Nature and conservation

The reserve is unique as it contains: 

• an oxbow wetland (crescent-shaped lake lying alongside a winding river) and
• an original kahikatea swamp forest, one of only 2% left in New Zealand

The remainder of the reserve is alluvial forest with a low canopy of houhere (lacebark) and wheki-ponga (tree fern). Kahikatea (white pine) emerge 30 metres above the canopy. 

It is also habitat for aquatic bird species and provides valuable habitat for weka and common bush birds.

The Department of Conservation undertakes trapping, weed control and restoration planting at the reserve. The trapping programme targets rats, mustelids and possums. While weed control focuses on Japanese honeysuckle, Old Man's Beard, English ivy, Japanese walnut and various willow species. 

Visitors can learn more about problem weeds in the reserve from an information panel installed next to the lake. 

Sponsorship from Matua Wines has enabled restoration planting of manuka, flax, karamu, kahikatea and koromiko on the grassy margins of the reserve.

History and culture

In 1913 the government approved 70 acres of native bush and lagoon for Mōtū Scenic Reserve now managed by the Department of Conservation. Visitors from the Mōtū Hotel would often go boating on the lake in the early 1900s when the hotel was at its most popular.

A photo taken by well known local photographer William Crawford in the 1900s features the oxbow lake with Mr Christian Hansen rowing his children and James Whinray (that nearby Whinray Scenic Reserve is named after) across the lake.