Ohope Beach
One of New Zealand’s favourite beaches, the first sight of the sea from the Ohope Hill means summer holidays for many people. Ohope has a beach experience for everyone. Have a coffee and watch the people, or walk at sunset with no one about and only the waves calling you for another swim tomorrow. There are plenty of facilities to make your Ohope Beach stay a pleasant one. The main reserve areas at Ohope Beach are:
Otarawairere Bay
This bay is a hidden jewel that we are proud to share. There is walking and boating access only. The tracks from Otarawairere village and from the Kohi Point walking tracks are suitable for active people. The walk is well worth the effort. A sheltered white shell beach backed by mature forest epitomises a ‘Pohutukawa Paradise’. There is safe swimming in the bay and rock pools feature at each end of the beach. Many families take picnic gear for the day and what a day they have. A summer day at Otarawairere Bay is the Kiwi beach experience.
West End
This is a safe and sheltered swimming beach and is also popular with surfers when the conditions are right. There are parking, changing facilities and toilet facilities at the end of West End Road. From the end of the beach a walking track for more active people leads through the bush to the secluded Otarawairere Bay.
Mahy Reserve
The surf lifesaving club is located here and provides a ‘swim between the flags’ service in summer. It’s an ideal place for picnics, with electric barbecues and tables placed for both sun and shade. The shade is provided by magnificent pohutukawa trees. The reserve also has good playground facilities and parking.
Wharekura Reserve
A popular reserve, opposite Ohope Beach School on Pohutukawa Avenue, Wharekura provides tennis courts, toilet facilities and access to the adjacent safe swimming beach.
Maraetotara Reserve
This reserve is a great spot for all the family, with electric barbecues and a playground featuring a flying fox and skatepark. The beach and reserve is the venue for the summer beach volleyball competitions. Vehicle access to the beach is provided for launching jet skis into a dedicated area of the beach. Many young children spend their hours playing in the Maraetotara Stream mouth. Modern toilet facilities and a campervan waste disposal station are located here.
Ohiwa Harbour Reserves
Inland from the eastern end of Ohope is the magnificent Ohiwa Harbour. There is safe swimming here and plenty of space for beach fishing even if the weather is rough. There is good access to the harbour edge via a number of reserves. Toilets and other facilities are at Otao South Reserve, Port Ohope Wharf Reserve and the Port Ohope Recreation Reserve.
Otao South Reserve
Summer picnics, children playing in the shallows, kayaking and windsurfing. All play a part in this sheltered area of the mid-harbour.
Port Ohope Wharf Reserve
For a brief time this was the main commercial port for Whakatane. Nowadays it has had a makeover as a recreational fishing wharf, although it is still used by the occasional commercial boat and international yachtie. A small boat ramp is to the west of the wharf buildings.
Many children have caught their first fish from the Port Ohope wharf. This is the perfect fishing place for the littlies. They can see the fish schooling near the piles and catches on small baits and sabiki flies can be plentiful. The odd kingfish is there early in the morning too Dad.
The port area contains the headquarters of the Port Ohope Yacht Club. Kayak hire can be arranged near the wharf in the summer.
Port Ohope Recreation Reserve
Keep driving east along Harbour Road and you will end up at this spacious harbour-side reserve. The reserve has the main boat ramp for Ohiwa Harbour and can be a busy place in the summer. The water ski area is west of the boat ramp. Surfcasting into the main harbour channel is popular and can be productive. Walking access is provided to the harbour entrance. Swimming near the car park is popular, but be aware that strong currents nearer to the harbour entrance make swimming and kayaking more hazardous as you approach this area.
Other Coastal Reserves
The Whakatane District coastline stretches to the west at Otamarakau. Much of the coastal land is Council-owned. West of Whakatane there are no surf lifesaving patrols and the beaches are noted for fishing rather than swimming. Surfcasting is popular and successful at all of these beaches. The main access points are at Coastlands, Golf Links Road, Thornton, Walker Road, Matata, and access points along the State Highway west of Matata, including the Pikowai camping ground. A major North Island river, the Rangitaiki, joins the sea at Thornton. This is the main beach used by Edgecumbe residents. Fishing at the river mouth is very popular and small boats can cross the bar with caution (please seek advice from Whakatane Coastguard).
Vehicles on Beaches
Driving along the beach or along the dunes is prohibited by Part 13 of the Whakatane District By-laws 2007. Coastal erosion is increasing on many of our beaches and some of this is directly related to vehicle usage. Tens of thousands of sand-binding plants have been planted in recent years by volunteer Coast Care groups and many of these plantings have been destroyed by vehicles driving over them. In addition, each year the rare NZ dotterel reduces in numbers in the Whakatane District as beach users unwittingly drive over their perfectly camouflaged nests. These birds are now far rarer than kiwi in our District.
Small boats can be launched into the surf at approved access points, but the launching vehicle must then leave the beach by the most direct route.