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Opunake
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The world-class surf centre of Opunake is situated on Surf Highway 45, a marvellous scenic highway that runs from Hawera to New Plymouth. Surf Highway 45 will take you through the South Taranaki settlements of Manaia, Otakeho, Pihama, Opunake, Rahotu, Pungarehu and Warea. The highway also takes you to some of the most legendary, unspoiled surf beaches in the world.
Opunake Beach is one of the best beaches in Taranaki and within easy travelling distance of New Plymouth and Hawera. It's an extremely popular spot. In summer, the camping-ground on the beach is filled to capacity.
Murals throughout the town celebrate Opunake's history and the importance of this coastal town's links with the sea. Of particular note are the murals on the sides of the Post Office and the Taranaki Farmers' building.
Numerous celebrities and well-known New Zealanders were born or lived in this area. They include former Prime Minister Jim Bolger, All Blacks Graeme Mourie and Mark Robinson, Olympic middle-distance gold medallist Peter Snell, opera singer Dame Malvina Major and Ernest Lord Rutherford (www.rutherford.org.nz). Lord Rutherford discovered the atomic nucleus and won the Nobel Prize for chemistry in 1908.
Specially-designed heritage walks through Opunake will take you past some of the area's most significant cultural and heritage sites. They include:
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EVERYBODY'S THEATRE |
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The theatre was built between 1912 and 1914. It was originally home to Thorpe and Callahan's general store. In the 1920s, the building was converted into a picture theatre. The theatre was ultimately purchased by local residents as a community asset. Volunteers continue to operate the theatre.
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WAR MEMORIAL |
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The Opunake War Memorial commemorates local people who fell in the great wars of the 20th century. The stone was laid by His Excellency Lord Jellicoe, the Governor-General of New Zealand, on 27 October 1921.
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SHIPPING MARKER |
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The amazing shipping marker is made of four slabs of totara timber bolted together. The marker has an air of mystery about it. It is thought that the marker was put up some time before 1890 when sea transport was the only means of access to the town. When lined up with another marker north of the beach pavilion, it marked the approach to the old jetty.
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ST BARNABAS ANGLICAN CHURCH AND HALL |
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St Barnabas Anglican Church was built in the Selwyn Church style in 1895 in donated timber. The architect was the celebrated Frederick de Jersey Clere. He designed Gothic Revival buildings and is probably most celebrated for the Catholic St Mary of the Angels Church in Wellington. In 1991, the church was completely turned around and realigned by several feet.
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OTAKEHO ANGLICAN CHURCH |
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This church was one of the first churches to be built on the Waimate Plains. The church was consecrated in 1894.
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CAPE EGMONT LIGHTHOUSE |
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This marvellous lighthouse began its life on Mana Island, north of Wellington. In 1881, the tower was brought in sections to Cape Egmont on the steamer Hinemoa. The lighthouse began service in August of that year.
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SOUTH TARANAKI i-SITE VISITOR CENTRE |
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55 High Street
Hawera
Contact:
- Tourism and Events Manager: Fiona Greenhill
Phone: 06 278 8599
Fax: 06 278 6599
Email: visitorinfo@stdc.govt.nz
Hours are:
Monday - Friday 8.30am-5.15pm
Weekends and Public Holidays 9.30am-4pm (December-April) 10am-3pm (May-November). Closed Christmas Day.
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Opunake Business Association:
President: Rose Corkill
Secretary:
Monique Sinclair
Egmont Development Working Party
Chairperson: David Lusk
Ph: 06 763 8638
Opunake Heritage Inventory (2.5MB)
This file offers a detailed inventory of heritage sites in Opunake for people who would like more information regarding this important historic town. The file is in Adobe format, so please click on the image below to download Acrobat Reader if you do not have it
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*Click here or on the image to download the Adobe Acrobat Reader which can display pdf
files on your computer
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Historic Places Map |
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