Whakatāne & Ōhope
A sunny town on the eastern Bay of Plenty, linked to Ohope Beach by a headland walk, with flights over the active volcano on White Island or boat trips to Whale Island.
Whakatāne lies on the eastern Bay of Plenty of New Zealand's North Island, at the mouth of the Whakatāne River. It is about 90 km from Tauranga and 89 km from Rotorua, and is one of New Zealand's sunniest towns. Ōhope, 6 km east, is a seaside resort on a sandbar, bordered to the north by Ōhope Beach, about 11 km long, and to the south by Ōhiwa Harbour. This is where the Māori ancestral waka Mātaatua landed. At the river mouth, the Wairaka statue and the Mātaatua meeting house tell the story of the tribe's origins.
Areas to explore:
① Whakatāne town and river mouth: the Wairaka statue, the Mātaatua meeting house, and The Strand wharf, where sea tours depart.
② Cape Kōhi to Ōhope: Toi's Footprint walk, the ruins of Toi's Pā, Otarawairere Bay, and the Ōhope Scenic Reserve, home to wild kiwi.
③ Ōhope Beach and Ōhiwa Harbour: swimming and surfing, mangrove kayaking, and small oyster shops.
④ At sea: boat trips to the Whale Island Nature Reserve to watch dolphins and seals, or a small plane from Whakatāne Airport for a view of the active volcano on White Island (landing has been banned since its 2019 eruption).
⑤ Inland: the Awakeri hot springs and the primeval forest of Te Urewera.
Climate: mild and sunny. Beach season peaks from December to March, when the sea is warmest. Winter (June–August) days reach about 15°C, with fewer visitors and lower prices, which makes it good for walking.
Getting around: Whakatāne Airport has flights to and from Auckland. Driving from Rotorua takes about 1 hour, and from Tauranga about 1 hour 15 minutes. Local buses run between the town and Ōhope, but boat trips, hot springs and Te Urewera require a car.
Plan 2 days: one for the beach and walks, and one for a boat trip or scenic flight. Boat trips and flights depend on the weather, so it is best to schedule them earlier in your trip, leaving spare days in reserve.
Top sights
- Ōhope Beach – A golden sand beach about 11 km long, once voted New Zealand's most popular beach, backed by pōhutukawa trees, with views of Motuhora (Whal…
- Whakaari / White Island Scenic Flight – New Zealand's most active offshore volcano. Since the 2019 eruption, landing has been prohibited, but you can fly over its steaming crater…
- Ngā Tapuwae o Toi / Kohi Point Walkway – A coastal track linking Whakatāne and Ōhope, passing the Kohi Point lookout, the Toi's Pā ruins and the hidden Ōtarawairere Bay.
- Moutohorā (Whale Island) – A rodent-free wildlife island 9 kilometers offshore from Whakatāne, which can only be visited on licensed guided tours, with a hot-spring b…
- Wairaka Statue (Lady on the Rock) – A bronze statue on the rocks at the Whakatāne river mouth, honoring the Māori woman Wairaka, who paddled a canoe to rescue her people and i…
- Ōhiwa Harbour – A quiet lagoon behind Ōhope Spit, with mangroves and mudflats teeming with waterbirds; the oyster farm shop by the lagoon is a local specia…
- Mataatua Wharenui – A Māori carved meeting house built in 1875 that toured Britain and Australia before returning home to Whakatāne in 2011 after 130 years awa…
- Ōhope Scenic Reserve – A native forest reserve between Whakatāne and Ōhope, home to hundreds of wild brown kiwi, where you can join conservation groups on night w…
- Awakeri Hot Springs – A long-established family hot spring resort about 16 kilometers southwest of Whakatāne, with mineral pools, a children's pool, and private…
- Te Urewera – Ancestral lands of the Tūhoe people and the largest native forest on New Zealand's North Island, a misty realm of mountains and forest with…
Where to eat
- Tio Ohiwa Oyster Farm – A white seaside shack where oysters have been farmed since 1968. Eat oysters and fish and chips beside Ohiwa Harbour.
- Roquette Restaurant & Bar – The best-reviewed sit-down restaurant on the Whakatāne River in downtown Whakatāne, known for beautifully plated New Ze…