Opunake

Welcome to Opunake

Opunake boasts the best beach in the west with a superb, sandy, patrolled beach which attracts many holiday-makers (They're in on the secret).  The beach camp nestles besides the cliffs offering plenty of accommodation, backed up by the hotel, motel and backpackers in the township.  This bustling little town sports several interesting murals and a community-owned cinema with regular screenings of Hollywood's latest.  The Soap Factory, open to the public, manufactures natural bio-friendly soap specialty gift products.

Until the late 1800's, the Opunake area was relatively isolated and access was mainly by sea.  In 1891, a jetty was constructed on the northwest headland of Opunake Beach to encourage the development as the main port of Taranaki.  The jetty was destroyed by stormy seas and a second wharf (the remains of which can be seen today) was constructed.  The heavy seas made mooring difficult and the wharf was closed in the 1920's.  The sea conditions did not hamper the flax industry which favoured the coastal location.

Numerous celebrities and well-known New Zealanders were born or lived in the coastal area, including former Prime Minister Jim Bolger, All Blacks Graeme Mourie and Mark Robinson, Olympic Gold medallist Peter Snell, opera singer Dame Malvina Major, Sir Roderick Deane, Chairman of Telecom NZ, and Lord Ernest Rutherford who discovered the atomic nucleus and won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1908.

Discover

The natural beauty of the rugged, timeless coastline of the Surf Highway.  Its world-renowned surf, plentiful fishing and deserted coastline where you can catch a wave, or a fish, or just catch the scenery.

Enjoy the pace and linger a while - - warm to a beach fire while the sun sets, sizzle a sausage -  forget the race! Where the mountain meets the sea ... catch the mood.

Opunake.com is sponsored by Opunake Concrete (http://www.opunakeconcrete.com)

 

Opunake Concrete

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