Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
river. This is a wilderness area so take care and be properly prepared. Water from the river
should be boiled before drinking.
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Opoutere
File this one under Coromandel's best-kept secrets. Apart from a cluster of houses there's
nothing for miles around. Swimming can be dangerous, especially near Hikinui Islet,
which is close to the beach. On the sand spit is the
Wharekawa Wildlife Refuge
, a breeding
ground for the endangered New Zealand dotterel.
Sleeping
YHA Opoutere
( 0800 278 299, 07-865 9072;
www.yha.co.nz
;
389 Opoutere Rd; dm $30-33, r $80-110)
Housed partly
in the historic Opoutere Native School, this wonderful get-away-from-it-all hostel re-
sounds with birdsong. Kayaks, hot-water bottles, alarm clocks, stilts and hula hoops can
all be borrowed.
HOSTEL
$
Copsefield
( 07-865 9555;
www.copsefield.co.nz
;
1055 SH25; r $100-200)
On SH25 but closer to Opoutere than it
is to Whangamata, Copsefield is a peaceful country-style villa set in attractive, lush gar-
dens with a spa and a riverside swimming hole. The house has three attractive B&B
rooms, while cheaper accommodation is offered in a separate bach-style cottage.
B&B
$$
Getting There & Away
Opoutere on request.
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