Opononi

Sculptures on top of sand dune, forming the northern part of the Hokianga Heads

Opononi and Omapere are two small towns linked by a ribbon of development on the Hokianga Harbour, west of Rawene, in the North Island of New Zealand.

See

Omapere pier

• 1 Manea – Footprints of Kupe, 41 Hokianga Harbour Drive (State Highway 12). An introduction to the Maori world through a 75-minute multiformat presentation including performance, film, art and digital interaction. Adult $65, 13–16 years $12, 5–12 years $6. (updated Aug 2021)
• Sand dunes. Take the Hokianga Express ferry across the harbour and climb the dune towards the east (2.5 km). Ask the skipper for directions. 
• 2 Statue of Opo. the dolphin (updated Aug 2021)
• Labyrinth Woodworks and Maze, 647 Waiotemarama Gorge Road, Waiotemarama. 

Do

• Footprints Waipoua. Take a twilight or daylight walk with a Māori guide through the Waipoua Forest to the giant Tāne Mahuta kauri tree. Departs by coach from the Copthorne Hotel in Omapere. (updated Dec 2017)
• Walk the beautiful bush track at Waiotemarama Falls, 5 km from Opononi.

Eat

• Opononi Takeaways
• Opononi Hotel

Sleep

• 1 Copthorne Hotel and Resort Hokianga, 334 State Highway 12, Omapere. (updated Dec 2017)
• Opononi Beach Holiday Park, 43 State Highway 12, ☏ +64 9 405-8791. 
• 2 Opononi Dolphin Lodge, 2 Fairlie Cres (corner of State Highway 12), ☏ +64 9 405-8451, fax: +64 9 405-8451, opononidolphinlodge@xtra.co.nz. 
• Opononi Hotel, 19 State Highway 12. (updated Dec 2017)
• Opononi Lighthouse Motel, 45 State Highway 12, ☏ +64 9 405-8824, toll-free: 0800 445577, fax: +64 9 405-8824, info@lighthousemotel.co.nz. Look out for the lighthouse at the front. 

Go next

• Dargaville – to the south, beyond the Waipoua Forest
• Koutu – large round concretions (boulders) near Opononi
• Rawene – a town to the north-east