16 Best Beaches On Waiheke Island, New Zealand (With Map!)
Updated: 12th January 2025 By Lauren | Published: 13th May 2022
Home » Blog » Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland »Waiheke Island is a beautiful paradise and has some of the best beaches in New Zealand.
The little island, just 40 minutes from Auckland by ferry, can be visited in a day or enjoyed at a slow pace.
The seawater on Waiheke is clear, warm and safe for swimming. Plus, there are opportunities for surfing and snorkelling. If you prefer just to take a walk or chill, then Waiheke has great beaches for you too.
In this post, discover the best beaches to see on your visit to Waiheke Island and the best activities for each beach!
I have also included a map so that you can easily locate all of these awesome beaches on Waiheke Island.
The Best Beaches On Waiheke Island, New Zealand 🏖️
Read my New Zealand Travel Guide for all my blog posts and tips for travel in New Zealand!
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Best Beaches On Waiheke Island Map
Here is a custom map I created on Google showing the locations of the best beaches on Waiheke Island. Save this map by clicking the star icon, or open in a new tab.
16 Best Beaches On Waiheke Island & What To Do There
1. Little Oneroa Beach – Best Beach For Swimming
Little Oneroa Beach is my favourite beach on Waiheke Island!
This gorgeous little beach is sheltered by rocky cliffs on either side.
If you’re keen on a swim, then head to Little Oneroa Beach.
It’s the perfect place to enjoy the warm waters of Waiheke and enjoy a swim.
The water is clear and great for wading into. Not far from the shore you will get your depth.
Sunsets are also lovely from this beach.
There’s a small car parking area, children’s playground and toilets at this beach.
If you’re hungry, then try Dragonfired. Their small food truck is always parked up at Little Oneroa and serves delicious pizza and calzone.
How To Get To Little Oneroa Beach: You can easily walk to Little Oneroa Beach from Oneroa village – it just takes 5 minutes. To get there by bus from the Mataitai Ferry Terminal, take bus 50A, 50B or 501. If driving, there is a small car park at Little Oneroa Beach.
2. Oneroa Beach – Best Beach For Walking
Head down to Oneroa beach, also known as Big Oneroa Beach, for a wonderful walk along the sandy bay.
Located in Oneroa Village, Oneroa Beach is one of the most popular beaches on Waiheke Island with locals and visitors.
Oneroa Beach is one of the longest beaches on Waiheke Island at approximately 1km long.
At the eastern end of the beach, there is a rocky area to explore, while the western end is backed by bush.
The beach is dog friendly and many people are enjoying their walks here.
Oneroa is also a good place to swim, but be careful of the many boats which come into shore here. I prefer to swim at Little Oneroa Beach which is more sheltered and safe for swimming.
Being so close to Oneroa, you can combine your beach trip with a stroll around the village. There are lots of fun things to do in Oneroa, such as visiting the art gallery, browsing the shops and enjoying a coffee (I like Akito).
There are public toilets available in Oneroa village.
How To Get To Oneroa Beach: The best way to get to Oneroa Beach is to walk from Oneroa (it’s just a couple of minutes!). To get there by bus from the Mataitai Ferry Terminal, take bus 50A, 50B or 501.
Related Read: 11 Best Things To Do In Oneroa, Waiheke Island
3. Palm Beach – Best Beach For Chilling
The tiny village of Palm Beach has a relaxed vibe. The nearby beach makes the perfect place for chilling and enjoying the waves.
There are toilets, picnic benches here and a couple of small cafes and shops. Try Arcadia for a coffee or drink, and they also have a brunch menu.
How To Get To Palm Beach: There is parking by the roadside and the beach is just a short walk through the reserve. Get there on the bus using route 502.
4. Little Palm Beach – Best Beach For Sunbathing
Just a short walk from Palm Beach is Little Palm Beach.
Backed by bush and enclosed by rocks on each side, Little Palm Beach is a nice, private spot for a swim and sunbathing.
Little Palm Beach is popular with nudists, so don’t be surprised if you see many naked people here flaunting and enjoying their bodies!
How To Get To Little Palm Beach: This secluded beach is only accessible on foot. To get there, just walk to the western end of Palm Beach and around the rocks.
5. Onetangi Beach – Best Beach For Surfing
Onetangi Beach is my second favourite beach on Waiheke Island.
It is the longest beach on Waiheke Island. It is also one of the most beautiful.
The wide, sandy bay is exposed and gets good wind and waves, making it a top spot for surfing. Bodyboarding is popular here too, or just enjoying jumping the waves.
You can also enjoy taking a walk along the 2 km long beach and admiring the scenery.
Onetangi is a cool village and there are many cafes and restaurants along the beachfront. Up in the hills, there are some great vineyards and wineries to visit, including Casita Miro.
There are public toilets available at Onetangi Beach and the beachfront has several restaurants and cafes. My favourite is Three Seven Two.
How To Get To Onetangi Beach: There is parking available all along the beach in Onetangi if you are driving. By bus, take bus 50A or 50B to get to Onetangi. The Hop-On Hop-Off Bus also stops at Onetangi.
Related Read: 8 Best Things To Do In Onetangi, Waiheke Island
6. Enclosure Bay Beach – Best Beach For Snorkelling
If you want to do some snorkelling on Waiheke Island then be sure to check out Enclosure Bay.
This lovely little sandy/pebble beach is partially separated from the sea by rock formations. This makes Enclosure Bay a safe, sheltered spot for exploring the waters.
The water in the bay is quite shallow, so you would need to head out a little to get your depth.
Enclosure Bay is more off the beaten track, so if you’re looking for something a little different it makes a nice place to visit.
How To Get To Enclosure Bay Beach: There is a small parking area next to Enclosure Bay Beach. To get there by bus, take the route 502.
7. Sandy Bay Beach – Best Beach For Boating
Sandy Bay Beach is a pretty little beach just down the road from Enclosure Bay. The beach is popular for boat launching.
I wouldn’t recommend swimming here because of the amount of boat activity. But you could enjoy some other water activities on the water, like kayaking or stand up paddleboarding.
How To Get To Sandy Bay Beach: There is a small parking area just by the beach. To get there by bus, take the route 502.
8. Rocky Bay / Whakanewha Bay Beach – Best Beach For Bird Watching
Located in Whakanewha Regional Park, Rocky Bay Beach is a great place to get away from it all. This quiet corner of Waiheke Island is a lovely setting for a picnic or wandering the many trails through the park.
Rocky Bay Beach is a nesting site for the variable oystercatcher and New Zealand dotterel.
The dotterels have been nesting at Whakanewha Regional Park for many years.
The dotterels are endangered and under threat due to predation from non-native species, loss of habitat and disturbance from humans on the beach.
So, if you visit Rocky Bay Beach, make sure to be mindful of the nesting birds and do not disturb them.
You may find many other bird species along the coastline, including kingfisher, herons, terns, ducks and stilts.
Further inland from Rocky Bay, Whakanewha Regional Park also has a large wetland area. This wetland is home to many birds, including bittern, banded rail and spotless crake.
It’s possible to swim at Rocky Bay but go at high tide because the mudflats are exposed at low tide.
There is a campground at Whakanewha Regional Park too in case you want to stay overnight. This is the Poukaraka Flats Campground at Rocky Bay and is booked through Auckland Council.
How To Get To Rocky Bay Beach: Parking and toilets are available in the parking area in Whakanewha Regional Park. You can also get there by bus on the 502, 50A and 50B.
9. Blackpool Beach & 10. Surfdale Beach – Best Beaches For Bird Watching & Wind Water Sports
If you enjoy bird watching or , also check out the Surfdale and Blackpool Beaches.
Located just south of Oneroa village, these two beaches are good spots to see bar-tailed godwits and lesser knots. These birds spend the summer (between October to March) on these beaches after migrating from the arctic.
The godwits are amazing flyers and return to New Zealand in a direct, non-stop 9-day flight over 11000 km.
The lesser knots are smaller than godwits but are often seen in their company. Their precise migration route is still unknown.
Both these beaches have dramatic tides and are good for kayaking and paddleboarding. The beaches are also quite windy, so popular for windsurfing and kitesurfing.
These beaches are not great for swimming because they are also mudflats.
There are no public toilets at Blackpool Beach. Surfdale beach is close to the Surfdale village which has public toilets.
How To Get To Blackpool & Surfdale Beach: You can easily walk to Blackpool and Surfdale beaches from Oneroa. Or take the bus using service 502 or 50B to get to Blackpool Beach and the 50B or 50A to get to Surfdale. The two beaches are connected by a walking path called The Esplanade.
11. Hooks Bay Beach – Best Beach For Remote & Picturesque Adventure
Hooks Bay is a picturesque and remote sandy bay with turquoise waters located on the east of Waiheke Island.
The beach is only accessible by walking or by boat. The walk to Hooks Bay is on the historic Stony Batter Reserve.
The walk crosses coastal farmland and takes around 2.5 hours out and back.
Hooks Bay Beach has interesting features, including rocks, cliffs and a small cave.
How To Get To Hooks Bay: Drive or take the Eastern Explorer Bus to Stony Batter Historic Reserve (21.3 km). The roads on the eastern side of Waiheke Island are not sealed (gravel roads). The journey from Oneroa is around a 40 minute drive.
12. Man O’War Bay Beach – Best Beach For Drinking Wine
Man O’War Bay is a sheltered bay with a gorgeous, golden, sandy beach.
It is located on the eastern side of the island.
The beach is ideal for swimming, and there is a jetty for jumping in or docking boats.
The Man O’War Vineyards is located right next to the beach. The winery has a cellar door where you can try their wines on a tasting flight.
There’s also a restaurant, and live music and DJ set events in the summer.
Despite the remote feel, this winery is incredibly popular for those looking to try Waiheke’s famous wine with a gorgeous view of the beach.
The beach has picnic tables, outdoor BBQs and a public toilet. The beach is backed by trees.
How To Get To Man O’War Bay: Drive from Oneroa to Man O’War Bay in around 35 minutes (22.4 km). The Man O’War Bay road is not sealed (gravel road). Approx 9km of the road is gravel – from Waiheke Road to the vineyard. Alternatively, the Eastern Explorer Bus stops at Man O’War Vineyards.
13. Cactus Bay & 14. Garden Cove – Best Beaches For Kayaking
A little remove sandy cove, along with Garden Cove and Carey Bay, Cactus Bay is a lovely beach on Waiheke Island.
The beaches are only accessible by boat, as the land above the beaches is private and closed off from public access by the landowners.
How To Get To Cactus Bay: If you haven’t got access to a boat, Kayak Waiheke offers a guided kayak experience to Cactus Bay so you can reach this beach by sea. There is also a charter boat company that offers excursions to Cactus Bay.
15. Owhanake Bay Beach – Best Beach For The Views
The beach on Owhanake Recreation Reserve is a scenic end point to the Matietie/Matiatia Walk – a coastal route around the western side of Waiheke Island.
The walk is a wonderful activity for a half day. Starting at the Matiatia Ferry Terminal, the coastal path skirts the edge of the cliffs, and goes up and down in elevation.
Along the way are scenic views across the bays, hidden coves and native bush.
How To Get To Owhanake Bay: Walk from Korora Road directly to the reserve. Or take the Matietie coastal path from Matiatia ferry terminal on Ocean View Road (around a 1 hour walk one way).
Related Read: How To Get To Waiheke Island From Auckland (Fullers360 vs Sealink)
16. Fisherman’s Rock – Scenic & Secluded Spot
Not technically a beach, but a scenic and secluded spot a short walk from Oneroa village.
Fishermans Rock is a small, rocky scenic point accessed only on foot.
The journey to Fisherman’s Rock is a nice, easy walk to enjoy.
It can be done with dogs, as we took a dog there we were pet sitting on Waiheke Island.
Along the way there are a few secluded, sandy coves that locals were enjoying fishing or swimming.
There’s also rest points with picnic benches along the path.
You’ll get scenic views across Oneroa Bay and the beaches on the walk to Fisherman’s Rock.
At the end, there are interesting rocks and rock pools to enjoy beside the waves.
How To Get To Fisherman’s Rock: Take the coastal path from Little Oneroa beach through Newton Reserve to Fishermans Rock. Steps lead right down to the water’s edge from the path in the bush. The walk takes around 20 minutes.
Map Of The Best Beaches On Waiheke Island
Here is a map I created to help you find these beaches. Open it in Google Maps and save it for later!
Discover More Things To Do On Waiheke Island
Looking for more fun things to do on Waiheke Island? Check out these ideas:
- 11 Best Things To Do In Oneroa, Waiheke Island
- 8 Best Things To Do In Onetangi, Waiheke Island
- 16 Fun Things To Do On Waiheke Island Without A Car
- How To Get Around Waiheke Island (By Car, Bike, Bus & On Foot)
- How To Get To Waiheke Island From Auckland (Fullers360 vs Sealink)
Search For Accommodation On Waiheke Island
Finding a place to stay for your trip to Waiheke Island? Take a look at options on Booking.com, Hostelworld and Tripadvisor. Or use the search box below:
If you’re looking to stay at a hostel on Waiheke, then check out my review of The Best Hostel On Waiheke Island: Waiheke Backpackers Hostel Review. Located above Onetangi Beach, this awesome hostel has amazing views across Onetangi Bay. The hostel is comfortable, well-equipped, in a great location and, best of all, it is an affordable price.
16 Best Beaches On Waiheke Island, New Zealand – Thanks For Reading!
Waiheke Island is a paradise just a short ferry ride away from Auckland, New Zealand’s capital city. Enjoy the sea views and calm seas at Waiheke Island’s best beaches. Afterwards, enjoy a stroll around the cute village of Oneroa or enjoy the wineries at Onetangi. Enjoy your adventure to Waiheke Island! – Lauren x
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Lauren | Wild Lovely World
Lauren is a travel writer from the U.K., specialising in travelling on a budget as a solo female and in a couple. She moved to Australia solo at age 19 and has since lived in 7 different countries around the world, including teaching English in Japan, living in a campervan in New Zealand and hiking all across Scotland. Her style is travelling slow and she is an expert on moving abroad and long-term travel. She spends a lot of time working on her blog, WildLovelyWorld.com, and daydreaming about her next trip.
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