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This 7 day Oahu itinerary is the precise one we adopted on our current journey to probably the most visited Hawaiian island.
It was the right mixture of journey and rest. We divided our time between the favored seashore resort Waikiki within the capital Honolulu and the quieter North Shore.
During our one week on Oahu, we surfed and snorkelled, swam with sharks and turtles, hiked up Diamond Head and thru a rainforest, and admired the island from above on a doors-off helicopter journey.
And, in fact, we spent loads of time on the beautiful seashores.
Here I share concepts for what to do in Oahu for every week plus the most effective locations to remain, the way to get round, and different helpful ideas. You’ll additionally discover a map of our Oahu highway journey route.
Contents
Where to Stay for this Oahu Itinerary
Oahu is a reasonably small island. It’s solely 44 miles lengthy and 30 miles throughout, however site visitors implies that driving is quite a bit slower than you’d anticipate.
A 100-mile loop to the primary sights takes a minimum of 3.5 hours (with out stops) however may very well be quite a bit longer if the roads are busy (which they usually are).
It is doable to go to all of the sights on this Oahu itinerary utilizing the capital metropolis Honolulu as a base, however we’re actually glad we cut up our time between Honolulu and the North Shore.
It’s value contemplating time on the North Shore in case you want quieter, much less developed locations or need to do a shark swim from Haleiwa, which is greatest early within the morning.
Where to Stay in Honolulu
The overwhelming majority of tourists to Honolulu keep in Waikiki, a energetic seashore resort 20-40 minutes from Honolulu Airport (relying on site visitors).
There are loads of lodges—each price range and luxurious—in addition to trip leases. Importantly, it’s one of many few areas on Oahu the place trip leases are authorized.
We spent the primary 4 nights of this Oahu one week itinerary in Waikiki, which was the perfect base for exploring the southeast.
We stayed at this one-bedroom Airbnb apartment within the Aston Waikiki Sunset (which additionally operates as a resort with suites).
The constructing is dated, however our Airbnb was newly renovated, had implausible ocean and Diamond Head views, and included free parking. It was solely a five-minute stroll to the seashore.
If you’d want a resort room, the most effective luxurious resorts in Waikiki are proper on the seashore together with Moana Surfrider, The Royal Hawaiian, and Sheraton Waikiki.
They are dear, so we determined to spend much less in Waikiki (the place we had been busy exploring) and splurge on a pleasant resort on the North Shore, the place you get extra in your cash.
Where to Stay on the North Shore
Oahu’s North Shore is far much less developed than Honolulu, so lodging choices are restricted, particularly for the reason that ban on trip leases exterior resort areas.
Turtle Bay Resort
There are solely two North Shore resorts, and we spent three nights on the largest, Turtle Bay Resort. We completely beloved it and it’s our favorite place we’ve stayed in all of Hawaii.
All the fashionable rooms have ocean views and balconies, and it’s proper on a good looking seashore. There are additionally mountain climbing trails to many quiet seashores.
It’s a big resort with lots to do—two swimming swimming pools, surf classes, horse using, {golfing}, and a spread of actions. You might simply spend days by no means leaving the resort, nevertheless it’s additionally an incredible location for exploring the North Shore.
Check costs for Turtle Bay right here.
Courtyard by Marriott
The different resort on the North Shore is Courtyard by Marriott Oahu North Shore, subsequent to the Polynesian Cultural Center.
It’s extra reasonably priced than Turtle Bay however not as luxurious and is farther from the most effective North Shore seashores. No alcohol is allowed because it’s in Laie, a Mormon city.
How to Get Around Oahu
To observe this itinerary for Oahu, it’s greatest to lease a automobile at Honolulu Airport on arrival. We used comparability websites like Rental Cars and Skyscanner to search out the most effective deal.
We ended up renting the most affordable automobile with Hertz and had no wait to gather it.
Make positive you price range for parking charges as resorts cost $25-45 a day for parking.
Oahu Without a Car
If you actually don’t need to drive, you can base your self in Waikiki and use a mix of taxis, excursions, and the Waikiki Trolley hop-on hop-off bus to go to many of those locations on Oahu.
Some excursions to contemplate embrace:
Our 7 Day Oahu Itinerary at a Glance
Waikiki
- Day 1: Arrive in Waikiki at 3pm – beachfront dinner and purchasing.
- Day 2: Manoa Falls hike, Pali Lookout, Kailua and Lanikai seashores.
- Day 3: Diamond Head hike, KCC Farmer’s Market, Waikiki Beach and stand-up paddle surf lesson.
- Day 4: Hanauma Bay snorkelling, Halona Blowhole, Makapuʻu Lighthouse Trail, Waimānalo Beach, helicopter tour.
North Shore
- Day 5: Move to Turtle Bay on North Shore through Windward Coast—Byodo-In Temple, Kualoa Regional Park Beach, Kahaku Farm.
- Day 6: Shark swim, North Shore seashores, Waimea Valley waterfall swim.
- Day 7: Turtle Bay resort day together with hikes, seashores, snorkelling, surf lesson, pool time.
- Day 8: Departure.
Our itinerary was reasonably busy. We match quite a bit into our week however nonetheless had some downtime. If you’d want extra seashore/rest time, simply skip a few of the actions.
You can simply transfer the times round to fit your schedule. I extremely advocate visiting Waikiki earlier than the North Shore if you’re doing a cut up keep, although. It was good to finish with a extra relaxed expertise.
Oahu Experiences to Book in Advance
It’s essential to plan prematurely as many actions e book up quick. These are the issues we did that require advance reserving:
- Diamond Head hike – Bookings open 30 days earlier than on the Go Hawaii State Parks web site.
- Hanauma Bay snorkelling – You have to e book two days prematurely at precisely 7am HST (spots promote out in minutes) on the Parks and Recreation web site. We booked on our first morning in Oahu. Note that the bay is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
- Cage-free shark swimming – Depending on the time of yr, you might be able to e book just a few days prematurely, however to ensure your chosen time (early morning is the calmest), e book a minimum of a month earlier than with One Ocean Diving.
- Oahu helicopter tour – Availability is normally fairly good however e book just a few weeks prematurely with Rainbow Helicopters to make sure.
- Private stand-up paddle surf lesson – Just a few weeks prematurely to get your best time.
- Restaurants – If there’s an upmarket restaurant you need to go to, make certain to e book. We solely booked Beach House at Turtle Bay (as quickly as I booked the resort) as we primarily ate in informal locations. Duke’s in Waikiki will get booked out months prematurely.
Other actions that we didn’t do this require advance reserving are:
- USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor – Available eight weeks prematurely at 3pm HST on the NPS web site. You positively need to e book a minimum of a month forward. If not, extra tickets are launched 24 hours earlier than.
- Lauas – Just a few weeks prematurely.
- Kualoa Ranch excursions such because the Hollywood Movie Sites or UTV Raptor Tour.
Oahu Road Trip Map
This map reveals all over the place we visited throughout our one week in Oahu.
Our Oahu Hawaii Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Waikiki (4 nights)
After choosing up our rental automobile at Honolulu Airport, it was a straightforward drive to Waikiki, the place we checked into our Airbnb at Aston Waikiki Sunset at 3pm.
We had been too drained to do a lot, however we had been solely a brief stroll from the enduring Waikiki Beach. This is the busiest seashore in all of Hawaii, however the white sand, light turquoise waves, and Diamond Head view are beautiful.
It’s a energetic scene with lots happening and plenty of purchasing close by. We headed to one of many ubiquitous ABC shops to replenish on insect repellent and reef-safe sunscreen.
We wandered on the sand to The Beach Bar on the Moana Surfrider Hotel for a Mai Tai cocktail and dinner. Veggie choices are restricted (as we discovered in any respect Hawaii resorts), however the Beyond plant-based burger was good.
You can’t beat the placement subsequent to the seashore underneath an enormous banyan tree, and the dwell music added to the Hawaii vibes.
Back at our resort, Hawaii Beach Time dropped off the snorkel gear we’d rented (later than deliberate), and we received an early evening prepared for an early begin on our first full day.
If you’re in Waikiki on a Wednesday, Friday or Saturday, you can additionally see the free Hawaiian hula and music present at 6.30pm subsequent to the seashore.
Day 2: Manoa Falls and Kailua
Book Hanauma Bay
We needed to be up earlier than 7am to e book Hanauma Bay snorkelling—reservations have to be made 48 hours prematurely.
Luckily, an early begin is straightforward coming from the US mainland—a superb motive to schedule early morning actions in your first few days earlier than your physique adjusts to Hawaii time.
Hanauma Bay books up in minutes, so I made positive to have every little thing prepared and refresh the web page at precisely 7am. We managed to get tickets for our best time of 7am two days later.
Manoa Falls
At 7.30am we left for Manoa Falls, a 20-minute drive inland from Waikiki. The earlier you begin this common waterfall path, the higher.
It’s a beautiful stroll by means of lush rainforest the place some scenes from the Jurassic Park motion pictures had been filmed.
The two-mile out and again path took us about an hour and was pretty straightforward, though we did really feel the warmth and humidity in the direction of the tip of the ascent as much as the falls.
The waterfall itself was fairly however crowded. I positively advocate the path because it’s simply accessible from Waikiki however feels far-off from town.
Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout
We left Manoa Falls at 9am and headed in the direction of the Windward Coast (Oahu’s east coast) on the gorgeous Pali Highway that cuts by means of the Ko’olau Range.
It took us 25 minutes to achieve the Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout, top-of-the-line viewpoints in Oahu. The $7 parking payment could really feel a bit steep for a fast cease, nevertheless it’s value it.
At 1200 ft, it’s a lot colder and windier up right here, so take a sweater or jacket. It was additionally raining once we visited, regardless of being dry on the coast.
The view of the Windward Coast is gorgeous, even within the rain—whereas the mountains had been obscured by clouds we might nonetheless see the coast.
Kailua
20 minutes additional on from the lookout is Kailua, a city on the Windward Coast with a good looking seashore and loads of cafes and boutiques.
It has a way more relaxed vibe than Waikiki, and we thought of staying right here, however lodging is restricted.
We went for a stroll on the 3-mile lengthy white sand seashore, with its gorgeous backdrop of the Ko’olau Range, adopted by a tasty brunch at vegetarian cafe Beet Box Cafe.
Lanikai Beach
By 11am we had been heading to Lanikai Beach, thought of probably the most lovely seashores on Oahu.
And it’s lovely, however parking may be very tough on this residential space 5 minutes from Kailua.
After circling the streets just a few occasions with out getting a spot, we drove again to Kailua, parked on the Kailua Beach boat ramp, and walked 10 minutes to Lanikai Beach.
I extremely advocate biking or strolling from Kailua to keep away from inflicting issues for Lanikai residents.
There aren’t any services or shade on the seashore, only a beautiful stretch of white sand, turquoise water, and a view of two small islands (common kayaking locations). We noticed a sea turtle, so it’s value bringing your snorkelling gear.
Honestly, we felt Kailua Beach Park was simply as lovely, slightly quieter, and far simpler to entry.
After just a few hours of enjoyable seashore time, we stopped in Kailua for shave ice at Island Snow (make certain so as to add a scoop of ice cream) and to replenish on groceries at Whole Foods (there aren’t any actual grocery shops in Waikiki).
If you could have the power, you can additionally go to close by Oeno Winery and Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden, however we headed again to our resort at 3pm.
Waikiki is a 40-minute drive from Kailua again over the Pali Highway.
If you’re very eager or have restricted time, you can drive the coast highway again to Waikiki through a few of the stops we visited on Day 4.
Waikiki
Back in Waikiki, I rested whereas Simon did some purchasing. The fundamental purchasing road is Kalakaua Avenue, parallel to the seashore.
Don’t miss International Market Place, a shopping center centered round an enormous banyan tree.
We had an informal dinner at Oahu Mexican Grill (OMG), which is our favorite spot in Waikiki for a fast meal.
It’s a Chipotle-style Mexican the place you select your fillings for burritos, tacos, bowls, and so forth. The meals is fairly tasty and cheap, they’ve good frozen margaritas, and you may sit by an open window with views of the seashore and people-watch on the strip beneath.
I used to be additionally tempted to do that evening stand-up paddle yoga class, however sadly didn’t have the power.
Day 3: Diamond Head and Waikiki
Diamond Head Summit Hike
Diamond Head is the preferred hike in Oahu and you could e book a minimum of just a few weeks prematurely. We booked the 6-8am slot for cooler temperatures, and left at 5.45am for the 15-minute drive from Waikiki.
The 1.6-mile return hike took us about an hour. It’s a reasonably steep climb to the summit, so it’ll get your coronary heart going, nevertheless it’s not too difficult.
Except for the crowds. This is the busiest hike we’ve ever completed, and you may’t even go early to keep away from the crowds—even at 6am, we had been strolling in a line of individuals up the hill.
Even worse is the summit, the place everybody congregates, and the stroll down whenever you’ve received folks coming in each instructions, which is a bit anxious on slim sections just like the steel stairs.
On the plus facet, the views are gorgeous. We might see the solar rising over the east coast on our method up and from the highest, Honolulu was lit in golden morning mild.
Most folks love Diamond Head, but when a crowded hike is just not your factor, you may need to skip it.
KCC Farmer’s Market
As we had been mountain climbing Diamond Head on a Saturday, we had been in a position to go to the close by KCC Farmer’s Market afterwards, which opens at 7.30am. Going at opening was best because it will get busier later within the morning.
Stalls promote recent fruit and greens, flowers, honey, nuts, smoothies, and an array of ready meals. Vegan choices included Vietnamese, Mexican, falafel, and plant-based scorching canine.
We had breakfast plans, so we simply snacked on a scrumptious strawberry-filled mochi.
Barefoot Beach Cafe
Back in Waikiki, on the quieter finish by Queens Beach, we had breakfast on the out of doors Barefoot Beach Cafe, which has tables underneath shady bushes overlooking the ocean.
Expect to queue to put your order on the counter, nevertheless it strikes pretty rapidly.
I like that they’ve vegan variations of Hawaiian classics like loco moco, however sadly, about half the vegan dishes had been unavailable on our go to (and this appears to be widespread).
The meals was respectable if not excellent, however we beloved the pineapple smoothie in a complete pineapple, and the placement is implausible with a extra chilled and native vibe than the beachfront resorts.
Waikiki Beach and SUP Lesson
After spending the remainder of the morning resting at our resort, we walked right down to Waikiki Beach within the afternoon.
You will pay to lease umbrellas and solar beds on the seashore, however we introduced the chairs and umbrella our Airbnb supplied.
The seashore was scorching and crowded on a Saturday afternoon, so we didn’t get pleasure from it as a lot because the Windward Coast seashores.
But Waikiki Beach is the right place to study to surf with light, beginner-friendly waves. Simon has rented a board right here earlier than, and I made a decision to provide stand-up paddle browsing a attempt.
I booked a one-hour non-public SUP lesson with Waikiki Beach Services on the Royal Hawaiian. It was enjoyable, exhausting, and difficult.
My instructor was pleasant, however not fairly as attentive as I’d have favored, and I ended up getting hit on the top by one other surfer. That was the tip of my browsing profession!
Don’t let my expertise put you off, although. It does get crowded on the Waikiki waves, so I like to recommend attempting browsing early within the morning, at quieter Queens Beach, or on the North Shore. Simon had a wonderful lesson at Turtle Bay Resort on an empty seashore.
On our method again to our resort, we stopped for much-needed refreshments at Island Vintage (the Marriott department on the primary drag). The shave ice was our favorite on Oahu.
If visiting Pearl Harbour is essential to you, you can add it to your Honolulu itinerary this afternoon as an alternative of the seashore.
Onoya Ramen Dinner
Most guests need to eat dinner on Waikiki Beach (attempt to get a desk at Duke’s), however as veggie choices had been restricted for us, we walked quarter-hour inland to Onoya Ramen.
At this straightforward native spot, we had our most cost-effective and tastiest meal in Waikiki. They have a number of vegan ramen choices—the Fire was spicy however so good.
Day 4: Hanauma Bay and Southeast Oahu
Lanai Lookout
Yet one other early begin in the present day as we left at 5.50am for the 25-minute drive to Hanauma Bay, the place we’d booked a 7am snorkelling spot.
We knew parking stuffed up so we arrived early, however sadly, they don’t let automobiles in till 6.45am. Rather than ready within the queue of automobiles by the facet of the highway, we drove previous to the Lanai Lookout.
The dawn was lovely as we seemed out on the rocky shoreline and Molokai Island throughout the water.
Hanauma Bay Snorkelling
Once we had been allowed into Hanauma Bay, we watched the obligatory video about defending the reef (most significantly, don’t contact or stand on something) and walked 5 minutes down the hill to the seashore.
We had been glad we booked an early slot because it was a lot busier once we left at 9am.
Hanauma Bay is common for a motive with a beautiful location inside a volcanic cone. It’s a protected marine reserve with loads of fish to see.
We noticed a 2-feet lengthy bullethead parrotfish, a college of convict tang, butterfly fish, reef triggerfish, and plenty of extra. It was the most effective place we snorkelled in Oahu and value leaping by means of all of the hoops for.
There are good services right here together with showers so we might get modified for our subsequent actions. Although it will be tempting to spend the entire day on the seashore right here in case you introduced an umbrella.
Halona Blowhole
From Hanauma, we drove the scenic Kalaniana‘ole Highway alongside the southeast coast. Halona Blowhole is just a 7-minute drive away and is a straightforward and worthwhile cease.
You can watch the surf crash into the rocky shoreline and water spurt up by means of a lava tube fashioned by historical volcanic eruptions.
It’s enjoyable to look at, and the view in the direction of Sandy Beach is beautiful. In winter you might even see whales.
You may also scramble right down to fairly Halona Beach Cove, which was made well-known by the kissing scene in 1953 film From Here to Eternity. The surf is tough right here however some folks swim—I’d advise warning (it’s calmer in summer time).
Makapuʻu Lighthouse Trail
It was 9.30am by the point we reached Makapuʻu Lighthouse Trail on the southeast tip of the island.
The parking zone was already full however we managed to get an area when somebody left.
The 2.5-mile out and again hike took us slightly below an hour. It’s a reasonably straightforward paved path, nevertheless it’s uphill all the way in which with none shade and it felt very popular.
Luckily, on the viewpoint you’ll be able to choose up the breezes from the Windward Coast to chill down a bit. The coastal views are spectacular.
If you don’t need to hike, there’s a drive-up viewpoint, Makapuʻu Lookout, simply previous the doorway to the path parking.
Waimānalo Beach Park
Less than 10 minutes from Makapuʻu up the Windward Coast is Waimānalo Beach Park. We arrived at 10.45am and spent a few hours enjoyable on the seashore (we’d introduced a packed lunch).
This is one in all my favorite seashores on Oahu. It’s a neighborhood spot and far quieter (and simpler to park at) than Lanikai and Kailua additional up the coast. Even on a Sunday, it wasn’t too busy.
The lengthy seashore options powdery pale gold sand, turquoise ocean, whispery Ironwood bushes, and a shocking view of the Ko’olau mountains.
It was a 35-minute drive again alongside the coast to Waikiki. We made a cease at old-school Waiola Shave Ice on the way in which again. The ice was the best we tried, however we didn’t love the flavours or ice cream.
Doors Off Helicopter Tour
After just a few hours resting on the resort, we drove to the airport for our one-hour helicopter island tour with Rainbow Helicopters. We needed to check-in at 4pm for our 5pm flight.
Despite being exhausted after a giant day, we had been energised as quickly as our helicopter took flight. The views of Oahu from above are unbelievable.
It’s a complete new perspective on the island, and it was enjoyable to fly over locations like Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, Makapuʻu Lighthouse, and Waimānalo Beach that we’d already visited.
We additionally received up near the mountains, noticed a hidden waterfall, and received our first glimpse of the North Shore seashores and their well-known waves.
It was our favorite exercise on our Oahu journey itinerary and nicely well worth the splurge.
Check availability for Rainbow Helicopters right here or learn our submit about our doorways off helicopter Oahu tour for extra particulars.
Waikiki Dinner
Now we actually had been drained, so we had a fast dinner at informal Surf n Turf Tacos. Honestly, we wished we’d gone to OMG as an alternative, the place the meals and consider are higher.
If you need a extra Hawaii trip vibe in your final evening in Waikiki, on one other journey we ate at Rumfire, the poolside bar on the Sheraton.
The meals was common, and it doesn’t really feel as a lot on the seashore because the Moana Surfrider bar, nevertheless it’s simpler to get a desk, the sundown and Diamond Head views are nice, and the tiki torches are enjoyable.
Day 5: Windward Coast to North Shore (3 nights)
Today we moved from Waikiki to the North Shore through the Windward Coast.
You might additionally go to these locations on a day journey from Waikiki (and add some actions from Day 6) in case you select to not keep on the North Shore.
Byodo-In Temple
Byodo-In Temple is 40 minutes from Waikiki over the scenic Likelike Highway.
This giant pink temple is a reproduction of the one in Uji, Japan and was inbuilt 1968 to commemorate 100 years for the reason that first Japanese immigrants got here to Hawaii.
It’s a good looking spot with a shocking mountain backdrop, a koi pond dense with fish and turtles, and basic Buddhist temple options like the massive bell and large Buddha statue.
Kualoa Regional Park Beach
It’s a beautiful drive up the Windward Coast between the ocean and the mountains.
Our subsequent cease was Kualoa Regional Park, 20 minutes from the temple. Although the seashore right here is on the tour bus route, they don’t keep for lengthy and the sand was virtually empty.
It’s a pleasing spot with picnic tables on a big garden overlooking the slim stretch of sand. There’s a view of the mountains behind and offshore you’ll be able to see the islet Mokoliʻi, also called Chinaman’s Hat.
The calm turquoise water seemed very interesting, so this is able to make a superb picnic and swim cease.
Kahana Bay Beach Park
quarter-hour up the highway (with site visitors) is that this quiet, fairly bay. We didn’t keep lengthy because it was raining and supposedly it’s not the most effective spot for swimming, nevertheless it’s value a cease.
The portaloos listed below are a bit smelly, so go at Kualoa as an alternative.
Kahaku Farms
Kahaku in northeast Oahu is thought for its meals truck park (particularly the shrimp). We had been tempted by the veggie-friendly vehicles like Raised by the Waves however selected lunch at Kahaku Farms as an alternative, which is simply previous the vehicles.
They have out of doors tables in a beautiful backyard and a menu that options produce from their farm. The veggie wrap and farm pizza (extra like a bruschetta) had been scrumptious.
We additionally adopted the quick path previous their fruit and spice bushes with indicators so you realize what you’re looking at.
Turtle Bay Resort
At 2pm we checked into Turtle Bay Resort, which we rapidly fell in love with.
The location is unbelievable and it feels a world away from Waikiki. See the Where to Stay part above for extra particulars.
We spent the afternoon ingesting cocktails by the pool, then had dinner at Beach House by Roy Yamaguchi.
The meals was scrumptious (the rum pineapple cake was the most effective), nevertheless it was dear and we had been seated on the again with out an ocean view. Bookings are important, and ensure to request a desk by the seashore.
Day 6: North Shore Activities
The North Shore feels very totally different from the south. It’s much less developed, extra relaxed, and it’s nonetheless attainable to search out empty seashores.
It’s well-known for its winter browsing waves, so until you’re visiting in the summertime, swimming in all probability received’t be attainable at a lot of the seashores.
Shark Swim
Swimming with sharks is a well-liked exercise in Haleiwa, the North Shore’s fundamental city.
Sharks had been initially drawn to fishing boats when scraps had been chucked over the facet. Boats now not feed them, however the sharks are nonetheless drawn to the noise of the engine. It’s a singular alternative to see them up shut!
If this appears terrifying, you’ll be able to select this caged shark swim (the place you’re within the cage), however as soon as I realized there was a cage-free choice, I couldn’t resist.
We did our shark snorkel with One Ocean Diving, which focuses on conservation and was based by shark professional Ocean Ramsey. They are very security centered and have had zero incidents in over 20 years.
We booked the 7am swim because the ocean is calmer earlier within the morning and the circumstances had been good. We even noticed a pod of dolphins on the 10-minute boat journey to the shark web site.
As quickly as we stopped the boat, we noticed some Galapagos and Sandbar sharks near the floor!
We then received in with our snorkels and hung to the rope on the facet of the boat. We might see sharks far beneath us, however we took turns to free-dive down in the direction of them for a greater look.
While we didn’t get as near the sharks as I’d have favored (each journey is totally different when you’re coping with wildlife), it was nonetheless a singular expertise that I like to recommend.
Book a shark swim with One Ocean Diving right here.
Farm to Barn Breakfast
By 9am we had been again on the town in time for Farm to Barn Cafe to open. They have tables in a backyard with mountain views and loads of veggie choices. The veggie burrito and juices had been scrumptious.
Haleiwa is a cute city with low-rise picket buildings and an informal surfer vibe.
There wasn’t a lot open presently within the morning, so we headed again to Turtle Bay through some basic North Shore stops (every little thing that follows is only some minutes aside).
Papa’iloa Beach
Papa’iloa is a much less well-known seashore in a residential space. There is a small parking space on the finish of Papa’iloa Rd and also you attain the seashore down the alley throughout the highway.
Despite visiting within the rain, I beloved this seashore. It feels secluded and peaceable and we even noticed a turtle swimming within the ocean. This can be a implausible place to chill out in summer time when the ocean is calmer.
Laniakea Beach aka Turtle Beach
We had been barely much less impressed by this common turtle recognizing seashore. It’s busier, nearer to the highway, parking may be tough (though we received an area), and we didn’t see any turtles.
This is a well-liked snorkelling spot in summer time however the surfers had been out on our go to.
Waimea Valley and Waterfall Swim
We didn’t linger on the seashores because of the rain so reached Waimea Valley by 10am.
This botanical backyard has a swimmable waterfall and is the preferred vacationer attraction on the North Shore.
The straightforward stroll by means of the plush valley to the falls is 1.5 miles spherical journey and took us about 20 minutes every method. There are loads of facet trails you’ll be able to take too.
The waterfall is gorgeous however the swimming pools are very busy (plenty of tour teams cease right here) and you must put on a lifejacket (supplied free).
It’s actually not a wilderness expertise, however if you wish to swim in a waterfall that is probably the most accessible one on Oahu.
Waimea Beach
We truly stopped right here on the way in which to the airport once we had higher climate, nevertheless it is sensible to mix with Waimea Valley subsequent door.
This is likely one of the most lovely seashores on the North Shore with its broad bay of golden sand and a giant rock folks leap off.
You can snorkel in summer time and surf in winter. In October, it was calmer than a lot of the seashores on this space.
Sharks Cove is one other common snorkelling spot close by and can also be greatest in summer time.
Turtle Bay
We had been again at our resort in time for lunch by the pool and a calming afternoon.
In the night we did a sundown stroll alongside the beautiful shoreline, had an informal dinner on the Off the Lip bar, adopted by a star-lit jacuzzi and swim within the grownup pool.
We had been very a lot having fun with resort life.
Day 7: North Shore Relaxation
For our ultimate full day on Oahu, we had a calming resort day at Turtle Bay.
Even in case you aren’t staying at Turtle Bay you’ll be able to entry the seashores, shoreline walks, and eating places. The fundamental seashore, Kulima Cove, is probably the most protected place for a swim when the surf is up elsewhere on the North Shore.
I began my day with a dawn run alongside the coast to Kawela Bay, a gem of a seashore that’s secluded and has plenty of turtles.
I couldn’t resist leaping in for a swim however was positive to maintain my distance from these protected animals.
I beloved Kawela a lot that after a room service breakfast, Simon and I walked again right here for a snorkel. We solely noticed one turtle this time, nevertheless it’s a beautiful spot to hang around regardless.
Back in the primary a part of the resort, we received sunbeds on Kulima Cove (free for company) and I went for a snorkel.
Simon signed up for a two-hour group surf lesson, which ended up being again at Kawela Bay. He beloved the expertise.
In the night we watched the surfers at sundown then had dinner at Alaia.
Day 8: Departure
It was time to go away Oahu and it was a wrench to go away Turtle Bay—we might simply have spent just a few extra days there.
We drove again to the airport through the center of the island previous the Dole Plantation (you’ll be able to go to however we skipped it).
There had been lengthy queues at airport safety (inter-island flights be a part of the identical queue as longer flights), so we had been glad we had allowed loads of time. After a pizza lunch at Island Brews, we had been on our solution to the Big Island.
Is 7 Days in Oahu Enough?
7 days in Oahu is good for an introduction to the island. During our week we had been in a position to see quite a bit and nonetheless have time for enjoyable on seashores.
That stated, we simply might have spent longer on Oahu. We didn’t make it to the west coast, and there are extra hikes and seashores we’d have beloved to expertise. We know we’ll be again.
More Hawaii Posts
We’ve visited the 4 fundamental islands of Hawaii and have plenty of tricks to share in these posts.
General
Oahu
Maui
Kauai