Papanui Inlet, Pacific coastal inlet in Otago Peninsula, New Zealand.

Papanui Inlet is an inlet on the eastern coast of Otago Peninsula that reveals extensive sand and mud flats when the tide goes out. The southern side features steep hills, while the northern shore is defined by the low-lying Okia Flat with its wide, open banks.

The inlet was known to Māori as Makahoe; the name Papanui, meaning large flat area, was later applied to it after European settlement. In October 2014 a canoe, the Papanui waka, was found in the sand dunes; dating to the 15th century, it is the second oldest known waka in New Zealand. The wreck of the SS Victory, which sank in 1861, is still visible near the inlet's mouth at low tide.

The name Papanui is Māori for large flat area, from papa (flat area) and nui (big), and originally referred to the Papanui peninsula. Māori knew the inlet as Makahoe; the name Papanui was later applied to the inlet after European settlement. The name thus records the flat terrain of Okia Flat and the surrounding shoreline.

The best time to visit is at low tide, when the mudflats become exposed and the shipwreck becomes visible. Well-maintained roads lead east from Dunedin through the peninsula, making the site accessible by car.

The 1861 wreck of the SS Victory, which gives Victory Beach its name, still shows near the inlet's mouth at low tide. In October 2014 a canoe, the Papanui waka, was found in nearby sand dunes; dating to the 15th century, it is the second oldest known waka in New Zealand.