Heartland - Ōpunake

This is Highway 45. Not a lot of people know about this highway — it follows the coast around Mount Taranaki from New Plymouth to Hārewa. It's going to take us down to a small town called Ōpunake, whose claim to fame is that it's one of the few safe swimming beaches on this otherwise rugged coast.

– Presenter Kerre Woodham introduces this Heartland trip

We've been coming here since 1952, as a matter of fact. My parents brought me down here as a young child and I've done the same for my family . . . the reasons for coming down here as a community like we do is because we're committed to milking cows and we have to go home night and morning, and make hay during the summer.

– Farmer Ian Scott on the cars sneaking out of Ōpunake's campground at 5am each morning

You didn't live in each other's pockets but you were mates rather than "boss" and "staff". . .  which you don't get today. You're a number.

– Jim Fisher recalls cheesemaking in the good old days

Initially when I first came here the town was fairly wild.

– Ōpunake Police Constable Doug Burdon on how he used to catch three to four drunk drivers per night

So three o'clock comes round, the cows are calling and we've got to head home.

– Ōpunake surf lifesaver Johnny Mullin on having to finish his watch on the beach to milk cows

Ew yuck!

– Presenter Kerre Woodham is not impressed when a cow urinates near her in a milking shed

People just fall in love with their own personal sites. You may as well lease it to them because it's their site. You dare not put anyone on it or they'll go crook at you. Yeah, we are booked up to the year 2000.

– Ōpunake camping ground proprietor Brian Vincent on being booked up more than six years ahead, in the Heartland tie-in book (1994), page 111