Waiheke Island is a paradise for walkers, with the 87 km Te Ara Hura trail connecting many of the island's walking tracks. Two large reserves, Stony Batter and Whakanewha Regional Park, also offer multiple trails and points of interest.
Stony Batter is a 50-acre DOC reserve on the island's northeast end. It features historic WWII gun emplacements, tunnels, and unusual karst rock formations from an ancient volcano. The reserve is surrounded by farmland and vineyards.
Whakanewha Regional Park is located on the south side of Waiheke. It is easily accessed from the Sculpture Car Park off Gordons Road, with short walks to Rocky Bay Beach and tracks through regenerating native forest.
Stony Batter Walk
The Stony Batter walk starts at the end of Stony Batter Road and takes you 2 km along a private road to the reserve. The walk climbs to 200m elevation, with views of rolling hills and the Hauraki Gulf.
The reserve features a unique boulder field with rounded basalt boulders exhibiting rare karst erosion features formed by water flow. The boulders were once covered in forest and accumulated humus and rainwater, creating weak acid that eroded channels and flutes.
You can wander among the boulders from the reserve or continue on the Opopo Bay Track. Access is barred from August 1 to September 30 due to lambing season. Look for the shark head rock formation and entrance to the Stony Batter Fortress tunnels.
Stony Batter Fortress
Stony Batter was selected as a site for a secret WWII coastal defence system due to its unobstructed views of the Hauraki Gulf and approach to Auckland. The underground fortress, developed in 1942, had three large gun emplacements that could engage enemy ships over 30 km away.
Although the guns were never fired in battle and were eventually removed, the tunnels and emplacements remained well-preserved. Public access was restored in 2001, and the Stony Batter Protection and Restoration Society now manages the site. Guided tours of the tunnels are available, while the grounds and empty gun pits can be visited anytime.
Hooks Bay Track
The Hooks Bay Track starts from the Stony Batter Reserve and heads north, dropping nearly 200m to the picturesque beach at Hooks Bay. There are excellent views of farmland and the Hauraki Gulf along the way.
There are two parallel routes - an easier one following a private road and a more scenic option across pastureland at the reserve's top. A gate in the boundary fence allows access to head downhill through grass. Note the track is closed from August to September for the lambing season.
Hooks Bay features striking orange-coloured sand from the surrounding cliffs and rocks. At low tide, you can explore the rocks at the southeast end and a small cave. The bay is excellent for swimming and picnics, but camping is not allowed.
Whakanewha Regional Park
Whakanewha Regional Park protects a mature coastal forest and regenerates shrublands that were once farmland. Rocky Bay Beach lines the southern boundary with wide tidal mudflats. The island's lack of possums means rare wetland birds like the bittern and banded rail can be spotted.
A network of walking trails creates several loop options through the forest and along the coast. Recommended routes include the Nikau Walk to Cascades Loop, which is returned via the Tarata, Kowhai, and Dotties Tracks. The Te Ara Hura trail also traverses the park.
Māori historically occupied Whakanewha, with a pā site still visible. The area was later a sheep farm for over a century before Auckland City purchased the land in 1994 to establish the regional park.
Rocky Bay
Rocky Bay forms the coastal boundary of Whakanewha Regional Park on the south side of Waiheke Island. The beach is shelly and stony, with extensive mudflats at low tide. High tide is best for swimming.
The grassy reserve behind the beach has picnic areas and toilets. Established native forest, regenerating bush, and walking tracks extend inland from here.
The beach's southern end has a campground, while the northern tip protects a dotterel breeding area near the Sculpture Car Park entrance. This car park also provides access to the Nikau Walk and other trails.
Nikau Track and Cascades Loop
The Nikau Track is an easy, scenic walk through nikau palm forests and regenerating native bush in Whakanewha Regional Park. It also forms part of the Te Ara Hura trail.
Starting from the Sculpture Car Park, the track crosses the road and follows a gully before climbing a ridge to meet the Tarata Track. Walkers can loop back via the Kowhai Track and Dotties Lane or continue to the Cascades Loop Track.
The Cascades Loop leads through a beautiful forest to a series of small but picturesque waterfalls in a rocky gully. At the base of the falls, a seat and picnic spot provide a place to rest. The loop can also be accessed from Carsons Road car park. Allow about an hour to complete the tracks.
