Opononi

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.

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

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