The Mōtū River drains the eastern portion of New Zealand's North Island, flowing through the Raukumara Range — notably the last area in New Zealand to be fully mapped. This geographical history contributes to the river's character: it passes through rugged, remote terrain with a notable absence of roads and human settlement, making it one of the more genuinely wilderness-oriented multi-day trips available on the North Island.

The river is typically run as a three-day trip, though some groups take four days. It is rated Class 3/4 whitewater and is suitable for kayaks, rafts, and tandem craft. The continuous nature of the rapids is considered unusual for the North Island, and the length of the run combined with limited road access gives the trip an adventurous quality. Rapids are largely read-and-run in character.

Campsites are distributed along the river banks and vary from open sandy beaches to established hunters' camps. Firewood is reported to be plentiful. The surrounding wilderness supports red deer, wild goats, and raptors. The river also sees occasional helicopter-accessed hunters and fishermen, but human traffic is generally sparse.

Tours depart from Ōpōtiki in the Bay of Plenty region, which provides a reference point for logistics. Jet boat tours also operate on the river, which paddlers should be aware of when planning their trip.

The river has been described in New Zealand guidebooks as warranting paddlers to "jump at any opportunity" to run it, reflecting its standing as one of the North Island's premier multi-day paddling routes. Groups of mixed backgrounds tend to find the multi-day format conducive to a social experience around camp. The combination of continuous whitewater, wildlife, and roadless wilderness makes it a distinctive option compared to more accessible North Island runs.