Opoutere is a little village about 3.5km from State Highway 25, in between Whangamata and Hikuai, on the Coromandel Peninsula. It's home to one of the last undeveloped surf beaches on the Peninsula that is accessible to the public, and it has a 5km afforested reserve. Awesome conditions for surfing and swimming.

One of my favourite aspects of Opoutere is the bushwalk up to the Maungaruawahine Pa, where there are some awesome stone ruins from the Maori fort. It is a very spiritually powerful place, and not for the faint-hearted, particularly at night.

The youth hostel is good, affordable accommodation set in a beautiful, lush, forest environment.

Check it out, you'll never forget it.