| Timeless Opoutere Coromandel Peninsula • New Zealand |
Timeless Opoutere on the Coromandel Peninsula. This undeveloped coastal wilderness welcomes you.
Saving the whales -
photos
Opoutere Photos @
www.opoutere.co.nz
Timeless
Opoutere. Courtesy David Evelyn.
| GETTING HERE. |
Opoutere village is located some 3.5km from the turnoff on S.H.25 halfway between Whangamata and Hikuai. A Youth Hostel and public car park for beach access are another 1km further on around the side of the Wharekawa Harbour. A daily bus service connects Opoutere with Auckland, Hamilton and the Coromandel Peninsula.
| OPOUTERE SURF BEACH. |
Click on one of these Opoutere
images to send it as an electronic postcard.
The last great undeveloped white sand surf beach on the Coromandel
Peninsula accessible to the public is protected from development by an afforested reserve
running almost its entire 5km length. Exceptionally clear water for swimming, surfing and
surfcasting, safest for children at low tide.
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| WHAREKAWA HARBOUR & WILDLIFE REFUGE. |
At the southern end of Opoutere Beach lies the narrow entrance to the
Wharekawa Harbour which is dominated by a spectacular sandspit. The spit is a breeding
ground for several endangered species of sea birds including the "New Zealand
Dotterel" and "Variable Oystercatcher". DOC Ranger on duty at refuge from
November through to February during breeding season.
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| BUSHWALKS. |
In addition to the harbour and reserve walks there are easy walks
along the beach to Ohui rockpools at the northern end of the beach and into the state
forest to visit the historic Phoenix goldmine. For the more adventurous a good track winds
up Maungaruawahine Pa hill through native bush from Opoutere Road to the lookout vantage
point on the top. Unusual stone ramparts that formed part of the Maori fortifications can
still be seen in some places near the summit. The view across the harbour to the site of
the sister Pa on Ruahiwihiwi point and the sandspit refuge is reward indeed for the climb
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| FISHING. |
Surfcasting: Opoutere Beach and harbour mouth.
Skindiving: Around Hikunui Island and south coastline to Pokohino.
Shellfishing: Plentiful cockles and pipis in the harbour and tuatua in the surf.
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