Overview
Opoutama is a long, good-looking beach break that serves up mellow, easy rollers. Waves break over sand and peel both left and right, so there's plenty of room to spread out and find your own peak down the beach.
When It Works
The beach draws swell from southwest through southeast, with south swell the best match. It's usable from 0.3 m / 1 ft to 1.5 m / 5 ft, so it favours smaller, cruisy days rather than heavy surf. Consistency is moderate, but when the setup lines up it's a decent, dependable option for a fun session.
Wind and Tide
Look for northeast offshore wind to clean up the faces. The beach works across low, mid, and high tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
This is a friendly spot for learning, best suited to beginners and loggers looking for forgiving, rolling waves. The lineup usually stays fairly quiet, so you can expect plenty of space to practise.
Access
From Napier, head north on Pandora Road (State Highway 2), onto Meeanee Quay and Main North Road out of the city. Stay on State Highway 2 through Wairoa, then at Nuhaka go straight through the roundabout onto Nuhaka Opoutama Road. Follow it, turn right onto Ormond Drive, and carry on around to the waterfront to pick out a good peak down the beach.
All the facilities and the campground sit at the northern end, with restrooms, showers, and camping on hand. For parking, there's a car park with free parking as well as roadside spots.
