Onetangi Beach to Man O' War Bay

3 - 3.5 hours
Bi-Directional
Grade 4
14.3 km

A stunning big skies and big views day, hiking all the way to the ‘bottom end’ of the island. This part of the trail traverses mostly along the quiet old gravel farm road, with huge ocean and rural vistas in all directions.

Location

This walk starts at beautiful Onetangi Beach. There is a bus stop on Forth Ave, and take one of the wooden ramps down to the beach.

Take your dog, Man O’ War Beach is dog-friendly too, but it’s an on-lead day as most of the walk is along farm roads.

Transport/car-pooling/parking

Bus: There is a shuttle bus that runs from Man O’ War winery back to the ferry via Onetangi. Check their website for booking and details.

Car: If you have 2 cars leave one at each end, there is plenty of parking at both ends of the walk, but please don’t leave your car in the winery car park.

Track summary

This walk makes up part of the Te Ara Hura trail, a 100km walking adventure around Waiheke Island. This part is along the ‘road section’ but don’t let this deter you. It’s a beautiful walk, and the winding gravel road ascends and descends through the rolling hills of incredible coastal farms and vineyards.

The fabulous beachfront Man O’ War Winery opens at 11am, so there is little traffic prior to about 10.30am, and the winery is well worth a visit on arrival.

The first 1km of the trail is on the beach then through Pohutukawa Reserve, and from there you join the main road out to the ‘bottom end’. By the 2km mark, you leave ‘the suburbs’ behind and have sweeping rural and ocean views and fresh air aplenty.

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

0km – On Onetangi Beach, with the sea on your left, walk toward the end. Walk to the very end and, depending on the tide, there is a shallow creek to hop across, as you head up to the car parking area at the bottom on First Ave.

0.5km – Take the immediate left-hand fork of the road heading up steeply on the sealed no-exit road.

0.7km – At the end of the road, proceed up the steps to Pohutukawa Reserve.

1km – At the top of the steps, look for the red Te Ara Hura markers that lead down and slightly to the left.

At the bottom of the reserve, skirt to the left of the metal gate, where you exit the reserve onto Waiheke Rd. Turn left to walk carefully along the road.

1.5km There is an option here to turn left and follow Belle Terrace – it reaches the top of the Waiheke Rd also, and is only 200m longer, and this way avoids a little of the main road.

2.1km – You will reach the top of Waiheke Rd, at the gates to Rarowhara, where you turn right to continue for 3km along the side of the sealed road with wonderful views.

2.5km – Look out for a dirt hill on the right side of the road, which offers great views in all directions!

3.7km – You will pass your first winery tasting room, Awaawaroa Organic Vineyard. Well worth a stop if it’s open.

5km – You reach the intersection to Orapui, and turn left onto the gravel Man O’ War Rd.

Follow the road as it heads north, and then curves around to head east, toward the rising sun, if you started early!

8.7km – Here you reach the first bench seat with a view of the vineyards, and out to Coromandel and Little Barrier. The road from here is full of wondrous ocean and rural views.

10.6km – Here you reach the second of three bench seats, but keep going, because just 700m further is the third (and our favourite) bench seat.

11.3km – The third ( and last) bench seat, offers the most beautiful view over Owhiti Bay, the rocky outcrops, and stunning farmland. From here you can see Rangitoto and the North Shore, all the way around to Gannet Rock and the Coromandel.

12km – There is a turn off here to Stony Batter – if you wanted to visit the tunnels it’s a further 2km each way up to this wonderful heritage site, and the incredible 8 million-year-old boulder fields that give the World War II site its name. At Stony Batter there’s is another fabulous hike down to Hooks Bay [6.3km], see https://walkwaiheke.co.nz/walks/stony-batter-to-hooks-bay/

Otherwise continue to follow the main road towards man O’ War Bay.

14.3km – Arrive at the beautiful Man O’ War Bay and the beach winery and tasting rooms. Check their website for opening hours and menu.