Whakanewha Regional Park: Waiheke Island Beach, Bush & Camping
Photo: “Whakanewha” by brent simpson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Park at a glance
- Region
- Auckland
- Location
- Rocky Bay, Waiheke Island
- Managed by
- Auckland Council
- Dogs
- Dogs in some areas
- Camping
- Yes, see Camping section
Overview
Whakanewha Regional Park is on the southern coast of Waiheke Island, at Whakanewha Bay near the Ōmiha (Rocky Bay) settlement. It has a long, sweeping, sheltered beach with a bush-clad backdrop, a campground right on the foreshore, and native forest climbing the hills behind. Auckland Council's tagline sums it up: "escape overseas".
The park is also excellent for birds. More than 25 species have been recorded, including NZ dotterel, banded rail, spotless crake, red-crowned parakeet (kākāriki), Caspian terns and eastern bar-tailed godwits.
Getting there and opening hours
- Address: 75 Gordons Road, Ōmiha, Waiheke Island
- Getting to Waiheke: By ferry from Auckland, then by road to Ōmiha
- Vehicle gate: 6am–8.30pm during daylight saving and 6am–7pm the rest of the year
- Access road: Unsealed
- Parking: About 100 spaces, including the north-eastern beach overflow area
Walks and tracks
| Track | Time | Distance | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pā Loop Track | 30 min | 0.5–1.6 km | Headland views back to downtown Auckland |
| Rua Loop Track | 30 min | Short | |
| Whakanewha Forest Path | 80 min | 3.2 km | |
| Nikau Track | 150 min | 4 km | Cascading waterfalls |
| Park Walk | 150 min | 5 km |
Large sections of the park are closed to protect kauri from kauri dieback. Check which tracks are open before you go.
Things to do
Swimming at Whakanewha Bay
The bay has safe, shallow swimming, which makes it ideal for kids. Small boats can come in at high tide, and there's an anchorage at nearby Rocky Bay. Waiheke's many inlets make it great for kayaking.
Shorebirds and the Shell Spit
The park includes the Shell Spit Wildlife Area, and NZ dotterels breed along this coast. Keep to signposted areas and give nesting birds plenty of space.
Horse riders can reach the beach at Rocky Bay. They must stay below the shell bank and keep off the beach at high tide from 1 October to 28 February. Cantering is allowed only from 1 March to 31 July.
Dogs at Whakanewha
- On a leash: Everything on the landward side of Gordons Road, including the Carsons Road car park and the Tarata, Nikau, Central, Mamaku and Cascades Loop tracks. Also the western access tracks from Ōmiha (Firebreak, Eve's, Tawa and the northern part of Cathedral Track).
- Prohibited: Everything on the seaward side of Gordons Road, including the beach and foreshore, Poukaraka Flats campground, the Sculpture car park, and the Upland Road, Dotties Lane, Rua Loop and Pā Loop tracks
Camping
Poukaraka Flats campground sits behind the beach, and there's a CSC overnight parking area. Book both through Auckland Council.
Where is Whakanewha Regional Park?
The pin marks: Centre of the park area (-36.8207, 175.0778). It isn't an entrance or car park, so check the council's park page for access points before you go. Plan a route on OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab).
Location data: Auckland Council Park Extents (CC BY 4.0); OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0).
Check before you go
Track closures, gate times, fire bans and storm damage change often. Auckland Council posts current alerts for Whakanewha Regional Park on its official park page.
Current park alerts