West End to Ōtarawairere by SUP or Kayak

Ōtarawairere Beach is a stunning spot, with craggy rocky outcrops pushing out into the sea. Shags perch in trees high on the cliffs. Seagulls swoop the sky. There’s a good chance of seeing stingrays, seals, and other marine life.

Paddle out through the waves from West End, Ōhope. Head around the point, and you’ll quickly see the beach. In settled conditions landing is straightforward, especially at the northern end. It’s well worth a wander on the rocks and glorious broken shell sands.

At low tide you can paddle the channels around the rocky outcrops, several of which form mini islands. Keep looking below you for marine life – who knows what you’ll see.

On the return trip, you may have to check carefully before landing back at West End – there may be waves.

Trip time

Otarawairere is ideally a trip for exploration and discovery, not time! Paddling to the beach only takes about 15 minutes. But it’s worth spending a couple of hours looking around. Note that if you have any non-paddlers, they can walk from West End to Otarawairere in 20 minutes.

Refreshment/car parking

There is parking, and toilets, at the road end at West End. There are cafes and dairies at Ōhope shops – stop for an ice cream. You can also park at the Heads of the Whakatāne River. In between, there is no road access; take all you need.

Other paddles

Depending on energy and fitness, you can continue on around the coast to Whakatāne. As with Otarawairere, the right conditions, boats and skills are imperative.

Safety/environment

If it’s windy, the swells can get large; wait for another day. Early mornings and late afternoons often see the calmest conditions, but check the weather forecast. This is the open sea, so stable boats and appropriate skills are imperative. Low tide is an ideal time to paddle, as more of the coastal environment becomes visible.