Opunake

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Opunake is a small town on the southwest coast of Taranaki in New Zealand's North Island. It is located 45 kilometres southwest of New Plymouth. The town's 2001 population was 1587.

The town was settled in the 1880s. It was intended to be a major port, but other than a jetty constructed in 1891, little construction was completed.

Whilst being a commercial centre for the area's dairy farming community, Opunake is also a popular tourist spot and has one of Taranaki's finest beaches. The beach is comprised of volcanic blacksand and there are large rock pools to be found on the north-west end of the beach at low tide.

Currently (May 2006) an artificial reef is under construction to improve the beach's already good surf.

In 2007 a statue of Peter Snell will be erected to celebrate the fame of this son of Opunake.