Things to do in Ōhope
A local guide, starting from the sand across the road.
Ōhope is a small beach town on the eastern Bay of Plenty coast, about 15 minutes’ drive over the hill from Whakatāne. It has one long beach, a big sheltered harbour behind it and not much else to get in the way. Here’s what we’d do with a few days there, all of it within a short drive of Salt & Pepper at 194 Ocean Road.
1. The beach
Ōhope Beach runs for about 11 km, from West End to the entrance of Ōhiwa Harbour. It was voted New Zealand’s Most Loved Beach in the AA’s 2014 public vote, and won Best Family Beach in the NZ Herald’s best beach awards three years running (2022 to 2024). It faces Moutohorā (Whale Island), and on a clear day you can see out to Whakaari (White Island) and along the coast towards East Cape.
It’s a good swimming beach, with gentle waves most days. Over summer the surf lifesaving club patrols, so swim between the flags when they’re up. Late December is when the pōhutukawa along the foreshore flower bright red.
2. Surf at West End
West End, at the town end of the beach and about 8 minutes’ drive from the houses, is the long-time favourite for local surfers. If you’re learning, the beach breaks along the main stretch are friendlier. Boards can be hired locally. See the area page for links.
3. Ōhiwa Harbour
On the other side of the sandspit, just a few minutes up the road from the houses, is Ōhiwa Harbour: shallow, sheltered and dotted with small islands. It’s where you go when the sea is up or the kids want calm water. Kayak or paddleboard out to the islands, jump off the wharf at Port Ōhope, or grab a coffee or ice cream at the Port Ōhope General Store & Café. Tio Ōhiwa Oyster Farm has been farming oysters here since 1968.
More detail in our guides to Ōhiwa Harbour and boating and fishing.
4. Coastal walks
Ngā Tapuwae o Toi (the Footprints of Toi) is a walking trail that links Whakatāne and Ōhope, through three scenic reserves, past old pā sites and along the clifftops at Kohi Point. Closer to town, the Ōhope Scenic Reserve has a short loop through native bush and pōhutukawa forest.
One heads-up: the clifftop track from West End to Ōtarawairere Bay has been closed since slips in 2022 and 2023. Our Ōhope walks guide covers what’s open and the other ways to get to Ōtarawairere.
5. Moutohorā (Whale Island)
The island you can see from the beach is Moutohorā, a wildlife sanctuary about 9 km off Whakatāne looked after by the Department of Conservation. You can only land with a permit or a licensed operator. Diveworks runs a four-hour guided tour, ProSail sails out on the catamaran Centaurus, and KG Kayaks paddles around it. Look out for fur seals, dolphins, little blue penguins and rare birds like the tīeke (saddleback). On some trips you can dig your own hot pool in the sand at the island’s geothermal beach. The Whakatāne i-SITE (0800 942 528) can book it.
6. Golf
Ōhope Beach Golf Links (formerly Ōhope International), six minutes up Harbour Road, is a nationally ranked 18-hole links on the strip of land between the ocean and the harbour. Whakatāne Golf Club is about 23 minutes away. See our golf guide.
7. Whakatāne
Fifteen minutes over the hill, Whakatāne has the supermarkets, cafés along The Strand, the boat tours and the Kohi Point lookout. It calls itself the Kiwi Capital of the World, and the Kiwi Wandering Trail is a self-guided scavenger hunt around town that kids enjoy. See where to eat and Ōhope with kids.
8. Birdlife
Each spring, bar-tailed godwits arrive in Ōhiwa Harbour after flying in from Alaska, and the harbour is one of the best birdwatching spots in the region. From the beach you’ll often see gannets diving just past the surf.
Going further
If you’ve got a spare day, Rotorua, the Motu Trails at Ōpōtiki and Whirinaki Forest are all within reach. See day trips from Ōhope.