Ōpunakē Beach Carnival

On the first Saturday after New Year's Day each year thousands gather under the Taranaki sun for the Ōpunakē Beach Carnival which has been going strong since the early 1990's.

Run by volunteers of the Ōpunakē Beach Committee with fabulous support from local businesses, the carnival hosts a range of activities including the Miss Ōpunakē, Miss Teen and Mr Muscle competitions, quick-fire raffles, activities, craft and food stalls and the Big Dig - where children dig in the sand to find a winning popsicle stick.

An exciting new addition to the 2020 event is a great lineup of live local musicians and entertainment taking to the stage in the evening (from 5pm). The food trucks on-site will make for a wonderful spot to enjoy dinner by the beach and some great live talent.

Any proceeds from the Ōpunakē Beach Carnival go towards the ongoing success of the event and development projects at the beach. The generous support of carnival-goers benefits our local community considerably - we look forward to seeing you this summer!