This is the big one on Waiheke – an epic walk to the island’s remote eastern end. You’ll get big skies, stunning ocean views, rolling vineyards, and that famous gravel road everyone talks about. I’ve put together everything you need to know – exact route directions, whether you need permission to walk it, and all the practical stuff for planning your day or organizing a group walk.
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Where | Waiheke Island, New Zealand |
| How far | 14.3 km one-way |
| How long | 3-4 hours walking (allow 4-5 hours with breaks) |
| How hard | Moderate |
| Climbing | Around 200m total |
| Type | One-way (you’ll need to sort transport back) |
| Good for | Anyone reasonably fit, nature lovers, walking groups |
| Dogs | Yep, on leash the whole way |
Really important for groups:
The entire walk uses public routes – no private land, no permission needed:
Everything follows public beaches, reserves, and road corridors as part of the Te Ara Hura trail network. You’re all good to go.
Side note: During the Waiheke Walking Festival, they sometimes offer special routes across private land (Waiheke Station and Rarowhara property) with even better views. Those need festival booking and include a donation to Ngāti Paoa. But the public route I’m describing here is open anytime.
GPS if you need it: Around -36.7806°S, 175.0892°E (First Avenue car park)
Getting there: Bus stops at Forth Avenue, or drive and park on First, Second, Sixth, or Seventh Avenue. Get there early in summer – parking disappears fast.
0 km – Onetangi Beach Start at the beach with the sea on your left. Walk east along the sand toward First Avenue. At the far end, you’ll cross a shallow creek – usually just a hop across, but it’s easier at low tide. Head up to the car park at First Avenue.
0.5 km – The Big Climb Take the left fork heading steeply uphill on a sealed dead-end road. This is the steepest bit of the whole walk, so just take your time.
0.7 km – Into the Reserve At the top of the road, climb the steps into Pohutukawa Reserve. Look for the red Te Ara Hura markers on posts – they’ll guide you through.
1 km – Through Pohutukawa Reserve At the top of the steps, follow those red markers down and slightly left. At the bottom, go left around the metal gate onto Waiheke Road. Turn left.
1.5 km – Road Walking You can either turn left onto Belle Terrace (adds 200m but skips some main road) or keep going along Waiheke Road. Both work fine.
2.1 km – Top of the Hill You’ll reach the gates to Rarowhara property. Turn right to keep going along Waiheke Road. The next 3 km have gorgeous rural and ocean views.
2.5 km – Photo Stop There’s a small dirt hill on the right – climb up for views in every direction. Worth it.
3.7 km – First Winery Awaawaroa Organic Vineyard. Check if they’re open – could be a nice break.
5 km – The Turn (Don’t Miss This) This is important – at the Orapiu intersection, turn left onto Man O’ War Road. The road changes from sealed to gravel here. Follow this main gravel road as it winds north then east.
This scenic farm road is what makes this walk special. Usually pretty quiet, especially before 10:30am (the winery opens at 11). The road’s well-maintained but has some ups and downs.
Walking tips: When cars come, go single file and give them room. The gravel can be a bit loose in spots.
8.7 km – First Bench Views of vineyards, the Coromandel, and Little Barrier Island. Good spot for a breather.
10.6 km – Second Bench Don’t stop long – there’s a better one coming.
11.3 km – Third Bench (My Favorite) This is the one. Epic ocean and farm views. Take your time here.
12 km – Stony Batter Turn-off If you want to add the WWII tunnels and boulder fields, turn here. It’s 4 km return (2 km each way) and about 1.5 hours extra. Really cool if you have time.
14.3 km – You Made It! Man O’ War Bay. Beautiful beach, winery, restaurant. Time for a swim or a wine.
Red Markers: Look for red Te Ara Hura markers on wooden posts. They mark the official trail.
Signs: Pretty good around Onetangi and at key turns. Not much signage on the gravel road, but you can’t really get lost – just follow Man O’ War Road.
This is one-way, so you need a plan to get back:
Book through the winery website. Goes back to the ferry via Onetangi. Check their site for times and booking.
Leave one at each end. At Onetangi, park on the streets (First, Second, Sixth, Seventh Avenues). At Man O’ War, use the beach car park, NOT the winery’s customer parking.
Expensive but flexible. Around $80-120 for a group from Man O’ War to the ferry. Book ahead – harder to get at busy times. Heke Bus does group charters too.
Only if you’re really fit and experienced. 28.6 km total, 7-8 hours. Start at dawn.
Best months: October to April (spring through autumn)
Best time of day: Start by 8-8:30am to beat the heat, avoid traffic on the gravel road, and make sure you catch your transport back.
Tides: The creek at Onetangi is easier to cross at low-mid tide. Check times if you’re worried, but honestly it’s usually fine.
2 km detour at the 12 km mark. WWII fortress with underground tunnels you can walk through. 8-million-year-old volcanic boulders everywhere. Amazing views. Read my full Stony Batter guide
Along Man O’ War Road you’ll pass Passage Rock Wines, Waiheke Distilling Co. (they make gin and vodka), and Awaroa Winery.
If you’re not wrecked, you can keep going 9.4 km south to Passage Rock, or do the 6.3 km Hooks Bay walk from Stony Batter. This whole area is part of the 100 km Te Ara Hura trail network.
If you’re keen on more Waiheke walking, here are some other tracks I’ve done:
Stony Batter Walkway – Just 2 km from the 12 km mark of this walk. WWII tunnels and incredible boulder fields. Worth the detour.
Church Bay Circuit – One of the island’s prettiest bays with an easy coastal walk. Good for a shorter day.
Te Toki Reserve Loop – Peaceful native bush walk. Great when you need some shade.
Park Point Headland Loop – Dramatic clifftop views. Beautiful at sunset.
Matiatia Owhanake Coastal Loop – Starts right at the ferry terminal. No extra transport needed.
Check out all my Waiheke walks here
“Onetangi” means “weeping sands” in Māori. It’s Waiheke’s longest beach and hosts the Onetangi Beach Races every February/March – been going for over 100 years.
Captain Cook named it when he anchored here in 1769. He saw all these straight Kauri trees perfect for shipbuilding, which kicked off the Kauri logging industry on the island.
Later it became Man O’ War Station, one of the island’s biggest farms, owned by the Spencer family for generations. In the 1980s they planted vines and started Man O’ War Vineyards – now one of Waiheke’s top wineries with over 150 acres.
This walk’s part of Te Ara Hura (“The Path of Discovery”) – a 100 km network around the whole island. Built by the Waiheke Walking Trust and local volunteers over years.
Not for:
You need:
Dogs allowed: Yep, on leash the whole way.
Things to know:
I reckon max 20-25 for safety on those gravel roads. If you’ve got more, maybe split into groups with staggered starts (15-30 min apart).
Nope, none needed. It’s all public land and roads.
Waiheke i-SITE
Fullers360
Skip it if:
Check before you go:
Moderate means:
Good for:
Not for:
Wildflowers, nice temps (15-20°C), baby lambs in the paddocks.
Pohutukawa trees going nuts with red flowers, swimming at both ends, long days, but busiest season.
Perfect walking weather (18-22°C), beautiful light, fewer people, still warm enough to swim.
Cooler (10-15°C), dramatic skies, really quiet, might get wet.
Q: Can I walk it backwards (Man O’ War to Onetangi)? A: Yep, same route reversed. But getting to Man O’ War is trickier – you’d need to drive, take the Explore ferry direct there, or charter a bus.
Q: How long does it actually take? A: 3-4 hours walking for reasonably fit people. Add time for photos and breaks. Budget 4-5 hours total.
Q: Is the gravel road safe? A: Yeah, just stay alert. Walk single file when cars come. Most traffic’s between 10:30am-4pm when the wineries are open.
Q: Can I just turn up and walk without booking anything? A: You can walk anytime, but you MUST sort out how you’re getting back. Without pre-booking the bus or having two cars, you might be stuck (and taxis are expensive).
Q: What if someone in our group can’t finish? A: Call a taxi from Onetangi village or get picked up by your second car. There’s no easy bailout in the middle.
Q: Any toilets along the way? A: Only at the start and finish. Nothing in between.
Q: Can we swim at Man O’ War Bay? A: Absolutely! Sheltered bay, safe swimming, beautiful water. Perfect after the walk.
Q: Good for a half-day? A: Yeah, if you start early (8am ferry, bus to Onetangi, walk, back by 2-3pm). But a full day’s more relaxed.
Updated October 2025. Always check current conditions, transport schedules, and opening hours before you head off. Things change.
Have an awesome walk!
Want more Waiheke walks? Check out my other Waiheke Island walks
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