Discover Opua: Coastal Walks and Architectural History

In Opua, coastal walks, a short ferry crossing and a distinctive building come together. The southern end of the Paihia to Ōpua Coastal Walkway is at Ōpua Wharf; car ferries cross from Opua to Okiato in ten minutes. The Opua Store adds its own architectural history to these themes. The town therefore offers different starting points for planning a trip—from a hike to a look at historic architecture.

On foot: a coastal section or a full day of walking

The Bay of Islands Coastal Walkway is a full-day circular walking route connecting Paihia, Opua, Okiato and Russell. You can start the walk at any point, complete it in a day or divide it into individual sections. This lets you plan the route as a full-day loop or break it into shorter stages.

The Paihia to Ōpua Coastal Walkway follows the coast east from the southern end of Haumi Bay to Ōpua. Its southern end is at Ōpua Wharf. This makes Opua the endpoint of this coastal walk and distinguishes the section from the more extensive circular route through four towns.

The Opua Kauri Walk starts on Oromahoe Road, about four kilometres from State Highway 11 and near the settlement of Opua. From the area of this walk, the Oromahoe Traverse continues for about another two hours, eventually reaching School Road in Paihia. These are different measures to consider when planning your time: the Bay of Islands Coastal Walkway as a full-day circular route, and the additional walking hours on the Traverse.

A building with its own history

The Opua Store is a late Victorian-style building. John Raymond Morris had it built on piles over the water in 1914. Its architectural style, year of construction and building method together create a distinct architectural point of interest, adding a historic aspect to the walking and ferry connections. If you like to combine travel with architectural history, Opua offers more than a single route for the day.

More to explore in the wider Far North District

The wider Far North District destination offers architectural history in other places, too. The former Mangonui Courthouse in Mangonui is a well-preserved late 19th-century courthouse, built in 1892. As an unusually intact example of a small courthouse, it is of national importance. In Kerikeri, the Stone Store was built between 1832 and 1836; it is New Zealand’s oldest intact stone building and also its oldest surviving warehouse. Pompallier in Russell was built in 1841–1842 and is one of New Zealand’s earliest surviving French colonial buildings. The construction dates make it possible to compare different historic sites across the Far North District.

Landscape and walking are also among the themes of the Far North District. The Te Paki Coastal Track offers views of the northern coast, regenerating bush and large wind-shaped sand dunes. You can walk the entire track or selected sections; there are four campsites along the route. Operating conditions and closures may change. Check the latest route information before setting out.

The Te Ahu Museum at the Te Ahu Centre in Kaitāia explores the history of the Far North District. Topics include pre-European Māori artefacts, gold mining, Dalmatian heritage, kauri gum and timber, as well as early shipwrecks, missionaries and pioneers. Films, interactive exhibits, virtual landscape tours and informative displays for visitors of all ages round out the experience. The extensive archive includes documents, journals, newspapers, maps and photographs; more than 500 records are available online.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Okaihau, Coopers Beach, Waitangi, Kawakawa, Matauri Bay, Kerikeri, Te Kao, Taipa-Mangonui.

Return to the main travel guide: Far North District.