Taranaki district, Taranaki, New Zealand

Places to visit near Opunake

Opunake is a town in Taranaki district, Taranaki, New Zealand, home to about 1,495 people. Within 50 km by road there are 119 places to visit — 54 hill stations & viewpoints, 14 wildlife, forests & gardens, 20 forts & heritage and 11 waterfalls. The must-see places are Te Ikaroa-a-Māui / Cape Egmont (27 km), Cape Egmont Lighthouse (27 km) and Taranaki Maunga (31 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Opunake on the map

Opunake, Taranaki
Opunake, Taranaki district, Taranaki, New Zealand. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Opunake at a glance

Location
Taranaki district, Taranaki, New Zealand
Population
about 1,495
Coordinates
39.4556° S, 173.8583° E
Places within 50 km
119 (11 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens

Top places to visit near Opunake

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Opunake: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Opunake

Things to see near Opunake, by type

Hill stations & viewpoints near Opunake

112 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Opunake. The closest is Beehives (26 km); the best-known is Taranaki Maunga (31 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

  • Taranaki Maunga · viewpoint · Stratford · ~31 km · Must-see
  • Pouākai Range · viewpoint · New Plymouth · ~35 km · Must-see
  • Kaitake Range · viewpoint · New Plymouth · ~42 km · Must-see
  • Beehives · viewpoint · South Taranaki · ~26 km
  • Kāhui Hill · viewpoint · South Taranaki · ~28 km
  • Maru · viewpoint · South Taranaki · ~28 km

All hill stations & viewpoints in Taranaki →

Wildlife, forests & gardens near Opunake

59 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Opunake. The closest is Kaupokonui Recreation Reserve (27 km); the best-known is Ahukawakawa (35 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

All wildlife, forests & gardens in Taranaki →

Forts & heritage near Opunake

39 forts & heritage within 100 km of Opunake. The closest is Te Namu Pā (2 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Taranaki →

Waterfalls near Opunake

13 waterfalls within 100 km of Opunake. The closest is Brames Falls (25 km); the best-known is Dawson Falls (32 km). Best time: july to january, best august to november right after rains.

All waterfalls in Taranaki →

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Opunake

13 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Opunake. The closest is Mangōraukawa / Lake Dive (27 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Taranaki →

Beaches & coast near Opunake

12 beaches & coast within 100 km of Opunake. The closest is Ōpunake Bay (1 km). Best time: october to march.

All beaches & coast in Taranaki →

A one-day trip from Opunake

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 94 km on the road.

  1. Start in Opunake
  2. 1 km Ōpunake Bay · beach, Taranaki
  3. 2 km Te Namu Pā · heritage site, South Taranaki
  4. 26 km Te Ikaroa-a-Māui / Cape Egmont · beach, South Taranaki
  5. 1 km Cape Egmont Lighthouse · beach, South Taranaki
  6. 33 km Taranaki Maunga · viewpoint, Stratford
  7. 31 km Back to Opunake

Plan a longer trip from Opunake — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Opunake

No traveller has reported from around Opunake yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Opunake

    All places near Opunake by distance

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Opunake by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Hill stations & viewpoints54112Beehives (26 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens1459Kaupokonui Recreation Reserve (27 km)
    Forts & heritage2039Te Namu Pā (2 km)
    Waterfalls1113Brames Falls (25 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs313Mangōraukawa / Lake Dive (27 km)
    Beaches & coast412Ōpunake Bay (1 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves19The Big D (40 km)
    Museums37Percy Thomson Gallery (48 km)
    Churches17Saint Marys Anglican Church (49 km)
    Other attractions36Dawson Falls Power Station (32 km)
    Treks45Around the Mountain Circuit (28 km)
    Parks13Water Tower Reserve (49 km)
    Caves01Planet Kashyyyk (The Wookie Cave) (72 km)

    Opunake: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Opunake?

    Ōpunake Bay (beach, about 1 km), Te Namu Pā (heritage site, about 2 km), Te Ikaroa-a-Māui / Cape Egmont (beach, about 27 km), Cape Egmont Lighthouse (beach, about 27 km), Taranaki Maunga (viewpoint, about 31 km), Dawson Falls (waterfall, about 32 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Opunake?

    119 places on Spotwander: 54 hill stations & viewpoints, 14 wildlife, forests & gardens, 20 forts & heritage, 11 waterfalls, 3 lakes, dams & reservoirs.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Opunake?

    Beehives, about 26 km by road; Kāhui Hill (28 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest sanctuary to Opunake?

    Kaupokonui Recreation Reserve, about 27 km by road; Cape Recreation Reserve (27 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest fort to Opunake?

    Te Namu Pā, about 2 km by road; Manaia New Zealand Wars Memorial (32 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Opunake?

    Start in Opunake, visit Ōpunake Bay, then Te Namu Pā, then Te Ikaroa-a-Māui / Cape Egmont, then Cape Egmont Lighthouse, then Taranaki Maunga, and drive back — about 94 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Opunake?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens.

    Towns near Opunake

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Opunake’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Opunake on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.