Surrounding areas include Longwood, Tihaka, Waipango, Round Hill, Wakapatu, Ruahine, Pahia and Orepuki.

Pākehā first arrived in the area in the 1850s to mill timber and mine for gold in the neighbouring Longwood Range.

[1] The town has a well appointed cafe, craft shop, pub, caravan park, community hall and marae.

[1] European whalers are said to have pronounced the original name in a similar way to the English word "colic", hence Kolluck's and "Colac's Bay".

[6] Colac Bay / Ōraka is a popular destination for surfing, with cold but otherwise accessible conditions for all experience levels.