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Opunake Beach

(Taranaki)

Opunake
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Events

Oct
22
A One Night Stand
Looking for A One Night Stand? Well, you've come to the right spot. No, no! Not that kind. The hilariously funny kind. A one-of-a-kind comedy event like Opunake has never seen before! Line up TBC. This is a show ... More ►
Nov
13
Reset -Turkey the Bird Goes Brass
New Zealand's folk trio "Turkey The Bird" will remind you of a Margarita cocktail, infused with a hint of "Simon & Garfunkel", 2 ounces of "Mumford and Sons", a splash of Banjo, served on ice on a sunny day, placed on a ... More ►
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Opunake Beach

Opunake is a very popular beach with the local community. The beach can be dangerous in any size swell due to the southerly drift and the large rip at the southern end of the beach which pumps a lot of water out beyond the surf zone. There are some large holes always present at the beach. Opunake Beach has good facilities for beach goers and a motor camp situated only 50 metres from the beach. Opunake Surf Life Saving Club patrol weekends and public holidays during the summer months and there are also professional Lifeguards working during the school holidays.

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Ratings

Family friendly

This beach is well suited for families, make sure your family is prepared for the beach conditions, the beach is patrolled by Surf Lifeguards during the summer months.

Swimming

Bathing at Opunake beach is very popular during the summer months. The beach has a very low swash gradient of less than one degree, meaning the beach has one of the largest, low tide terraces in the country. Bathers at this beach can walk out a great distance before the water will be over head height. The beach has a couple of large holes, a longshore southerly drift, and a large rip at the southern end.

Surfing

Surfing can be quite good at Opunake beach. The main bar at the northern end of the beach often provides good surfing waves (generally right handers). There are also many good point breaks in the nearby area. Opunake beach can be surfed on any tide and is offshore in a northeast wind.

Fishing

Fishing is very popular in the Opunake area. There are many good spots to rock fish from. The territory is tough but productive. The area has big snapper and fishermen need to use squid or octopus as bait, as other types do not last long.

Activities and facilities

Activities

  • Canoeing/kayaking
  • Shell fish gathering
  • Wind/kite surfing
  • Wind-powered vehicles

Facilities

  • Car parking
  • Food and beverage kiosk
  • Playground
  • Public toilets

Safety

The beach is our favourite playground, but it can also be a dangerous place. Learn about the hazards at Opunake Beach and be prepared so you and your family can enjoy the sun, sea and sand safely this summer.

Hazards

Large breaking waves
Strong rips/currents
Submerged objects
Sudden drop off

Patrols

Patrolled Beach
Opunake Beach is a patrolled beach.
Stay safe - swim beween the flags.

Forecast provided by SwellMap.com

Mainly clear with some cloud
8°c
Max Temp.
14°c
Water Temp.

Wind

Light
27 kph
South East

Swell

Large
1.4m
South

Water Conditions

For boating and surfing
Poor. 1/10
1
Poor. 1/10
1

Tides

12:30Am
Low
6:40Am
High
1:00Pm
Low
7:20Pm
High
7-day Forecast ► Forecast for Friday 17 Sep 2021, 9Pm
Swellmap.com

Safety at Opunake Beach

We want you to have a great time whilst visiting Opunake Beach. But take a moment to learn more about being safe on New Zealand Beaches. More ►

Patrolled Beach

Patrolling club: Opunake SLSC
Patrolled Beach
Opunake Beach is a patrolled beach.
Stay safe - swim beween the flags.
 

Patrol Hours

Opunake Beach is NOT CURRENTLY patrolled by Surf Lifeguards in Winter months. In an emergency call 111 and ask for Police assistance. Surf Lifeguard patrols will resume in November 2021.

Hazards

Large breaking waves
Large breaking waves
Strong rips/currents
Strong rips/currents
Submerged objects
Submerged objects
Sudden drop off
Sudden drop off

Click a safety symbol for more information on the risk

4 simple rules to keep you safe

We want you to have a great time whilst visiting Opunake Beach. But take a moment to learn more about being safe on New Zealand beaches and looking out for each other. More ►

The Water Safety Code:

  • Be prepared
  • Watch out for yourself and others
  • Be aware of the dangers
  • Know your limits
DIAL 111 in the event of an emergency

Location

Opunake Beach is located 500 metres west of Opunake township. Opunake Beach is a small bay and the beach is 500 metres long. There are long cliff headlands to each end of the bay. These cliffs extend around the back of the bay with a large reserve behind the beach before the cliffs. The beach is golden sand and has a very large low tide terrace. The Opunake Surf Life Saving Club is located centrally on top of the foredune.

Public Transport

Sorry, we have no public transport information available for this beach.

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Beach Water Quality

Many councils provide the results of their weekly monitoring. This lets people know what the most recent bacteria levels were. Remember, even sites with low risk can be unsuitable to swim at from time to time and we recommend that you avoid swimming for 48 hours after heavy rainfall.

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