Orepuki beach cafe

The grand old house built around 1885 stands on the main highway of Orepuki overlooking Te Waewae Bay and the Longwoods forest.
It has recently had a lot of love put into it with restoration of the old character and a few new additions of today's native timbers, to be transformed into a relaxing and inviting cafe where you can enjoy a great meal or cabinet food along with a drink or coffee.
Orepuki Beach Cafe is sited on 8 hectares of pasture land adjacent to the township. This healthy coastal land produces our own lamb and beef that contributes well to our fresh and varied local choice menu.
We are still in the process of adding character and charm to our lovely surroundings, come out for a drive and taste our delicious food and coffee that won't disappoint.
The first owner of this house was Captain Crowther of the Colonial Guard. We understand he was a remmittance man sent from England to the new colony.
We read that it was Crowther who rode up to Shirkers Bush above the Mavora Lakes to arrest some men hiding out from World War 1.
Mary Simpson the daughter of Henry Hirst settled next into this house and to this day their are many Southland people who know this house as Mary's house.
Our links with this place go back hundreds of years in whakapapa and this is proudly displayed on our sign and logo with the 3 waves O te wao O roko and O kaka. These are the 3 huge waves that drove the Takitimu waka ashore at the mouth of the Wai-mehameha at the north end of Orepuki Beach.
Just down the street from Orepuki Beach Cafe is Aro-paki reserve on Grandview Terrace. This is an excellent viewing point that looks out to Te Waewae Bay and the Fiordland mountains..