Oneroa – facing towards the sunny north, Oneroa beach is a popular visitor spot with a busy and vibrant village, which has stunning views of the white sand bay below and Coromandel Peninsula in the distance.
Little Oneroa – a sheltered bay lined with pohutukawa trees for shade, BBQ areas, grass verges and a children’s playground. There’s a small shop here too for supplies, and they do they great takeaway coffees.
Blackpool – a peaceful rocky beach making it perfect for kayaking and admiring views of Auckland City in the distance.
Surfdale – although a southern side beach, Surfdale is a favourite spot for windsurfers with a frequent breeze to set the sails and a sandy bottom to protect the feet. Surfdale village also has a great range of shops and restaurants.
Palm Beach – Set in native bush with a beautiful palm lined beach below, Palm Beach is another popular place to visit. At certain times of year, phosphorescence can fill the bay making a stunning display in the water. The area has its own restaurant, beach store and playground. Little Palm Beach lies to the western end around an outcrop of rocks, accessable from Palm Beach or the walking trail off Cory Road. This is a beautiful beach where bathers are optional.
Onetangi – This two kilometre long and beautiful stretch makes this beach a popular holiday destination. The beach is perfect for water activities such as windsurfing, swimming and the occasional surf. It is worth checking out if you are going for a drive anyway (or if you feel Oneroa is too overrun with people and boats as it can be in the peak of summer). The beach also has some café and restaurant dining options.
Others – Waiheke has a number of other bays and beaches, which are slightly further a field. They won’t necessarily have the same facilities as the beaches above but are beautiful nonetheless and definitely worth a visit if you are driving around the Island.