Turn off SH2 onto Mōtū Rd, 70 km north west of Gisborne. Mōtū Scenic Reserve is 13 km along this road, near Mōtū. To reach Whinray Scenic Reserve from Mōtū, turn into Mōtū Falls Rd and continue for another 5 km.
Whinray Scenic Reserve features native forest and a spectacular set of waterfalls on the wild and scenic Mōtū River. Mōtū Scenic Reserve is a kahikatea wetland forest, unique as it contains an oxbow wetland and an original swamp forest.
Whinray Scenic Reserve was once used to connect Gisborne to the Bay of Plenty.