Ohiwa Hill (Onekawa Pa)
Best Wind Directions
About This Spot
Best place to lay-out your glider is on the very back (S) ridge of the site, as far towards the west as possible. Airflow is cleanest there and take-off easiest.
To get your bearings on this site; White Island (Whakaari) is straight north. This is the puffing active volcano about 50 km off the coast. On some hazy days you can't see it, but it's pretty much straight out to the ocean (90 degrees on the beach). Anything left of White Island is more towards the west, anything right of White Island is more towards the east (and if the wind is coming from there the site is not flyable, see "Weather" below).
Whale Island (Moutohora) is directly NW. Anything to the right of Whale Island is more towards the North, anything left of Whale Island is more towards the West. The end of Kohe Point ridge is WNW (and if the wind is coming from there it gets very turbulent, see "Weather" below).
None.
Takeoff altitude: 97m
Courtesy of paraglidingearth.com
Access Notes
40 minutes east of Whakatane, 20 minutes west of Opotiki. Take exit "Onekawa Pa" off SH-2. Take a left over the bridge and up the hill. At the bottom of the hill, take a right onto Ohiwa Harbour Road. The first house you see on the right (with the windsock on the harbour edge) belongs to some friendly local pilots. Always welcome to stop by for info. Continue driving until you see the entrance of the Ohiwa Harbour Campground on the left. Park your car on the grassy area across the road from the entrance (next to the 50 speed sign) and walk to the reception office. Let the owners know your intentions, then walk past the barriers and enter the path up the hill on your right. Follow the path until you hit a T. Take a left, walk a bit further and go through the gate. After the gate immediately right, steep up the hill. Keep following this path until you reach the take-off. The entire hill is owned by DOC and operated as an active farm, so please leave gates as you find them.
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Known Hazards
Absolutely no push-bikes or motor-bikes up the walking tracks. Vehicle access is not allowed without prior permission from DOC. Other than that the campground owners appreciate it if you stick your head into their reception office to let them know you will be flying the hill. Permission is always granted; it's just a common courtesy to let them know you will be flying above their campground and landing (or packing) your wing on their campground. The entire hill is owned by DOC and operated as an active farm, so please leave gates as you find them. There are no access restrictions during lambing season, but please don't cause any trouble so we can keep it this way.
No hazard reports. This spot appears to be clear!
No upcoming meetups at this spot.
-37.98960, 177.16600
Get DirectionsLive Weather
Wind
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Direction
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Ocean Conditions
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Quick Info
- Type
- Coastal Ridge
- Min. Skill
- Unknown
- Reviews
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- Pilots flew here
- 0
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