Opononi Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Kai Iwi Lakes featuring tranquil scenes and a lake or waterhole
Kai Iwi Lakes which includes swimming and a lake or waterhole as well as an individual male
Kai Iwi Lakes featuring tranquil scenes and a river or creek
Kai Iwi Lakes showing tranquil scenes and a bay or harbour
Kai Iwi Lakes which includes a bay or harbour and tranquil scenes

This fishing village on the south shore of the Hokianga Harbour invites all visitors to enjoy its unique geological features and relaxing surroundings.

Visit Opononi to soak up the tranquility and strong Māori character of New Zealand’s Far North. Take in the stunning vistas of the sand dunes across the water, book an adventure tour or just cast a line and catch your own dinner from the wharf.

Start at the Opononi i-SITE Visitor Centre to get inspiration for things to see and do. Deep-sea game fishing from a boat, scenic flights, sky diving, nightly nature walks and sand boarding are among the more thrilling options in and around Opononi.

Of course, you can also just take it easy, by lazing on the beach and jumping in for a swim on a hot day. Just beware that the currents are strong as the Tasman Sea’s turbulent tides push and pull on the harbour waters.

You may see dolphins and even orcas cruise by. One bottlenose dolphin became a national sensation in the 1950s because she kept returning to play with the swimmers. “Opo” attracted so many onlookers that she caused the region’s very first traffic jam. The small Opo Statue commemorates this “gay aquatic creature.”

Stroll along the beach between nearby Koutu and Kauwhare points to admire the massive Koutu Boulders. The round boulders are hardened nodules that grew within sedimentary rocks, through a process called concretion, and may have taken many millions of years to form.

Tucked away up a gravel road, between Omapere and the Waipoua Forest, find the Labyrinth Woodworks and Maze. The kids will love the wooden puzzles from all over the globe and there are life-sized animal statues too. Just over the bridge is a waterfall and a walk through kauri trees.

Opononi and OmapereOpens in a new window are joined at the hip like Siamese twins. Opononi is half a day by car from AucklandOpens in a new window, but don’t rush back to the city on the same day. Stay a few nights to get that real holiday feel. Oponini is where you’ll find most facilities, such as a hotel and bar, visitor information centre and campground. Omapere provides better views of the Hokianga Harbour entrance with the sand dunes on its northern shore.

As the sun sets over this striking landscape, it’s hard to imagine a more inviting place than Opononi.

Opononi Lighthouse Motel

Opononi Lighthouse Motel

2.5 out of 5
45 State Highway 12, Opononi
The price is NZ$167 per night from 17 Oct to 18 Oct
NZ$167
17 Oct - 18 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this beach motel in Opononi. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (359 reviews)
"Fortunate enough to get a newly renovated Upgraded Room, the smell of new paint along with new fit out"

Reviewed on 6 Sept 2025

Opononi Lighthouse Motel
Opononi Resort

Opononi Resort

3 out of 5
19 State Highway 12, RD 3, Opononi
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Opononi. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and laundry facilities. Our guests praise the property condition in our reviews. Popular ...
"Beautiful veiws"

Reviewed on 29 Mar 2022

Opononi Resort
Beautiful large 6-Bedroom Coastal Vacation Home with Spa-Pool

Beautiful large 6-Bedroom Coastal Vacation Home with Spa-Pool

Opononi
The price is NZ$1,287 per night from 22 Sept to 23 Sept
NZ$1,287
22 Sept - 23 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this family-friendly vacation home in Opononi. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and patios. Popular attractions Opononi Beach and Omapere ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (12 reviews)
Perfect long weekend!
"Perfect property for a large family birthday celebration, this is a very well set up home and has the most beautiful views out to the harbour and sand dunes , the weather was perfect and the deck was well used over the entire stay!We had a lovely weekend away together and highly recommend this property ..."

Reviewed on 12 Feb 2025

Beautiful large 6-Bedroom Coastal Vacation Home with Spa-Pool
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Timewaster

Timewaster

Opononi
Stay at this vacation home in Opononi. Enjoy laundry facilities and an in-room coffeemaker. Popular attractions Opononi Beach and Omapere Beach are located ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (12 reviews)
Spectacular views & a wonderful house.
"Spectacular views with alot of different spaces to enjoy. It catered for all my whanau, spacious & roomy to entertain tge whanau & a few guests."

Reviewed on 27 Apr 2025

Timewaster
MUDBRICK BARN MUDENZA VU

MUDBRICK BARN MUDENZA VU

Opononi
Book a stay at this family-friendly vacation home in Opononi. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Hokianga Harbour and Opononi ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (66 reviews)
Beautiful Mudenza
"Warm and cosy, thoughtfully stocked cupboards kind touch by Moni she had lit the stove for us, we arrived quite late, so the house was toasty warm on our arrival. Thank you Moni"

Reviewed on 5 June 2025

MUDBRICK BARN MUDENZA VU
Waiotemarama Falls Lodge - private holiday home

Waiotemarama Falls Lodge - private holiday home

Opononi
Stay at this vacation home in Opononi. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a fitness center. Popular attractions Opononi Beach and Omapere Beach are located ...
Waiotemarama Falls Lodge - private holiday home
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Reviews of Opononi

4.5
Top destination
5 - Excellent
5
5 - Excellent 50%
4 - Good
5
4 - Good 50%
3 - Okay
0
3 - Okay 0%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

A place that is more than just the beach. A place for nature lovers to explore. Short hikes to waterfalls or around giant boulders. Limited places for food. But overall nice place with beautiful surrounding scenery.

5/5 - Excellent

Mary

The view of the sand dune amazing

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