Opoutere

Located between Tairua and Whangamata, this quiet town has an estuary and a 5km white sand surf beach that is protected from development by a forested reserve.

The Opoutere Wildlife Refuge Reserve is a popular spot with birdwatchers. It’s a nesting site for the rare New Zealand dotterel, a small wading bird. There are also bushwalks and fishing in the area, but mainly Opoutere is a nice place to come and relax.