The Ōpōtiki district is a paradise for outdoor sports, including hunting, fishing and kayaking with good access and a wide range of locations.
The hills of the Eastern Bay of Plenty are a hunter’s paradise. Popular destinations are the Urutawa Conservation Area, Waioeka Gorge Scenic Reserve, and Raukumura Conservation Area. For information, regulations and permits, visit the Department of Conservation in Opotiki, located at the i-SITE. The Department of Conservation office hours are 9 am - 4.30 pm Friday only.
| Activity Operators | |
| Frontier Helicopters | info@frountierhelicopters.co.nz (07)3084188 |
| Opotiki Helicopters | steve@opotikihelicopters.co.nz |
You’ll find great fishing here. There are popular boat launching and fishing spots at Opape and the Ōhiwa Harbour boat ramp. There’s surfcasting all up the coast including at the entrance to Ōhiwa Harbour, and from Waiōtahe and Hikuwai beaches. Annual tide charts are available from the i-SITE and weekly tide charts are published in local papers. The Fishing Clubs run competitions throughout the year, so check the events calendar. If you enjoy trout fishing, the Waioeka River provides anglers with the opportunity to fish for some great fish in spectacular scenery.
| Activity Providers | |
| Opotiki Fishing Charters | 0272686190 |
| Club Talk Fishing Charters | clubtalkcharters@xtra.co.nz (07)3155463 |
| Maraehako Bay Retreat Backpackers | maraehako@xtra.co.nz (07)3252648 |
| Te Kaha Homestead Lodge | chays.at.tk@windowslive.com (07)325219 |
The Waioeka river is excellent for grade 2 kayaking, with a number of access points down the lower 25km of the Waioeka gorge. So long as weather and water conditions are reasonable, there’s good flatwater paddling from Ōpōtiki Wharf and around Ōhiwa Harbour. If you dont have kayaks of your own or would like an experienced guide, contact KG Kayaks or Kayak Opotiki.
River flows can be checked at Bay of Plenty Regional Council on their live monitoring page.
Ask Ōpōtiki i-SITE for more information about heading out into the bush or onto the water.
| Activity Providers | |
| KG Kayaks | www.kgkayaks.co.nz kgkyaks@xtra.co.nz (07)3154005 |
| Waihau Bay Kayaks | waihau@ihug.co.nz (07)3253699 |
| Travel Shop (Travel Agent) | www.travelshop.co.nz info@travelshop.co.nz (07)3158881 |
| Marine Life Tours | admin@reaf.nz 0273504910 |
With a diverse range of scenery, horse trekking makes for a fantastic day out.
| Activity Providers | |
| Horse Treks with Viv | (07)3154942 |
| Nikau Valley Horse Treks | nikau-valley@callplus.net.nz (07)3129008 |
| Opotiki Horse Hire | (07)31557285 |