Forest
Heart
Welcome to green space
Fresh air therapy awaits
If you’re into birds, and bush, and quiet spaces, you’ve
come to the right place. Forest Heart, on the Walk
Waiheke network is where you get to really enjoy our
wonderful natural environment.
From here you can link to walks across the island,
through beautiful native bush, from tidal estuaries to
wide sand beaches and rocky coast.
You’ll also be walking through memories of dramatic
Māori history. There were significant pā (fortified
villages) at Rangihoua Pūtiki-o-kahu (the sacred hill at
the sports park), and Whakanewha (now the regional park).
Discover the real Waiheke, one step at a time
The red line on these maps is Te Ara Hura,
a continuous 100km walking route linking
all our best tracks, that takes you all around
the island. These markers will guide you
along Te Ara Hura – the discovery path.
It’s a multi-day adventure, taking in the entire island.
You can also do it in easy stages at your own pace.
Which Waiheke experience do you want?
There is a map brochure for each
of these four areas:
Headlands
Beaches ‘n’ Baches
Far End
Forest Heart
•Headlands – million-dollar views over the
Hauraki Gulf
• Beaches ‘n’ Baches – village life, shops, cafes,
with quiet coves in between
• Forest Heart – (this one) from Whakanewha
Regional Park to the Forest & Bird reserve
at Onetangi
• Far End – big sky, surprising views, the true country
part of Waiheke. You’ll find vineyards everywhere.
Local knowledge
Food and provisions
There are supermarkets, chemists and shops in
Oneroa and Ostend, and cafes at Surfdale, Palm
Beach and Onetangi. There are no shops east of
Onetangi. The island has no specialist outdoor
or tramping shops.
Drinking water
There is a water fountain on Mātiatia wharf.
Treated water is not generally available on the
walkways, so please take it with you.
Accommodation
Waiheke has a wide range of accommodation
options – including backpackers, baches to rent,
B&Bs, campgrounds, luxury lodges, motels,
resorts. Check out accommodation options
online, in advance.
Careful
There are many steep or clifftop sections on
Te Ara Hura. You’ll need good walking footwear,
and please be careful in these parts. New
Zealand’s sun is very strong. Wear hats
and sunscreen.
Dogs
Please keep dogs under control on all the
walkways, and pick up droppings. Please do not
disturb any wildlife. No dogs allowed in parts
of Whakanewha Regional Park and on Te Ara
Hura between Trig Hill Road (Onetangi) and
Orapiu Road, and near Park Point.
Transport
Buses leave from Mātiatia to Oneroa, Palm
Beach, Ostend, Rocky Bay and Onetangi.
Their return trips link to ferry departures. Cars,
scooters, bicycles and electric bicycles can be
rented at Mātiatia. Taxis or shuttles can pick you
up wherever Te Ara Hura reaches a road.
Bicycles
Te Ara Hura is primarily a walking track. There
are places where Te Ara Hura will share the road
with mountain bikes and cars.
Cellphone coverage
There’s coverage on most hilltops and headlands
– but missing in some secluded or inland areas.
SG-TAH-FHA4-11-14
Walk Waiheke
Whakanewha leads you to…
Looking after our island
Here’s where you’ll linger if you want to sleep
under canvas (or the stars) on Waiheke Island. The
campground at Whakanewha Regional Park is popular
with the locals as well. Book in advance - phone council
on 09 301 0101.
Waiheke Island is special in many ways. For one, there
are no possums here – so trees are not under attack,
and provide more food for native birds. You’ll see a high
number of kererū (New Zealand pigeon) while on the
island. Locals are doing what they can to help the forest
recover, and to encourage more birds.
Whakanewha Regional Park is at the heart of a growing
block of regenerating bush, with birds aplenty.
The wetland near the campground is also of great
ecological significance.
Every home on Waiheke is responsible for collecting
(and disposing) its own water. So it’s good manners to
conserve water anywhere on Waiheke.
How we do things: our environmental care code
Help us protect our plants, wildlife and natural heritage.
New Zealand native forest in the Omiha / Rocky Bay area.
Laid-back central
Poukaraka wetland, Whakanewha Regional Park.
Green is gold
From Whakanewha there are many walks spreading
out through the Forest Heart. You can link longer
walks across the island, passing through the Forest &
Bird reserve, to emerge on the wide Onetangi Beach.
Onetangi means ‘mournful sands’, referring to the
sobbing sound of waves on the sandy beach.
You could say Omiha / Rocky Bay has only recently
joined the republic. This was a world apart, an ‘island
within an island’ and home to eccentrics and artists and
diverse free-thinkers. It still is. The road over this hill
was built only in 1956.
There are wonderful possibilities for wandering around
Rocky Bay. A stroll to Whakanewha Regional Park
takes you through lovely nīkau groves, and past the
breeding sites of endangered tūturiwhatu (New Zealand
dotterel). Just follow the red markers of Te Ara Hura.
The middle of the island here is also home to vineyards
and olive groves. It’s all about green space here – and
your many options to wander through it.
Local theatre groups often have their opening nights at
the Rocky Bay Hall. The audience here is loyal, if feisty.
Make it at this venue, and (possibly) Broadway is next.
Or you can follow Te Ara Hura through the park, up to
Trig Hill, and beyond that to Awaawaroa Bay.
Thursdays at the hall are also a community tradition.
It’s Gulf News day – the local paper arrives, and people
get together to share a cuppa at the hall. You’re invited
to join in.
The Rocky Bay Memorial Cruising Club hosts the annual
New Year’s Day Regatta, a classic Kiwi seaside fun day.
Seaviews walk – a highlight
The walk from Rocky Bay around Te Whau Point is
especially worthwhile, with great views to the Hunua
Ranges on the mainland across the water. On the
northen side of Te Whau headland, the aspect looking
over Pūtiki Bay is equally rewarding.
The Cascades Loop Track, Whakanewha Regional Park.
•
•
•
•
Please don’t litter, and remove rubbish.
Keep streams and sea clean.
Keep to tracks and respect private property.
Keep dogs under control and remove droppings.
Please respect local dog rules. The beaches around
Park Point, at Whakanewha, and Te Matuku Bay are
a nesting place for rare New Zealand dotterels, so
dogs are not allowed there.
• Do not light fires.
• Where necessary, share the road considerately with
vehicles, cyclists and horse riders.
Keep kauri standing
Kauri dieback is a fungus-like disease that kills New
Zealand kauri trees. To help keep Waiheke’s kauri
safe always remember to clean your gear e.g. shoes,
equipment, before and after walking the tracks.
Contacts
Auckland Council
Parks, walkway
information, bookings
for Whakanewha
campground 09 301 0101
Waiheke Island Visitor
Information Centre
09 372 1234
Medical attention
09 372 8756 or
09 372 5005
Fullers ferries
09 367 9111
Sealink ferries
Half Moon Bay vehicle
ferries 09 300 5900 and
0800 732 546
Royal Forest and Bird
Protection Society
09 372 7662
Emergencies 111
Paoa ki uta, Paoa ki tai
Ki Waiheke
Ki Maunganui
Ki Tikapa
Haere mai ki Hauraki
He aute tē āwhea
Ko Paoa te tangata
North
500m
Te Ara Hura pays homage to
all those who have come and gone.
Ngāti Hura is the hapū of Ngāti Paoa
who are recognised as the principal
Mana Whenua tribe on Waiheke
Island. Ngāti Paoa acknowledges our
hapū Ngāti Kapu, Te Uri Karaka and
Te Patukirikiri.
Walk Waiheke
Forest
Heart
Welcome to the
living core of
Waiheke Island
Traverse the island’s forested
heart. Escape the hustle and
bustle in beautiful native
bush with old trees safe from
possums, regenerating forest,
streams, wetlands and birds
aplenty.
Link to walks across the island,
from tidal estuaries to
rocky coast.
Maps are available for all the
sections of the Walk Waiheke
network: Headlands, Beaches
‘n’ Baches, Forest Heart,
Far End and the full island
circumnavigation:
Te Ara Hura.
500m
North
Key
Te Ara Hura, track
Sea / beach
Te Ara Hura, roadside walk
Mangroves / raupō Te Ara Hura, low tide option Drinking water Playground
Parks phone
Golf course
Medical Center
Historic site Soccer
Skateboarding
Birds nesting Rugby
School
S
Village area
Campground
Bus stop
Restaurant
Cemetery
Road
Walking track
Toilets
Cafe
Private driveway
Barbecue
Vineyard
Zipline
Bush / other
Shop(s)
Petrol station Frisbee golf
Shower
Mountain biking
Boat launching ramp
Tennis court Airstrip
No dogs