One of the main attractions on the 2 ½ hr walk is an ancient Maori pa site with panoramic views that look over Rocky Bay to Auckland. Start at the Rocky Bay Store and follow the walkway on road reserve next to Glenbrook Road to the entrance of Glenbrook Reserve.
Going downhill is a lovely wooden bridge that crosses a small stream fed by a natural spring, a narrow track leads uphill through mature forest until it opens to the pa, The track continues up the ridge through a canopy of manuka and interesting rock formations to Okoka Road.
Turning right onto Okoka Rd, Fairview Crescent and upto Bella Vista Rd until you can see Whakanewha Rocky Bay. For a short and interesting diversion, turn right at the corner into Crosby Reserve, which gives outstanding views of Whakanewha Regional Park and the bush slopes of Rocky Bay. Then continue on along Bella Vista, Upland and Omiha Rds. Towards the end of Omiha Road, a short track leads to Omiha Beach. Allow 1 hour for this walk.
If you would like to visit the Whakanewha Regional Park walk up Glenbrook Road, then turn into Omiha Rd and then go up Upland Rd, where there is a track that leads to the beach.
If you want to take a longer walk, start at Rocky Bay Store and proceed down to McMillan Rd to the foreshore at Kauakarau Bay, where there is picnic and barbecue facilities. At McMillan Rd there is Mary Wilson Reserve, a great place for children to LINKSand have fun. Go up either Valley Road or Wairoa Road and turn into the Wairoa North Reserve, an accessway that takes you to the bottom of Kaukarau Bay Forest Reserve. This reserve track takes you through native forest, at the top of the reserve is a 400-year-old puriri.
This track comes to an exit at a lovely picnic area with great views. From the Kowhai Ridge tracks connect through to the Whakanewha Regional Park, you should continue along an award winning vineyard restaurant Drive and then turn right into Vintage Lane. At the end of Vintage Lane is a walkway off to the right, leading to Okoka Bay "Dead Dog Bay", It is a great place for a picnic, with Putiki Bay and a wetland. East of the beach, a track follows the wetland and connects to O’Brien Road. The mountain on the left is called PutikiOKahu / Rangihoua and was the main pa site in the area. From O’Brien Road there is a track that follows the road to an award winning vineyard restaurant Drive.