This picturesque international community is the heart and yachting centre of the Bay of Islands. This recreational port that opens on to the Bay is where over 500 international overseas yachts arrive in New Zealand to avoid the Northern Hemisphere winter each year. The port includes marine orientated shops and services, yacht club, Marina, restaurant, takeaway, Convenience Store and Post Office. The Harbor is home for the tourist boats servicing Paihia and Russell. The coastal walking path to Paihia and Waitangi also starts here and you can board the vehicular ferry to Russell. A few visitors and residents enjoy the informal fishing from the Wharf. The Opua Cruising Club is a local center of community social activity. A Opua marina provides dockage for local and overseas vessels. There are two boat yards with sail repair, engine shop and other supporting services making Opua a good place to work on your boat. Yacht moorings are available at Opua for short or long term rental. Many cruising yachts visit Opua each year, one of the country's most northern ports of entry and an ideal stop-over point on the way to or from the south Pacific. The Opua basin also hosts an occasional cruise ship and is a spot favored by the cruising sailors. There is a car ferry at Opua to to visit Russell.