Sub region: Hokianga
Easy-going Opononi and nearby Ōmāpere are places to live the beach life, hear the stories of Kupe, and zoom up and down the giant dunes and harbour of the Hokianga.
Opononi and its twin settlement Ōmāpere provide a slice of beachside living in the heart of the Hokianga Harbour. Opononi was made famous in the mid 1950s by the tame dolphin Opo, who used to let children ride on his back.
A white sand beach stretches all the way to the Opononi Wharf, where you can catch a water taxi to the giant sand dunes on the other side of the harbour. Dune surfing on boogie boards is a thrill that leaves you sandy but extremely satisfied. From kayaking to Jetski's, Ōmāpere/Opononi also offers a range of exciting water activities. In the heart of the twin settlement, you'll find Manea Footprints of Kupe, a Māori cultural centre that tells the story of great ancestor Kupe through a 4D sensory experience.
You’ll discover a choice of places to stay, from motels and resort-style beachfront units to private holiday cottages that can be rented for almost any duration.
