Opononi

Attractions and Activities

From the wharf one can catch fish or take a boat across to the magnificient sand dunes that dominate the scenery, and try sand boarding, or simply relax in the summer sun on the sandy beach. In summer, the Alma(historic century old scow) will take you for harbour cruises and fishing trips. The Annual Axe man Carnival is held each year on the first day of January, as it has for the last 100 years. Also in early January the local Opononi Fishing Competition is held.

Inland from Opononi is the Māori settlement of 4Whirinaki, with beautiful bush clad hills and a magnificent waterfall which can be seen from the road. There is a bushwalk to the falls and into the kauri forests. The start for this walk is at the top of Mountain Road, next to the Okopako Wilderness Farm, which offers accommodation and horse trekking. Five minutes up the road in mid December the Rawene Christmas Carnival takes place, and has been happening for the past seventy years. It is all day affair with a parade at midday , stalls, competitions, rides, arts and crafts, and Santa comes for the young ones. Also celebrated is the Rawene Book Festival, held every two years Rawene celebrates its readers and writers with a festival. Established in 1995, the next Rawene Book Festival and short story competition will take place in April/May 2008.