Discover All Day Bay
All Day Bay, also known as Ōrore, is situated between Kakanui and Ōrore Point along the North Otago Pacific Coast. This bay, with a beautiful gold-to-orange surf beach, stretches three kilometres and is mainly bordered by cliffs. Access is restricted to the ends of the beach.
Exploring the Beach and Reserve
Access to All Day Bay is from Campbell Bay on the south side of Kakanui Point, then head south along the beach. Alternatively, you can enter from the reserve located at the southern end of the beach near Ōrore Point. This reserve, easily visible from Waianakarua Road, provides space for freedom camping.
The beach's spectacular coloured sand ranges from gold to orange, though these hues are less intense than those found north of Kakanui. The cliffs above the beach also display the same vibrant colours.
Birdwatching at the Lagoon
Across the road from the beach at Ōrore Point lies a lagoon, an important habitat for waterfowl and seabirds. Here, you can observe species such as shovellers, grey ducks, grey teals, oystercatchers, pied stilts, and black stilts. Occasionally, royal spoonbills and white herons make appearances, adding to the avian diversity.
Geological and Historical Significance
The cliffs along this coast are geologically ancient. Notably, the Mt Harris Formation to the north of the reserve stands out. Unlike the typical gold, orange, and white cliffs, the cliff where the lagoon outlet meets the beach appears dark and muddy. This formation, dating back about 20 million years, is a rich source of ancient marine fossils, marking the period when this area of Aotearoa began emerging from the ocean.
For Māori, Ōrore was a kāika mahika kai, or food-gathering place, particularly for tuna (eels), waterfowl, and īnaka (whitebait). The area was home to large settlements and was among the earliest inhabited regions in the South Island. Moa hunting was a significant activity here until their extinction around 1600.
Getting to All Day Bay
To reach All Day Bay from Dunedin, take State Highway 1 north to about 8 km past Hampden, then turn east onto Waianakarua Road. Follow this road all the way to Ōrore Point. The drive is 80 minutes and 100 km.
Nearby attractions include Te Hakapureirei Beach, Bridge Point and Kakanui Beach. South of Hampden, you can visit the Moeraki Boulders and Moeraki.
