Kayaking on Ōhiwa Harbour

Ōhiwa Harbour offers wonderful paddling, with plenty of beaches to stop for a rest. There’s plenty of open paddling around high tide. Near low tide there’s less choice, but the channels are easier to follow, and it’s easier to spot birdlife. Especially on an outgoing tide, the places you can paddle change very quickly.

There are five main islands: Uretara, Ohakana, Hokianga and Pataua. Uretara is administered by the Department of Conservation (DoC). You are welcome to explore this lovely pohutukawa-edged island, though not to camp or light fires.

A great fine-day family paddle is to set off from Ōhope Wharf about 60-90 minutes before high tide. Paddle up the harbour (heading west) towards Ohakana and around the back of the island, where there are overhanging pohutukawa.

Continue past the racks of growing Ōhiwa Oyster Farm oysters and start heading back east. You’ll pass by a small island with yellow sandstone cliffs. Gulls, terns and shags roost here  - so don’t land - but it’s a neat spot to pause for a rest.

Keep going around Ohakana and you'll soon be able to see Ōhope Wharf again. Head home, hopefully by now with a following tide.

If you’d like an experienced guide, or you don’t have kayaks of your own, this is one of many harbour paddles offered by KG Kayaks.

Trip time

Experienced paddlers 45-60 minutes; families two to three hours.

Refreshment/car parking

At high tide you can paddle up to Ohiwa Oyster Farm, which sells great seafood and other takeaways. At Ōhope Wharf there’s safe parking, a café and toilets. You can launch from the wharf even at low tide.

Other paddles

You can paddle most of Ōhiwa harbour in the two hours either side of high tide. A great trip for experienced paddlers is to start at Ōhope Wharf and paddle around Ohakana. Then head around the back of Uretara, passing through a narrow channel between island and mainland. Next go around Hokianga and back up the main harbour channel to the wharf. This takes an experienced paddler in a fast boat around 2-3 hours.

Safety/environment

Unless you are experienced, stay away from the harbour mouth in an outgoing tide. Ōhiwa tides may well flow faster than you can paddle. Stay alert to boats, and in summer keep out of the water-ski lane east of Ōhope Wharf.

The harbour can get very choppy, especially in the main channels, so stay alert to the weather. Please do not land on islands other than Uretara, as they are privately-owned or managed. And please, stay away from birds and nesting areas, as many species are rare or endangered.