Opotiki Overview

The last town of any size (pop. 4000) before the remote Maori settlements of the East Coast, Opotiki makes an adequate gateway to the attractions of SH35 and a good pit-stop before the undulations of SH2. About 7km from town is Hukutaia Domain, an 11-acre park with a collection of New Zealand’s native plant species. You can almost skip a stone across the surf from the porch of the Opotiki Beach House Backpackers (BBH) , on Appleton Rd. at Waiotohi Beach, 5km west of town on SH2. (☎315 5117; slowry@paradise.net.nz. Free bike, kayak, and bodyboard use. Dorms $23; doubles $56. Tent sites $17. Cash only.) Beyond out-of-the-way, farther than secluded, and transcending isolated are the phrases that best describe Bushaven Lodge , a one-of-a-kind backpackers set on a 160-acre plot of wilderness. From Opotiki, take SH2 toward Gisborne, turning onto Otara Rd., 500m outside of town, and travel for 14km—the pavement dissipates after the first 10km. Follow the sign to the right of the wooden bridge another 4km. (☎027 201 0512; www.bushaven.co.nz. Fire pit. Vehicle security $5 per day. Dorms $23; doubles and twins $56. Tent sites $10. Cash only.) The Masonic Hotel , at Elliot and Church St., has small rooms and a popular restaurant and bar. (☎315 6115. Restaurant open daily noon-2:30pm and 6pm-late. Lunch and dinner mains $16-24. Singles $25; doubles with shared bath $45-55. MC/V.) The Hot Bread Shop and Cafe , 120 Church St., has a $10 takeaway special on Tuesday and Wednesday. Mains $12. (☎315 5879. Open Tu-Su 10:30am-3pm and 5-10:30pm. MC/V.) Stock up on vitals at New World, 19 Bridge St. (☎315 6723), south of town centre off SH2, before heading east. (Open M-Sa 8am-8pm, Su 9am-8pm.) The bus depot is next to the Hot Bread Shop and Cafe at the corner of St. John and Bridge St., 1km from the Opotiki i-Site. InterCity runs to Gisborne (2hr., 1 per day, $26-32) and Rotorua (2hr., 1 per day, $26-32) via Whakatane (45min., $17-21). Book tickets at the Opotiki i-Site, at St. John and Elliot St. (☎315 8484; infocentre@odc.govt.nz. Open M-F 8am-5pm.) The DOC office is in the same building but closes at 4:30pm. The Opotiki Superette, 97 Church St., provides Internet and laptop connections at $4 per hr. (☎315 7632. Open M-Sa 6am-7pm, Su 1-6pm.) The ANZ, 108 Church St., has a 24hr. ATM. (☎0800 180 935.) For the police, go to 29 King St. (☎315 1110.) Kerry Nott, 116 Church St., is the last pharmacy until Gisborne (☎315 5874. Open M-F 8:30am-5pm, Sa 9am-noon.) The post office is at 106 Church St. (☎315 6155. Open M-F 8:30am-5pm, Sa 9am-noon.)