Oneroa to Palm Beach - Walk Waiheke

1.5 - 2 hours
Bi-Directional
Grade 6
6.4 km

A fabulous walk along the undulating northern coast that links beautiful trails and quiet roads as you dip in and out of bays and coves, discovering authentic Waiheke baches alongside beautiful native bush reserves and views north across the Hauraki Gulf. This walk is a delightful way to discover Waiheke.

Location

This walking adventure starts at Oneroa Beach – there are two tracks down from the village, one at each end of the main road. It’s easy to walk the track, have lunch or a snack stop in Palm Beach (there’s Arcadia Restaurant or the Palm Beach Store) and catch the bus back to Oneroa. Or for a longer walk, continue on the Te Ara Hura trail to Onetangi following our Palm Beach to Onetangi walk directions.

This walk is dog-on-lead friendly. Check signs for off-lead times for the main beaches. The small coves are all on-lead as our Kororā (Little Blue Penguin) live here.

Transport/car-pooling/parking

Bus: Any bus from the ferry will take you to Oneroa village, or walk the 1.5km – there are lots of scenic options, see our other walks from Matiatia to Oneroa. The Matiatia bus 502 will return you from Palm Beach back to the start point.

Car: Park in the village or down by the beach, catch the 502 bus back to your car. If you have 2 cars leave one at each end, there is plenty of parking at both ends of the walk.

Track summary

This walk makes up part of the Te Ara Hura trail and is a fantastic section of the 100km walking adventure around Waiheke Island.

It’s a track to discover the hidden northern bays and beaches. The track is a mix of shorter walking tracks through reserves and across beaches and bays, connected with quiet roads.

There are quite a lot of ups and downs and steps, so be prepared to catch your breath and admire the stunning views over the lush and rocky headlands, and out to the Barrier Islands and Coromandel.

This part of the trail requires a bit more ‘navigation’ than other parts, as the trail ducks left and right and weaves along the coast. We recommend using the Te Ara Hura maps, our directions and keeping a good eye out for the red Te Ara Hura markers along the way.

Click on the “Directions” tab (above) for detailed walking directions. On a mobile phone “Directions” is a dropdown option in the “Overview” bar.

Start on Oneroa Beach, opposite the BBQs and toilet block, where you can spot your first Te Ara Hura marker. Head along the beach, with the sea on your left.

At the end of the beach, you have a low tide option to hug the cliff face and walk over the beach and a little rock-hopping to make your way around to Little Oneroa. If in any doubt of tide, take the stairs at end of the beach, near the car park, and up onto Puriri Rd, and follow the road up to the top. Just before the main road, on the left hand side, take the Track to Little Oneroa.

This track follows up and along the cliff, and drops down to Little Oneroa Beach. Follow the path to cross the bridge by the playground, and at the end of the beach ahead of you, look for the steps to the left of the painted boat house.

About 300m up the steps and along this single track there is a fork, keep left (and to the left of the Te Ara Hura marker) to remain on the track.

1.8km – At the next track intersection, follow the Te Ara Hura sign to the right, and the sign Track to Queens Drive.

The track continues through Newton Reserve, you’ll spot the older council green and gold markers. Turn right at the exit of the reserve, (you’ll expect to go left toward the sea and there is no obvious marker here, but trust us, turn right). At the top of Newton Rd (about 20m from the exit) you’ll see the marker to turn left onto Queens Drive.

Walk about 200m along Queens Drive, and at the intersection of Hekerua and Goodwin Roads, look for the Te Ara Hura marker on the left, and the row of 15 letterboxes of Watters Glen Reserve. Take this path down past the letterboxes towards the water.

2.85km – Follow the sealed zig zig path down to Hekerua Beach. Ignore the signs for Te Aroha Ave and Don’s Track before the beach. Instead, walk onto the beach and across the pebbles to find the Te Ara Hura marker (and the green and yellow marker) and take the steps up to continue.

Check out the amazing earth stabilising engineering the council did to re-open this track after the slips of March 2017. Follow the track and markers to descend to lovely Sandy Bay. Turn your back to the sea and walk straight ahead along Great Barrier Road a further 200m to Enclosure Bay.

3.4km – Enjoy a stop and maybe a swim at Enclosure Bay, then turn right up Empire Ave on the gravel, headed away from the coast, and at the road end, enter Mackenzie Reserve. Scrub and spray your shoes and poles for Kauri Dieback here.

Follow the track up through the amazing efforts of passionate locals and learn about the reserve, flora and fauna and pest management at the information area part way up. Be sure to follow the red Te Ara Hura posts, as there are several tracks. When you exit the reserve after a steady climb, just like Newton Reserve, turn right and then immediately left onto Coromandel Rd, then left again onto Hauraki Rd.

Hauraki Rd becomes Corey Rd, and continue until you get to the lookout area with green and blue council signs. You can descend to Little Palm Beach here (through the ‘clothing optional’ area of Little Palm Beach), or stay on the road a further 150m and look for the Te Ara Hura marker to drop down toward Palm Beach through Miro Bush.

5.2km – The bush track here is quite steep and can be slippery so mind your footing as you descend to Miro Rd, which takes you directly onto Palm Beach. Walk along the golden sands to the far end and up to the reserve (toilets and BBQ area).

Just behind the reserve car park area on Palm Beach Road, you’ll find a general store, restaurant and bus stop.

If continuing on the Te Ara Hura trail, the track to continue to Onetangi is hidden here, unmarked, behind the BBQs, or take a well-earned rest and refreshments!