Eleven WOPpers elected to join Elizabeth for a ferry trip to Waiheke to explore a different area of the island to many previous WOPs Waiheke trips. 

It was a beautiful day for our 45 minute trip via Devonport on the millpond-like inner Hauraki Gulf.

From Matiatia, we piled onto the 502 bus for what turned out to be a 40 minute circuitous trip of both coasts (Oneroa, Blackpool, Little Oneroa, Surfdale, Palm Beach & Ostend) to our destination, Rocky Bay and the route endpoint at Omiha Bay.  

We completed our brownie ring on the beach before a short hike up and along the cliff face to join Upland Road and Dotties Lane tracks before returning to the foreshore for a short sustenance break. There are beautiful views across the estuary to farmland & vineyards. The foreshore area is a dotterel breeding ground hence dogs are not permitted. Dotterels kept out of sight unlike at the Shakespear Regional Park walk where we experienced a number of dotterel sightings. 

We walked along the shingle Whakanewha (Rocky) Bay foreshore taking the Rua Loop Track with glimpses of a number of distinctive kumara pits before entering mature native bush. This track links with the Pa Loop Track up to the pa site at the eastern headland which afforded views back to Auckland City.  

We returned via the other section of these loop tracks to connect with the Nikau Track and head back into the mature bush. From the foreshore it appeared that we would be walking in a manuka & kanuka forest. Within a short distance we were in podocarp forest with many nikau trees (hardly surprising given the track name) and wonderful mature native forest with some majestic totara trees. Our initial destination was the Cascade Falls, restricted to a trickle due to our long dry weather. This area is similar to the falls area at Shakespear Regional Park. 

From here we linked with the Tarata Track, finding a comfortable shady spot for lunch. A little further along the Tarata Track we exited the park to Carson Road. It was a short walk alongside the park before we were heading back into the bush. Then we connected with the Cathedral Track at the entrance to Te Whau, a wide track predominantly downhill to its junction with Upland Road Track and back to Omiha Road and the bus stop.

Elizabeth’s goal was the 14:15 departure to catch the 15:00 ferry. However, we were in time for the 13:45 departure which gave us the opportunity for a swim, coffee or chill out at Matiatia prior to our return sailing. 

I’d read about Waiheke’s 50 km of tracks, Te Ara Hura, intending to head over and enjoy what was on offer but this was my first time on a new section. This regional park presents the explorer with a totally different outlook and environment than its more frequently visited northern side while being close to central Auckland. Tracks are all well-formed and relatively easy walking with occasional built steps. Being so close to urban areas they are well endowed with strategically placed seats. 

All the buses on Waiheke are electric, much quieter than their fuel equivalents and appeared to handle well the at times narrow & windy roads. Our driver said they were fantastic to drive. I look forward to having these on other Auckland routes. 

Thank you, Elizabeth, for a great day, and particularly for going the extra mile with your prior trip to Waiheke to reconfirm that the ferry & buses would be operating as scheduled for a successful day’s walk.

Marion C.

Click here to see Marion’s photos