Opua Forest Lookout Track
Opua Forest Lookout Track
Opua Forest Lookout Track
4.5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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Shelley M
Albany, New Zealand916 contributions
Mar 2022
You have the option of a long or short walk. The view was worth the walk. It is mainly uphill on the way up, which can be challenging for older people, but easily 30 mins each way on the short track to lookout point.
Written March 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael P
Washington DC, DC80 contributions
Dec 2019
A local park leads to a bush trail near the end of School Road. The car park has room for about four vehicles, but there is also space on the side of the road. The trail, like so many in NZ, is uphill both ways. Trail conditions are good; packed dirt with light gravel, walkways and bridges where appropriate. Lots of bird life and about half a dozen Kauri trees including the one at the top. Good views on both sides of the ridgeline. There are good views near the top, also at various points along the trail, but the views are framed by foliage. About 25 minutes each way. Bring water in summer.
The decontamination statin at the base of the trail (to prevent a blight affecting Kauri trees) was empty, so remember to decontaminate your footwear before and after.
The decontamination statin at the base of the trail (to prevent a blight affecting Kauri trees) was empty, so remember to decontaminate your footwear before and after.
Written January 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Moatiq
Whangarei, New Zealand66 contributions
Feb 2021 • Solo
There are 2 walks in this area and you can easily get confused reading the reviews. The one I went for is the Paihia School Road track which is a shorter one. It takes about an hour and a bit from Paihia township up to the lookout and back, going at a steady medium pace. Access is from School Road and you can get to School road through the carpark behind Countdown on Williams Road. With kids and slow leisurely walks, it would be close to hour and half or so. The hike is reasonably easy with well looked after gravel type paths, stairs and walkways. A little way up the hike, the second walk veers off to the left and its the longer one to Opua. View from the lookout area is nice but not as impressive, with vegetation covering off most of it. Take water if its a hot day and good walking shoes. A pleasant way to spend an hour in Paihia during the day.
Written February 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Martijn_DJ
Amsterdam, The Netherlands2,089 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
The path to the lookout is nice but not very special. But the biggest disappointment is at the end, because the vegetation is so dense that you really can't see anything of the surroundings. So this is not a lookout at all (anymore). The photos you see here with a view towards the bay must be from a very long time ago. We ended up walking straight back.

Written February 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yi Hai L
1 contribution
Dec 2023 • Couples
The view from the paihia school lookout/viewpoint is fairly average and obscured by trees right in the middle. There's two areas you can look between the trees to get what you see from the photos others have posted, but it's hardly a view to write home about.
The longer walk, the Oromahoe traverse, takes about 1.5-2h. This has NO views apart from the forest you're walking through which is quite monotonous. It also has no resting points or seats along the way. Some parts are moderately steep. It's essentially a walk with no reward. Once you get out the other end you hit oromahoe Rd, and it takes another hour to walk from there to opua.
We do not recommend this walk if you're after a view. If you want a monotonous walk through a forest then this may be the walk for you.
If you want a 2.5 hour one way walk with forest and views, do yourself a favor and do the paihia to opua (or the reverse of this) coastal walk.
The longer walk, the Oromahoe traverse, takes about 1.5-2h. This has NO views apart from the forest you're walking through which is quite monotonous. It also has no resting points or seats along the way. Some parts are moderately steep. It's essentially a walk with no reward. Once you get out the other end you hit oromahoe Rd, and it takes another hour to walk from there to opua.
We do not recommend this walk if you're after a view. If you want a monotonous walk through a forest then this may be the walk for you.
If you want a 2.5 hour one way walk with forest and views, do yourself a favor and do the paihia to opua (or the reverse of this) coastal walk.
Written December 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Callum
Bristol, UK1 contribution
Sep 2020 • Solo
When your in Paihia and you wannw go for a nice easy hike. Go do this one! It's easy, stunning (with good weather) and takes about 2 hours between Opua and Paihia. Walking the same route back is normally a bit boring, but not with this one.
Written October 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stay38422421505
13 contributions
Dec 2024 • Family
Great little bush walk up to a lookout that shows Russell and Opua. Takes approx 25mins to get to the top with benches at the top and good views. Good family walk on well maintained track.
Written January 19, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DesertTeacher
Phoenix, AZ2 contributions
Jun 2019 • Solo
Just a few minutes walk from town in a very pleasant, well tended track. The path up is mostly uphill but the grade is not too steep. If you are reasonably fit this whole track round trip can be completed in an hour. The first part of the track is more tropical with dense vegetation, ferns and Kauri trees. One Kauri tree near the begining of the trail appears to be quite old, based on its relative height and girth. The track follows a ravine at the bottom and gradually winds its way up to stands of (aspen?) That appear to have greyscale camouflage bark. There are a few spots with stairs but they are not too steep. The trail forks after a little more than a kilometer but I chose the overlook trail. The overlook has benches and offers some nice views of town and the surrounding area. The day I went it was raining and windy but the trail was very pleasant. Tui birds could be heard off somewhere in the bush. It is recommended to stay on the trail since there are traps set for possums and other predators of the birds. It is really the only option since most of the forest is too steep, too muddy or otherwise impassable.
Written June 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Swee
8 contributions
Dec 2020
A nice easy walk along the School Road track but the view at the top was disappointing as it was mostly covered by trees.
Written February 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eileen0101
Droitwich, UK126 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
This is a well marked track from Paihia up to a viewpoint. Very steep in places. Well maintained track with good views at the top over the whole of the Bay. Take water and insect repellent plus sunscreen.
Written March 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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