Opunake

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. Rahotu is 16 km to the northwest. Manaia is 29 km to the southeast. State Highway 45 passes through the town. The population was 1368 in the 2006 Census, a reduction of 132 from 2001. The town was settled in the 1880s. It was intended to be a major port but, other than a jetty constructed in 1891, little else was completed. Opunake is the centre for the local dairy industry, and is also a popular tourist spot, having one of Taranaki's finest beaches. The beach is composed of volcanic blacksand and there are large rock pools to be found on the north-west end of the beach at low tide. Currently...