Waiotahe River & Ohiwa Beach (Bryans Beach)
At the Waiotahe River Bridge, turn left. At the first intersection, turn left to go to the harbour via the Ohiwa Harbour Scenic detour which takes you up over the hill. Take the right fork alongside the river, this non-exit road leads to the beautifully pohutukawa-lined sandy Ohiwa (or Bryan's) Beach, where you will find Ohiwa Seascape Studios and another entrance to Onekawa Te Mawhai Regional Park. This secluded spot offers surfcasting, picnicking and safe swimming with plenty of shade.
At the Waiotahe River Bridge, turn left. At the first intersection, turn left to go to the harbour via the Ohiwa Harbour Scenic detour which takes you up over the hill. Take the right fork alongside the river, this non-exit road leads to the beautifully pohutukawa-lined sandy Ohiwa (or Bryan's) Beach, where you will find Ohiwa Seascape Studios and another entrance to Onekawa Te Mawhai Regional Park. This secluded spot offers surfcasting, picnicking and safe swimming with plenty of shade.
|
Ohiwa Seascape Studios
3 Peaceful self-cont. studios offering absolute privacy, set amidst mature Pohutukawa, on the doorstep of Ohiwa Beach. 10 min to Opotiki. P: 07 315 4737 |
'Explore our Beaches'
Continuing east along SH2 on the left is Te Ahiaua Reserve, with toilets, safe swimming and at low tide you can see the locals gathering Pipi’s (shellfish). Next is the beautiful spectacle of Waiotahe Beach, with East Cape as a backdrop. This is also the start/finish of the Waiotahe Trail - great for walking or biking along the well formed seaside trail.
Te Ahiaua Reserve and Waiotahe River Mouth
- by Brian Young
Waiotahe Beach
This stretch of road when the Pohutukawa trees are in bloom is a magnificent sight. Waiotahe Beach provides good fishing, surfing and swimming and is probably Ōpōtiki's most popular beach as there is adequate parking and picnic areas, with plenty of shade.
At the eastern end of the beach you will encounter two magnificently carved poles - Te ara Ki Te Tairāwhiti - "The pathway to the sunrise", designed by Graham Hayward and created by Ōpōtiki’s master carver, Heke Collier, they depict the arrival of the Māori people to Ōpōtiki, with the European Soldier and the Māori Wahine (woman) portraying the togetherness of the races.
Near the poles is the entrance to the Ōpōtiki Surf Lifesaving Club & public toilets. As you continue around the corner and start heading inland, you will see on your left the new subdivision of Waiotahi Drifts.
This stretch of road when the Pohutukawa trees are in bloom is a magnificent sight. Waiotahe Beach provides good fishing, surfing and swimming and is probably Ōpōtiki's most popular beach as there is adequate parking and picnic areas, with plenty of shade.
At the eastern end of the beach you will encounter two magnificently carved poles - Te ara Ki Te Tairāwhiti - "The pathway to the sunrise", designed by Graham Hayward and created by Ōpōtiki’s master carver, Heke Collier, they depict the arrival of the Māori people to Ōpōtiki, with the European Soldier and the Māori Wahine (woman) portraying the togetherness of the races.
Near the poles is the entrance to the Ōpōtiki Surf Lifesaving Club & public toilets. As you continue around the corner and start heading inland, you will see on your left the new subdivision of Waiotahi Drifts.
Te ara ki Te Tairāwhiti - The Pathway to the Sunrise
- Photo by Troy Baker
Continuing on the main road it is a short run through the Kukumoa cutting to view Ōpōtiki over the Waioeka River soon after the Ōpōtiki Golf Course comes into sight. If you are keen for a round - take a right before the bridge onto Woodlands Road, and a right again into Hukutaia Road. First on the right half way up the hill is Fromow Road where you will find the Ōpōtiki Golf Club house. If you wish to visit Hukutaia Domain & the Historic Tree - Taketakerau stay on Woodlands Road and continue for approx 7kms.
'Explore Hukutaia Domain'
|
Hukutaia Domain – Native Bush Wonderland – End of Woodlands Road. Well sign posted - keep left after crossing the Waioeka Bridge coming from Ōpōtiki. Magnificent forest settings, splendid plantings of trees, shrubs, ferns and grasses. The Domain carries a good selection of New Zealand’s 2,000 plus natives many native to this area, while others introduced from elsewhere, including some outlying islands. The reserve of 5 hectare contains many rare plants, the collection known as one of the finest in N.Z. and abroad. Well labelled with pegs stating the Botanical name, the plants origin and common or Māori name. The Domain, existing since 1930 was the lifelong project of Mr. Norman Potts a local lawyer and amateur botanist. One of the features is the Historic tree named “ Taketakerau” once a Māori burial tree. The tree has a girth of about 23 metres, a height exceeding 24 metres and is estimated to be more than 2,000 yrs old. Take your camera. Many picnic spots. Plenty of parking, seating and toilets.
|
Taketakerau - Historic Tree in Hukutaia Domain - Photo Meg Collins
|
'Explore Opotiki'
Continue to the left over the Waioeka Bridge onto Bridge Street, Ōpōtiki.
On the left is the New World Supermarket, further down on the left is the Bridge Street Cafe, with the Ōpōtiki i-site just across the road. A left turn down Church Street will take you to the Ōpōtiki CBD (Central Business District). If you continue on Bridge Street to the stop sign at the intersection with St John Street, it is a right turn to Gisborne via the Waioeka Gorge. A left turn will take you past The Hot Bread Shop Cafe and Zandos Takeaways at Caltex Ōpōtiki then a right at the roundabout will take you “up the coast” around East Cape on SH35.
Ōpōtiki is the start & finish of the MOTU TRAILS - one of the 23 Nga Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand.
On the left is the New World Supermarket, further down on the left is the Bridge Street Cafe, with the Ōpōtiki i-site just across the road. A left turn down Church Street will take you to the Ōpōtiki CBD (Central Business District). If you continue on Bridge Street to the stop sign at the intersection with St John Street, it is a right turn to Gisborne via the Waioeka Gorge. A left turn will take you past The Hot Bread Shop Cafe and Zandos Takeaways at Caltex Ōpōtiki then a right at the roundabout will take you “up the coast” around East Cape on SH35.
Ōpōtiki is the start & finish of the MOTU TRAILS - one of the 23 Nga Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand.
The Pakihikura Harbour Trail is a great walk or cycle - right to the end of the breakwaters that extend 450 metres out to the sea- by Jamie Troughton
|
24/7 HOT FOOD ZANDOS @ CALTEX
St John/King St Cnr. Chicken, Chips. Pies, Sandwiches, Groceries, Bait, Swap a Bottle. Ph 07 315 6298. OPEN 24/7. |
