Vehicle access to popular swimming hole reopened

Ōpōtiki District Council has some good news for Ōpōtiki locals and visitors coming to town this summer. Vehicle access to the Otara River swimming hole will be open from 14 December for people to enjoy over the summer months.

A locked gate on the corner of King Street and Buchanan Street has stopped vehicle access to the swimming hole for several years now. This was enforced due to rubbish and stolen vehicles being dumped down the road behind the bowling club.

Ōpōtiki District Councillor, Barry Howe, is happy to announce that it will be reopening for summer and hopes that this time people will respect and look after the area.

“I’m really pleased that locals and visitors will be able to drive down and utilise the swimming spot over the summer. But I want to reiterate to everyone that no rubbish or vehicle dumping will be tolerated.

“Please help us take care of the area, take your rubbish home with you and be safe, otherwise it will have to be closed again,” says Howe.

Access is via a gravel road that goes over the stopbank and then a grass/dirt track that leads to an informal grass parking area.

The access road will be monitored and will be closed periodically when the river is in flood and potentially over the winter months when the ground becomes waterlogged.

“Using your common sense and playing it safe swimming goes without saying too,” says Howe.

If you choose to take your vehicle down to the swimming hole – watch out for pedestrians, people on bikes and horse riders who also use the road.