Steamships operated up and down the Bay of Plenty coast from the late 1860s. Ōhiwa was important because it remained workable when the shallow Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki Harbours could not be used. In storms during the early 20th century, up to 15 vessels would shelter in Ōhiwa, as far up as Uretara Island.
The Northern Steam Ship Company built a wharf on the eastern side of the Ōhiwa Harbour entrance in 1896. However, within 15 years the end of the sand spit started to wash away, and the wharf was abandoned in 1922.
Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki Councils built a long causeway and wharf at Kutarere in 1916. But with roading quickly improving and the channel shallow, this was quickly outdated. The skeleton of the causeway remains.
Port Ōhope Wharf was built by the Whakatāne Harbour Board in 1957. Vessels of up to 1000 tonnes berthed here, operated by the Northern Steam Ship Company, mostly taking outbound cargo. But with improving land transport and the difficult entrance, the company stopped using the wharf in 1966.
Ōpotiki Council commenced work around 1957 on building a wharf opposite Hokianga Island, but work stopped when it was decided to instead transport produce from the Tāneatua railhead.
Until the late 1950s, Ōhope peninsula had no houses and just a rough access track. People would camp there, but there was only one permanent inhabitant, Jim Beck, who had a whare (hut) near where the Port Ōhope General Store and Café now stands. This was known as ‘Jim’s Camp’.
Development of the peninsula began after the Port Ōhope Wharf was built in 1957. The Whakatāne Harbour Board sold residential sections, using the profit to finance the port facilities. A photo around the early 1960s shows around 20 houses on the dunes near Maraetotara, with another cluster of houses down near the wharf.
This cache is located alongside a local landmark, no need to enter or climb up to reach the cache, BYO pen and please leave tucked away as you find it as this is an extreme muggle area. Refreshments and toilets nearby as are tables to sit and have a coffee. This cache is placed with permission of the property, please respect them and the neighbours.
Small silver bear and trackable for the FTF. You are looking for a 100ml round container.