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Waiheke Island walkways

Introduction | Matiatia, Church Bay, Oneroa loop | Matiatia/Owhanake/Oneroa | Oneroa, Blackpool | Hekerua Bay, Palm Beach | Rocky Bay's Te Whau loop | Rocky Bay (featuring Whakanewha) | Onetangi | Orapiu, Pearl Bay | Park Point coastal walkway | Other walks | Additional information | Waiheke Island map

Hekerua Bay, Palm Beach

Waiheke’s northern beaches

Duration: approximately two hours
Classification: route

Highlights and basic facts

• Hekerua Bay and Enclosure Bay boast shingle beaches, rocky pools and coastal rock outcrops.
• Hekerua Bay also has some mature pohutukawa and is good for swimming.
• Palm Beach is a very popular white sandy beach ideal for swimming and sunbathing, with nude bathing at the western end of the beach.
• Enclosure Bay is partially cut off from the sea by interesting rock formations, making it a very sheltered area safe for swimming.
• dogs: keep your dog/s under control, particularly on steep sections of the tracks
• facilities: toilets at Sandy Bay, Palm Beach and Matapana reserves. Shops and barbecues at Palm Beach
• note: keep a lookout for signs showing the alternative routes

From Watters Glen, at the corner of Queens Drive and Goodwin Avenue, follow the track through Hekerua Bay Reserve to Sandy Bay. Follow Great Barrier Road to Enclosure Bay and turn right into Empire Avenue through McKenzie Reserve to Coromandel Road.

Turn left into Hauraki Road and Cory Road. Then walk to the lookout through Mawhitipana Reserve to Palm Beach. Continue along Palm Beach to Matapana Reserve and up to Matapana Road. Follow Hill Road that loops back down to Palm Beach.

Alternative route:

• from McKenzie Reserve follow Hauraki Road to Karaka Road. Turn right into Karaka Road and then left onto Te Aroha Avenue track. This is an attractive walk through native regenerating bush. A steep track with over 100 steps becomes a 250 metre gentle decline, good walking shoes are recommended. At Hekerua Bay turn back onto the zig zag track back up to the starting point. This will cut the length of the walk by one hour.

Images from around the walk