Owhanake Coastal Track

Introduction | Walkway guide and map | Additional information

Overlooking "Double U"
(Fossil) Bay

Walkway guide and map

Guide yourself around the track.

Pronounced by locals as 'oh-wah-nah-key', the Owhanake Coastal Track begins and ends at the western end of Oneroa Beach. From here, walk up the boat access ramp and turn right down Korora Road. Continue until you walk past Fossil Bay Farm. Signposts will direct you to turn right up a private driveway passing through a vineyard.

The walk continues along the ridgeline and heads inland from Island Bay to explore Owhanake Bay. Follow the mowed track back to Korora Road. Walk up the road and past Fossil Bay Farm until you see steps leading to a track on the right (Pohutukawa Sanctuary). This track takes you through privately owned bush, once you reach Tiri Road, turn left. Return to Oneroa via Korora Road and then back to the beach.

This average walk takes approximately two hours and offers many places to either stop for a break or to explore.

The information below corresponds with the numbers on the map and tells you about each of these places. Numbers 7, 8 and 10 will have yellow disks placed around the walkway.

1	Oneroa and all the land that you will see on this walk was once known as 'Greater' Te Huruhi. It was one of the last areas of Maori (Ngati Paoa) owned land on Waiheke. Gradually sold in the 1900's, the Alisons' were the first pakeha owners, farming Oneroa until it was subdivided in the 1920's.
2	Fossil Bay Farm is owned by the Delamore Family. In 1993 they generously offered a portion of their property to be used as a Steiner Kindergarten.
3	This is one of the few public walkways that leads you through a working vineyard. The Auckland University uses the vineyard for research.
4	A short track to the point reveals views of Double U (Fossil) Bay. Hakaimango Point is the furthest tip of the "W". Can you see the W shape of the bay on the map?
5	On a clear day you can see Little Barrier, Great Barrier and the Coromandel Peninsula. Some locals say that if you can see them clearly, rain is on the way in a few days.
6	Island bay is a great place to explore the rock pools and caves.
7	Owhanake Bay was once a large shingle bed mined from the 1880's. It is said that half the city of Auckland was built with pebbles from shingle beds from Waiheke Island. While Auckland city gradually built up, Waihekes' shorelines sadly became stripped and exposed to environmental damage. Owhanake and Hooks Bay's (on opposite ends of the Island) were the most affected due to the removal of thousands of cubic metres of shingle. Flat-bottomed scows were useful boats used to transport the heavy loads from the beach to Auckland city.
8	Owhanake Bay and flats. The Maori successfully cultivated the silt flats and sold the quality fruits and vegetables in Auckland. There was also a Kainga (small village) and a small urupa (burial site) at this location. It was not until 1911 that the Crown intervened to assess the damage created by the removal of shingle. By this time the burial site was at risk of erosion so the remains were removed and reburied at Te Wharau Point. The loss of some of the arable land must have been an influence for the Maori to sell the bay to the shingle tycoon, J.J.Craig in 1914. With full ownership he could continue to remove all of the shingle. Today erosion is still evident around the bay, an unfortunate reminder of how unsustainable land use can continue to impact future generations.
9	Raupo wetland - Maori made Raupo bread by grinding the fluffy seeds of Raupo to make flour. Don't you think the seed capsules look like hotdogs on sticks?
10	Pohutukawa Retreat and Sanctuary is a privately owned walkway open for the public to enjoy. Purchased in 1972, it was a dream of the Dryland family and friends to reforest this area. In the past 15 years over 10,000 locally sourced native trees have been planted. The land is a good example of sustainable land management utilizing the areas different characteristics with suitable land uses such as, regenerating native bush, pine forest, vineyards and olive groves. Eco-tourist chalets are also available for rent with breath taking ocean views over the valley. Phone: 09 372 8219
11	From Tiri Road you can see all the way to the other end of the island, the last peninsula is named thumbs point. Hooks Bay is located just around the corner, named after one of the earliest and most prominent families on the Island. Most of the population lived at this far end of Waiheke until the subdivision boom on this side from the 1930's.
12	Te Huruhi Bay on the right hand side of Oneroa is one of the few reminders of what used to exist on this beautiful peninsula. Gradually the Maori families sold their land on 'Greater' Te Huruhi and moved off the island, ending 150 years of Ngati Paoa occupation. The 'Greater' part of name in Te Huruhi has since disappeared.

Map of Owhanake Coastal Track

Published October 2008