Little Onetangi Beach

Little Onetangi is the small cove at the western end of Onetangi Bay on the north coast of Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf. Onetangi is Waiheke's longest beach, a broad sweep of fine sand with shallow, calm water, and its western end, toward Little Onetangi, has long been used for clothing-optional bathing. Local commentary describes Little Onetangi and Little Palm Beach as Waiheke's two known nude beaches, while noting that neither has any formal status. Travel writers describe the western end of Onetangi as quiet even at the height of summer, in contrast to the busier central part of the bay with its cafés and beachfront restaurants. The water shelves gently and is generally safe for swimming in settled weather; there is little natural shade on the sand. Because the nude end adjoins a popular family beach, clothed walkers do pass by, and nude bathers usually settle well toward the western end. For a more established nude beach on the island, Little Palm Beach lies a few kilometres to the west.