Orapiu Bay is a small, south-facing beach at Orapiu on Waiheke Island's southern coast, holding a strong 4.7 Google rating from visitors. Waiheke's best-known beaches face north, so the bays along the island's southern side run quieter and smaller, often with a mix of sand, shell and rock underfoot. Calm when a northerly or north-westerly blows, they can be the sheltered choice on days when the northern beaches are rough. Water is usually at its best around high tide, and facilities are thin in this corner of the island, so regulars arrive with their own water, food and shade and treat the trip as a proper outing. Checking tide times before you set out makes all the difference. For those willing to make the winding drive to Waiheke's eastern reaches, Orapiu Bay offers a swim and a stretch of coast far from the island's busier sand.