste Trail?
The Great Taste Trail runs through the same area of the island, so you can combine the two.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Related links 3
- Tasman District Council: Mountain bike trails: the council’s guide to the Moturoa Forest Track and Conifer Park.
- Nelson MTB Club: Rabbit Island MTB trails: the club’s page on the island’s beginner and family trails.
- Heart of Biking: Trail notices: Great Taste Trail closures and the dog rules for Rabbit Island.