Beaches
‘n’ Baches
Welcome to our world
How to pretend you’re a local
Oneroa village is ‘civilisation central’. Locals call it
‘town’. You’ll find art galleries, the library, cinema,
theatre, the post office, cafes, ice-creams, and shops.
There are kids’ playgrounds at Little Oneroa and
Blackpool beaches. The eastern end of Oneroa Beach
marks the narrowest part of Waiheke.
This north coastline is made of sandy beaches
separated by rocky headlands and reefs. The south
side is more tidal, with mudflats supporting a range of
wading birds.
To the west, there are lovely walking routes to the ferry
– if you have the time.
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 – (this one) village life, shops,
cafes, with quiet coves in between
• Forest Heart – 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-BBA4-11-14
Walk Waiheke
The ‘Fab Five’ beaches
The northern side of the island consists of a series of
white sand beaches separated by rocky headlands and
reefs. You can enjoy a fine selection of five of our best
bays – some open beaches, others in more tuckedaway coves.
Oneroa Beach is the most visible and accessible, just
below the village. Oneroa means ‘long sandy beach’ in
Te Reo Māori. The name Hakaimango, for the western
headland, refers to sharks caught at Mahurangi, brought
here, and sun dried to prepare a Ngāti Paoa delicacy.
You can walk along to a more sheltered corner at the
western end of the beach. Or head eastwards to Little
Oneroa Beach, which is accessible around the rocks at
low tide. At high tide, the walkway goes along the high
ground, in front of the Anglican and Catholic Church.
From ‘Little O’, follow the red markers of Te Ara Hura,
to find the pebble beach at Hekerua Bay, followed by
laid back Sandy Bay, Enclosure Bay (a unique rockenclosed lagoon), and beyond that, Māwhitipana Bay at
Palm Beach. You can get the bus back to the ferry, from
Palm Beach – or simply do the ‘Fab Five’ beaches walk
in reverse.
Village life, the whole picture
Looking after our island
The southern side of the island is more tidal, with quiet
inlets supporting birdlife, and harbouring an eclectic
collection of boats. There are some delightful shelly
beaches here too – at Hooks Lane, Kennedy Point
and Shelly Beach. They’re best at high tide, and top
relaxation spots away from the crowds.
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.
A stroll from Oneroa, through Surfdale Village to the
Saturday markets at Ostend takes in much of the real
world of Waiheke. Te Ara Hura takes the unhurried old
route, meandering around Okahuiti wetland between
Surfdale and Ostend.
Every home on Waiheke is responsible for collecting
(and disposing) its own water. So it’s good manners to
conserve water anywhere on Waiheke.
You’re never more than 20min walk away from a cafe,
pub or vineyard here. There’s a shoreline stroll on the
Esplanade around from Blackpool to Surfdale.
There are also a number of ‘across island’ Beaches ‘n’
Baches walking options. From Oneroa or Little Oneroa
to Blackpool is the narrowest crossing of the island –
only a few hundred metres. Kūaka (godwits), migratory
shorebirds that fly to Alaska and back each year, can be
seen at Blackpool.
From Goldie Vineyard, along Wilma Road to Palm Beach
is a delightful, shaded stroll. From the Causeway or
Ostend, through Te Toki Reserve is another nice way to
get to Palm Beach. The bay there is called Māwhitipana,
and is connected with the ancestral name Maihi Te
Himaki, a Ngāti Paoa rangatira (chief), who signed the
Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.
Or keep following Te Ara Hura in either direction to
take in as much of the island as you’d like.
How we do things: our environmental care code
Help us protect our plants, wildlife and natural heritage.
•
•
•
•
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
Sandy Bay is a safe swimming and snorkelling spot, and a locals’ favourite.
From our perspective, Oneroa is like the centre of the world.
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
Walk Waiheke
Beaches
‘n’ Baches
North
500m
Welcome to Beaches ‘n’ Baches, and
village life on the Walk Waiheke network
Here’s where you can see the ‘real’ Waiheke.
You’ll find quiet and quirky walkways of essential island character, in
and out the villages, off the beaten track and always close to a cafe.
Weave your way between intimate beaches and hidden coves.
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.
Paoa ki uta, Paoa ki tai
Ki Waiheke
Ki Maunganui
Ki Tikapa
Haere mai ki Hauraki
He aute tē āwhea
Ko Paoa te tangata
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.
North
Key
S
Te Ara Hura, track
Private driveway
Toilets
Information
Te Ara Hura, roadside walk
Bush / other
Barbecue
Te Ara Hura, low tide option Sea / beach
Shop(s)
Mangroves / raupo Restaurant
Road
Village area
Cafe
Petrol station Bus stop
Vineyard
Medical centreZipline
Link to Te Ara Hura
Walking track
School
Tennis court
Historic site
Golf course
Library
Bird nesting
Frisbee golf
Playground
Cemetery
Art Gallery
Shower
Mountain biking Skateboarding
Boat launching ramp