Starts at 17 The Strand, Onetangi
Right behind glorious Onetangi Beach's cafés, barbecues and beautiful views is a surprising world with spacious reserves, lush forested valleys and some lovely remnants of a simpler past. This is a nice way to extend your stay at the beach, and to see the other side of Waiheke.
The walks ends near Tin Boat Reserve, a playground with a tin boat and swings. Near the end of the route are some takeaway options to bring back to the beach. This route is a mix of tracks, roadside walking and footpaths, with a few steep climbs. Good all year round but not for baby buggies.
Start at the car park by Charlie Farley’s cafe, and walk to your right to the eastern end of beach. By the stream, follow the Te Ara Hura markers up First Avenue into Pōhutukawa Reserve at the top of the stairs. This is where you leave Te Ara Hura and stay at the high end of the reserve.
Turn right and make your way through the open fields, past huge pōhutukawa trees down to the old Onetangi Hall, the scene of many social gatherings. Head right onto Waiheke Road, then left into Victoria Road North. Walk up the road for about 150m and you’ll see a walkway into Victoria Reserve to your right.
This walkway leads through some beautiful nīkau forest via winding boardwalks and climbs up to exit at Marine View Road. Turn right, then right again into Eden Terrace where you’ll see what used to be the Onetangi General Store. The road takes you down to the Z petrol station, shops and takeaways. From here you can go down Onetangi Road to your right, past the Tin Boat children’s playground to return to where you started.
This is a surprising route close to this popular beach, great for a hot day. Easy walking on beach, tracks and roadside with a few steep climbs. Has something for everyone.
