DESCRIPTION

None.

ACTIVITIES

- paragliding
- hike
- soaring

weather

The site is good in a NNW-N. North gets very difficult to take-off, but once in front if will be super buoyant. In NW it is recommended to not fly past the little spur towards the east (and into the bowl facing north). In a NW It gets very turbulent on the western side of the bowl, and if you get low you'll have to fight into wind to get on the windward side of the hill again. When it gets more W (WNW or W), the hill still looks like it is flyable, but in fact isn't. You'll notice very quickly if you take-off anyway; turbulent in front of the hill with very little lift. As soon as there is a bit of E component, it gets almost impossible to take-off. There is no take-off possibility towards the NE at all. Even if you are able to take-off towards the NW in these conditions, you will fly straight into a big turbulent, rotory sink hole. You'd have to fly through all that around the corner towards the east to find marginal lift. Not worth it. The prevailing wind in summer is NW-NNW due to the seabreezes. The seabreeze usually starts every sunny day between 10 and 11 AM, and stops about 30 minutes to an hour before sunset. BEWARE of a sudden wind direction change when the seabreeze stops: It is not uncommon to have a nice 12 knot NNW seabreeze turn into a nasty 22 kts southerly within minutes! You will feel it coming (starts to get turbulent, less lift, wind-lines on the ocean disappear or change direction suddenly), but it's safer to just be on the ground well before sunset. It is very important to know how to read wind-lines on the ocean so you can determine the true wind direction. Because this is a steep hill with a flat top, the hill will "feel" flyable in most wind directions. Make sure you know the true wind-direction before you takeoff. When in doubt; stop by the local pilots that live in the two story house at nr 240 on the road towards the campground (you'll see the windsock on the harbour side). They will be able to tell you if the conditions are good or not.

access

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.

regulation

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.