Opunake

Surf Highway 45

Because Taranaki's spherical coast collects 180 degrees of all possible swells, it offers New Zealand's most consistent surf. For this reason, the 105-kilometre long Highway 45 that hugs this coast is also known as Surf Highway 45.

A short distance from New Plymouth is Oakura Beach. It has awesome left and right handers. You'll find the Kumara Patch best in Southwest swells with an awesome left hander, peeling up to 150-metres. Stent Road gives superb right handers in westerly, Southwest and Northwest swells. Plus many other locations.

But Surf Highway 45 isn't just surf. Nowhere does the Egmont National Park come closer to a main road than it does at Lucy's Gully, giving access to walks over the Kaitake Range and to the park's 300-kilometre track network. You'll catch a glimmer of Taranaki's $2-billion energy industry at the Maui Production Station visitor centre at Oaonui. You'll see more than a glimmer from the Maui plant at Oaonui. For more information about Maui Click here

Another Oil and gas project on the go it Kupe. The Kupe Field south of New Zealand's Taranaki Peninsula will play a major role in helping New Zealand meet its increasing gas needs. For more info on Kupe Click here

This boulder-strewn coast is the last place you'd expect to find a boat club, but hardy locals have sweated out a boat-ramp, establishing an active fishing club with 200 members at Cape Egmont. Just up the road is the Egmont Lighthouse, protecting shipping here since 1881 and is often photographed with Mt Taranaki in the background.

Campers and hordes of locals enter the fishing contests, beauty contests, Mr. Puniverse contests and other contests at the annual festival at Kaupokonui Beach (see events section), as they do at beaches up and down Surf Highway 45. Surf Highway 45 map

More Info on Surf Highway 45

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