Onekaka

Onekaka is a rural district on the coast between Takaka and Collingwood in Golden Bay, at the northwestern tip of the South Island, New Zealand. It has a population of around 250. The name Onekaka is from Māori and could be translated as 'hot sand' or 'hot beach'.

Dairy farming is a significant activity, occupying a large proportion of the area. A significant number of artists and craftspeople live in the area giving the community a colourful and green feel.

An ironworks operated here from 1924 to 1935, with a tramway running to a wharf. The works produced pig iron and pipes until the operation proved uneconomic. An old hydroelectric plant for the iron works was restarted in 2003 and feeds the national grid.

Get in
From Takaka or Collingwood, take State Highway 60 (SH 60), which is the only road that runs right through the district.

Takaka Aerodrome is 9 km away at Puramahoi and has regular flights on small aircraft by Golden Bay Air from Wellington, Nelson and Karamea. The airline also does charter flights and scenic flights. You can rent a car at the aerodrome.

See

 * The glow-worm trail across the way from the Mussel Inn is lovely to wander through once you've had a few.

Buy
Composting toilets.

Eat
At the Mussel Inn.

Go next

 * Collingwood – depart here for Farewell Spit
 * Takaka – to buy some of the Mussel Inn beers and cider, because you can take it away from Takaka, while you're not allowed to take it away from Mussel Inn itself!