Welcome to Ohope Beach, Bay of Plenty

New Zealand

Ohope Beach is New Zealand's best beach...

East Coast of the Bay of Plenty. Pacific Coast Highway.

Photos by Andrew Whyte.

To experience the beautiful East Coast of the Bay of Plenty simply take a drive along State Highway 35. From Ohope you will travel 35 minutes around Ohiwa Harbour to Opotiki, which is the main service town on the coast and the gateway to Eastland.

The pacific coast highway turns North East and you will travel around the coastline and see some of the best scenery in the North Island. Many lookouts over the coast will give you amazing vistas of the Bay of Plenty.
Rocky bays such as Whanarua and Maraitai offer safe swimming and restricted camping. The coast is a relaxation paradise with many rivers offering fishing and boating adventures.

Travelling through Te Kaha make sure you stop at the local hotel for lunch or a break. Set on a peninsular the hotel is modern and offers, with no argument, the best outlook from any hotel as you relax and gaze across the pohutukawa trees and the Bay of Plenty.

Waihau Bay and Cape Runaway are a game fishing Mecca and is served by convenience stores and a large camping ground. Swimming, diving and fishing in Waihau Bay are popular pass times and many visitors go there year after year to enjoy the coast.

Some of the best honey in the world is farmed in this part of the coast as you travel up and over to beautiful Hicks Bay. As named by Captain Cook. Hicks Bay has a popular lodge, takeaways and convenience stores. The sheltered panorama of Hicks Bay is jewel on the Pacific Coast Highway.

Te Araroa Bay is next and you can sample some of the famed Manuka Honey here and stop off at the camping ground, which is well serviced and shady in the summer. This sheltered bay is the gateway to the East Cape lighthouse, which is about 40 minutes drive along a flat gravel road. Well worth the drive as you take in pan caked rocks and steep coastal bluffs.

The road turns south to Gisborne and the locals along the coast of Eastland will welcome you.

You can link to a detailed map of the coast and also see our photo albums.If you are a business on the coast and you wish to advertise on this website then please contact the Webmaster.