Waiotahe Spit reserve

The mouth of the Waiotahe River is an excellent place for safe kayaking, SUP or dinghy. Launch your apparatus from Waiotahe Spit Reserve, 7 km from Opotiki’s Waioeka Bridge. The reserve fronts onto the small estuary. When it is low tide there are extensive mudflats. High tide the water is less than a metre in depth. You can safely paddle up the Waiotahe River.

NOTE

From the Waiotahe River you are able to land on Waiotahe Beach and dash across to the ocean. There are usually shags and oyster catchers to spot, and the views of Moutohora (Whale Island) nearby are awesome. The reserve is a lovely picnic spot dotted with pohutukawa trees, and it has a large grass area, tables and toilets.

Safety

Be careful near the river mouth as ocean swells can cause capsizing. Take care not to disturb nesting birds in the dunes behind Waiotahe Beach.

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