40 kilometres of beautiful beaches …

All of Waiheke’s beaches are great! However, for all day swimming, the best beaches are on the northern side of the Island (e.g. Oneroa, Little Oneroa, Palm Beach, Onetangi). The beaches on the southern side (e.g. Surfdale and Blackpool) are nice too, but are mainly tidal, and are only really good for swimming around high tide.

Surfdale

Although a southern side beach, Surfdale is a favourite spot for windsurfers and kite surfers, with a frequent breeze to set the sails and a sandy bottom to protect the feet. Surfdale village also has a great range of shops and restaurants.

Blackpool

A peaceful rocky beach making it perfect for kayaking and admiring views of Auckland City in the distance.

Oneroa

Facing towards the sunny north, Oneroa beach is a popular visitor spot with a busy and vibrant village, which has stunning views of the white sand bay below and Coromandel Peninsula in the distance.

Little Oneroa

A sheltered bay lined with pohutukawa trees for shade, BBQ areas, grass verges and a children’s playground. There’s a small shop here too for supplies (which does they great takeaway coffees) and ‘Dragonfired’ a caravan with a wood-fired oven that makes fantastic fresh pita pockets and pizzas to eat on the beach.

Palm Beach

Set in native bush with a beautiful palm lined beach below, Palm Beach is another popular place to visit. At certain times of year, phosphorescence can fill the bay making a stunning display in the water. The area has its own restaurant, beach store and playground.

Onetangi

This two kilometre long and beautiful stretch makes this beach a popular holiday destination. The beach is perfect for water activities such as windsurfing, swimming and the occasional surf. It is worth checking out if you are going for a drive anyway (or if you feel Oneroa is too overrun with people and boats as it can be in the peak of summer). The beach also has some café and restaurant dining options.

Other Waiheke beaches

Waiheke has a number of other bays and beaches, which are slightly further a field. They won’t necessarily have the same facilities as the beaches above but are beautiful nonetheless and definitely worth a visit if you are driving around the Island. Some of them are on private land, so be sure to check any warning signs before you decide to start jumping fences …

Local’s Tip: If you’re thinking of taking the family pooch along with you, don’t forget that there are strict rules about when dogs can/can’t be off-leash: check this page out for more detail.