Cross Island walkway

Introduction | Walkway guide and map | Additional information

Wetlands, Whakanewha Regional Park

Walkway guide and map

Guide yourself around the track.

The Cross Island Walk travels across Waiheke Island from Onetangi Beach to Whakanewha and Rocky Bay. Catch the Onetangi bus from Matiatia, or from the supermarket at Ostend to the Fourth Avenue bus stop in Onetangi. Overnight camping is available at Whakanewha Regional Park.

Walk up Waiheke Road to the Onetangi Forest and Bird entrance and then follow the signs to Trig Hill Road. Walk up Trig Hill Road and follow the signs and yellow markers south down the gravel road through to the Cascades waterfalls at Whakanewha Regional Park. Continue along Whakanewha beach and take the track to Rocky Bay. The bus leaves opposite the Old Rocky Bay store. Phone Maxx on 366 6400 for transport times and details.

The information below corresponds with the numbers on the map and tells you about each of these places.

1	Onetangi Beach is the longest ocean beach on Waiheke Island and home to the annual Onetangi Beach Races every Waitangi Day - races include horse, tractor and amphibian boat races!
2	Onetangi Reserve is owned and maintained by the Waiheke branch of Forest and Bird (F&B). This 50-hectare native forest was rescued from felling by the Royal NZ Forest and Bird protection Society in 1962. As an independent organisation, F&B relies on volunteers, bequests and donations to carry out conservation work. Visit the Forest and Bird website (www.forestandbird.org.nz) for more information.
3	See New Zealand's largest trees in the Kauri forest. Back in the early 1800s, most of Waiheke was covered in this amazing eco-system, but sadly, most of these giants were sent away on tall sailing ships to be used to help build colonial New Zealand and Australia.
4	Trig Hill Reserve is one of over 800 parks and open spaces cared for by Auckland City Council. Part of the council's role is to sustainably manage the city's natural environment, including land, water, soil, resources and the coast.
5	Most of Waiheke and the Hauraki Gulf can be seen from here at Trig Hill. Amazing views of the Puke Range are to the east - the highest peak being Maunganui at 231 metres. Check out the orientation plinth to identify other features on this stunning landscape.
6	Try and find the beginning of the water course. Notice how it picks up speed on its journey through to the Cascade waterfalls, Whakanewha wetlands and finally into Rocky Bay. See if you can spot any rare native fish! The palms along this way are called Nikau and they are the southern most palm in the world.
7	Whakanewha Regional Park is one of 26 parks administered by the Auckland Regional Council (ARC). ARC parks comprise of over 40,000 hectares of land that have recreational, historic and ecological value to the whole Auckland region.
8	Camping is available at Whakanewha along with free BBQ's and picnic sites along the beach. Why not explore the giant Pohutukawa, scramble up to the pa site on the point or do a spot of bird watching along the shoreline? This stunning park is the result of over 10 years of weed and pest control and volunteer plantings. To book a campsite or for further information, visit the Auckland Regional Council website (www.arc.govt.nz), or phone 366 2000.
9	Rocky Bay (Omiha) had no road connection to the rest of the island until 1956, and to this day it is still a close-knit and unique community. The area is rich in Maori History and artistic expression such as the Omiha Hall and the colourful dinghies and boatsheds along Rocky Bay.

You can download the map of the walk in PDF format below:

Cross Island walkway map (722kb PDF)

Forest and Bird volunteers

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Published May 2009