Lonely Bay is a small, secluded beach tucked below Shakespeare Cliff Reserve near Cooks Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula. It’s a short steep walk down to it, but the beach itself is one of the nicest in the area, surrounded by cliffs and old pohutukawa trees. Much quieter than the beaches on the main road.
| Distance | 1km return |
|---|---|
| Time | 15–20 minutes return |
| Difficulty | Easy, but steep with lots of steps |
| Track Surface | Formed track, wooden steps |
| Start | Shakespeare Cliff Reserve car park, -36.8283, 175.7549 |
| Dogs | Leash only |
| Toilets | No |
| Parking | Free, small car park at trailhead |
| Mobile Coverage | Yes |
| Nearest Town | Cooks Beach (5 min drive), Whitianga (15 min) |
Take the Cooks Beach/Hahei turnoff from State Highway 25 at Whenuakite and follow the signs to Cooks Beach. Drive past the main Cooks Beach settlement on Purangi Road heading toward Flaxmill Bay. Turn right onto the gravel road signposted for Shakespeare Cliff Scenic and Historic Reserve. The Lonely Bay car park is on the right before you reach the top. If you overshoot it you’ll end up at the Shakespeare Cliff Lookout car park, which is fine too, just a bit further to walk.
The car park is free and small. It can fill up in summer and on long weekends, so arriving early is your best bet. There’s an alternative approach from Cooks Beach: park at the end of Riverview Road, cross the little bridge, and follow the track up to the main car park.
The road up is narrow and not suitable for large vehicles.
From the car park the track heads steeply downhill to the beach. A stairway was constructed in 2005 to make it easier to get down, with the steps designed in a pattern to make the descent more manageable. It takes about 5 to 10 minutes down, a bit longer coming back up. The steps are generally well maintained but can be slippery when wet.
Lonely Bay is completely surrounded by high cliffs and native bush, fringed by magnificent old pohutukawa trees. The crushed shell sands and striking limestone boulders give it a character you don’t find on the bigger, more accessible beaches nearby.
It’s a double-back walk. You go down, spend time on the beach, and come back up the same way.
The beach is small and relatively sheltered. Good for a swim in settled conditions, though it can get rough when there’s a swell running. There are rock pools to explore and good limestone rock formations along the shore. The pohutukawa canopy provides shade which makes it particularly nice on a hot day.
Keep an eye out for tui and kererū in the reserve on the way down.
The reserve has more than just Lonely Bay. At the top of Shakespeare Cliff is a lookout with a plaque commemorating Captain Cook observing the Transit of Mercury in 1769, which is how Mercury Bay got its name. The lookout has around a 210 degree view of the bay and is perfect for a panorama shot, and a second lookout platform overlooks Lonely Bay itself.
The car park also serves as the starting point for several other walking tracks through the reserve, including a track that continues from Lonely Bay down to Cooks Beach. If you want a longer walk, the Shakespeare Cliff Loop connects the reserve, Lonely Bay and Cooks Beach into a half-day route.
Summer is the obvious choice when the beach is warm enough to swim. Go early in the day to beat the crowds and the heat. On a hot day arriving early and leaving around noon means you may have the beach to yourself. The pohutukawa flowers in December and January, which is when the beach looks its best.
