Visit Waiheke Island Paradise

If you’re visiting Auckland, any local, or travel guide will tell you their top recommendation is to visit the beautiful Waiheke Island.

Just a 40 minute ferry ride from Auckland CBD, Waiheke Island feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of city life, entering into a laidback, tropical island paradise.

Waiheke Island is best known for its incredible food and drink scene – with over 30 boutique wineries available for wine tasting, gourmet 3 course meals or degustation menus.

The island is much more than that though. If you’re looking to unwind for the weekend, the island is full of easy-intermediate walking tracks offering fantastic views over the Hauraki Gulf and many golden sand beaches you could spend all day on basking in the sun.

Planning your visit

When researching your trip to Waiheke Island you’ll find many local companies offering tours of the island. This is a great way to see the island if you don’t have the time to plan where you’d like to visit.

However, we highly recommend avoiding tour packages and planning your trip yourself. This is because the island is easy to navigate, you can enjoy each attraction at your own pace and at a fraction of the price – wine isn’t meant to be rushed after all! There’s no clock-watching to meet a time restraint and you can get a much more personable experience with the sommeliers at the wineries than the presentation offered to your group of 30 during your 20 minute stop off.

If you’re stuck for ideas, hopefully this blog will help you plan your visit!

Getting to Waiheke Island

Stonyridge Vineyard, 80, Onetangi Road, Onetangi, Waiheke, Auckland, 1971, New Zealand

50, Crescent Road East, Wawata Estate, Ostend, Waiheke, Auckland, 1081, New Zealand

31, Shelly Beach Road, Surfdale, Waiheke, Auckland, 1081, New Zealand

Man O’ War The Tasting Room, Man O’War Bay Road, Waiheke, Auckland, New Zealand

Batch Winery, Carsons Road, Omiha, Waiheke, Auckland, 1971, New Zealand

Tantalus Estate, 72, Onetangi Road, Onetangi, Waiheke, Auckland, 1971, New Zealand

22, Te Makiri Road, Ostend, Waiheke, Auckland, 1081, New Zealand

3, Brown Road, Onetangi, Waiheke, Auckland, 1081, New Zealand

Wild on Waiheke, Onetangi Road, Onetangi, Waiheke, Auckland, 1971, New Zealand

Mātiatia Ferry Terminal, Ocean View Road, Matiatia, Waiheke, Auckland, New Zealand

Getting to Waiheke Island from Auckland CBD couldn’t be easier.

You can either book in advance on the Fullers Ferry website, or if you have been using public transport around Auckland then you can simply tap on with your AT Hop card.

A peak adult return ticket costs around $42, and an off peak adult ferry return costs $35 – much cheaper than a roadtrip with the cost of petrol these days!

The ferry runs hourly, 7 days a week. You can check out the timetable here.

On a beautiful day the boat trip over itself is very enjoyable. I particularly enjoy heading back admiring the sunset falling behind the city skyscrapers and Auckland Sky Tower.

Weather on Waiheke

Waiheke Island has its own microclimate which is often far sunnier than that of Auckland and an essential component to it being a fantastic wine region.

Nonetheless, but be sure to check before your visit. It could a beautiful day in Auckland CBD but rather windy over on Waiheke. As with all of New Zealand, no matter how good the weather looks, it can change at any moment!

How to get around on Waiheke Island

Car

You can bring your own or a rental car over to Waiheke, but of course if you’re heading over for a weekend of eating and drinking, you may well not want to be driving.

The car ferry to Waiheke is slightly different and is ran by Sealink. Find their rates and timetable here.

It is possible to hire cars on the island too. There are just a few local companies given the islands small population, and car rentals start at around $90 per day.

Bus

Whatever you do, avoid the Waiheke Island hop-on hop-off Explorer bus!

It is the biggest tourist trap we’ve found in New Zealand. For $69 it takes you on mostly the same route as the local buses (which cost $2 a ride), and only runs in one direction every hour!

This brings me to the local buses which are pretty great. Requiring the same ATHop card as the Auckland city buses, routes 50A and 50B take you past all the main hubs and wineries on the island and run approximately every 15 minutes.

Using the local buses and walking short distances of under 10 minutes, you could easily spend a day exploring Waiheke Island quite thoroughly. And save yourself about $60 doing so!

Scooter

Our favourite way to explore Waiheke Island is by scooter. We hired the most beautiful, vintage vespa’s from Island Scoot.

Perfect for whizzing the short distances from beach to winery, there is no better way to cover the island. Given Waiheke’s small stature it means you’re rarely travelling more than 3km from one location to the next, making for comfortable riding, with very little vehicle traffic to contend with. These were extremely cost effective because they use so little fuel!

Do note that Island Scoot will only hire to experienced riders, so you will have had to have ridden a vespa or moped before.

Taxis

Getting a taxi on the island is easy, but seriously expensive. We paid $80 for a 20 minute ride as a last resort and I still haven’t quite gotten over it.

If you can, we’d highly suggest avoiding taxis, but if you must use them then call ahead and negotiate a price before you ride rather than using the meter. Again there is limited capacity on the island so you may have to wait a while for availability!

Accommodation on Waiheke Island

Waiheke is full of great places to stay suiting every kind of budget. In particular they have some really beautiful luxury accommodation which is worth spending a little extra on if you are willing.

Of course, you can see a lot of Waiheke in just a day visit, but if you’re looking to unwind and recharge, then be sure to stay on the island for a few days and embrace the island lifestyle.

We have stayed at 2 excellent mid-budget Airbnb style accommodations when we have visited and highly recommend them both.

Boatsheds on the Bay

Located in the small hub of Ostend, Boatsheds on the Bay is a collection of beautifully decorated boatsheds nestled along Putaki Bay. Every room has fantastic views of the water from the front doors and fitted with a queen size bed which is extremely comfortable. There is also a dining table with chairs both indoors and outdoors each of the boatsheds, right in line with the morning sun.

We had a lovely stay in May 2022, and highly recommend booking your stay here for a very reasonable price.

Waiheke Island Guesthouse

Also based in Ostend this quirky little guesthouse has also been put together with some real imagination. Almost like a giant greenhouse, this guesthouse is filled with vibrant indoor plants and interesting art work. There are 2 large double rooms available for booking, with a small kitchen with cooking facilities and outdoor decking filled with hammocks for relaxing in.

We also really enjoyed our stay here in May 2021, for a great price and well located for hopping on the local bus and enjoying another day of exploring.

Food on Waiheke Island

Now we get to the really important stuff – where to eat? I’ve decided to separate food and drink to allow for those wineries which don’t offer food to not be forgotten.

Breakfast

After arriving on the ferry, or waking up in the paradise that is Waiheke Island, the first thing you’ll want is a great coffee.

Island Coffee is a perfect spot for just that. This little back-alley roasting shack offers great coffees, along with delicious pastries. Be sure to order the cinnamon buns, they’re to die for!

If you’re after a more hearty breakfast and with a great beach view, then head to Charlie Farley’s in Onetangi. They have a small breakfast menu which they offer till 11am (great for a hangover!)

Lunch

Lunch for us is a toss up between 2 excellent wineries, both offering delicious high end food in beautiful surroundings.

Casita Miro

If you’re ravenous then we’d have to tell you to go to Casita Miro. This winery has a strong Spanish influence in both décor and menu. If you’ve got no where to be, pitch up here for the afternoon and indulge in the ultimate Iberian experience – “The Feast”. This fiesta menu offers a tasting of all of their incredible dishes for $88pp. The menu is designed to be share plates creating a fabulous afternoon of good wine and even better food for discussion.

We LOVE it here. Everything about it is fantastic and in many ways you do feel like you’ve been transported to Spain. There is a lovely outdoor area to lounge in the sun, creative artwork and bright colourful murals to admire. The food is second to none, and well worth it’s pretty reasonable pricing.

Tantalus Estate

If you’re after the finest of dining, then Tantalus is your spot for lunch. Offering 2, 3 or 4 course menu’s, this winery has a real focus on sustainable and seasonal New Zealand ingredients to conjure up exquisite dishes.

Set in a beautiful Tuscan style villa overlooking the vines, it really is a beautiful spot to enjoy a fantastic meal. It goes without saying, the wine pairings are a match made in heaven!

Be sure to also check out Alibi Brewing Co (on the same premises) during your visit. This small-batch brewery offers some of the best craft beers around, available to take away in 1L cans/growlers for you to enjoy on the beach or back at your accommodation! If you’re wondering where to start, ‘Critrine Dreams’ and ‘Nectron’ go down particularly well!

Dinner

If you aren’t full yet then make sure you head to Mudbrick Vineyard for dinner. This vineyard is well renowned by locals and visitors alike, offering several diverse and delicious menus.

You can enjoy a fine dining tasting menu at their main restaurant, or a less formal a la carte menu at ‘The Bistro’. Either way you won’t be disappointed, eating at such a beautiful spot, watching the orange sky set in over Auckland’s city in the distance. Be sure to visit whether you’re eating here or not, it’s simply stunning.

Wine Tasting

Interestingly the vineyards that have the best restaurants, actually don’t serve my favourite wine – although they’re still pretty tasty!

Obsidian – The Best Wines

Just next door to the incredible Casita Miro is a very low-key small vineyard that goes by the name of Obsidian.

Obsidian is an understated and unpretentiousness vineyard where the wines do all the talking. The wines here are simply excellent.

On both occasions we have visited, we had the wonderful Simon to educate us through their menu, wine making processes and history of the vineyard. Simon’s wine knowledge is incredible and he’s also an excellent, personable host.

You can choose any 4 wines to try for $15, and this cost is removed if you purchase over $50 of wine to take home – which trust us, you will!

Man O’War – The Best Experience

Man O’War Vineyard can be found on the far east end of Waiheke Island. It is tricky to get to as no buses go this far and no rental vehicles will allow you to venture this way either. This is because access is via an unsealed, dirt road which is unsuitable for most vehicles.

However during peak summer months, Man O-War operate a huge 4WD bus that will take you down to the winery, although you are restricted to bus running times in order to do this. Be sure to book in advance to avoid disappointment!

It’s a really beautiful relaxing spot on a sunny day, with good wine, yummy platters to nibble on and beautiful sea views just a stone throw away.

Given Man O’War’s beach-side location it is best accessible by boat, if you’re lucky enough to have access to one. After dropping anchor and swimming to shore, there is nothing more rewarding than a crisp glass of Rosé!

Stonyridge – The Best Vibes

Just down the road from Tantalus, is Stonyridge vineyard. They don’t offer my favourite wines here, but what they do have is by far the best vibe of any of the wineries.

If you’re visiting in a group, this is the place to go. With a DJ on Saturday night and Sunday daytime sessions, the party atmosphere is great fun. It makes a great last stop to your time exploring Waiheke. Take a seat out on the deck as the sun begins to set and see where the night takes you!

Stopping off at Stonyridge also acts as a great base with Wild on Waiheke, Te Motu, Tantalus, Postage Stamp Wines and Heke Brewery all within walking distance!

Batch Winery – The Best Views

A little more difficult to access is Batch Winery, but the harder the climb the better the view, right? This is really true of this beautiful vineyard located high on a hill overlooking the Hauraki Gulf islands.

The vines here are situated on a north-facing slopes, basked in sunshine, resulting in delicious wines. They have a comprehensive wine list available to taste. We tried both their standard and their ‘Thomas Legacy’ vintage wines and thoroughly enjoyed comparing and learning about the key differences between the two.

If you have a few days on Waiheke then it’s certainly one to add to your itinerary.

Activities on Waiheke Island

If you’re not a big drinker, then there is still plenty of things to do and Waiheke Island is still definitely a location to add to your itinerary.

Walking

The island is full of beautiful walking trails of varying lengths and difficulty. None of the walks are particularly challenging, but given the hilly nature of the island you can expect a moderate elevation/decline on almost any track.

One of the most popular walks is the Te Aroa Trail, which is a one way track and takes you from Matiatia ferry terminal to around halfway through the island, past many hubs and offers great views. It takes around 3 hours to complete but allow extra assuming you’ll stop at one of the many beautiful beaches that you pass. There is a bus stop conveniently located at the end too for an easy ride back into town!

Beaches

There are 5 glorious white sand beaches on the north side of the island which are the most popular. These are Oneroa, Little Oneroa, Sandy Bay, Palm Beach and Onetangi Beach.

Most of these beaches have BBQ’s and picnic tables, as well as public toilets so you can enjoy a full beach day wherever you choose.

You can swim at most beaches in Waiheke, but be sure to check the tide times, this can make it more difficult to do so. All beaches have a very gentle gradient meaning at low tide you can be walking for miles just ankle deep!

Outdoor Games

We highly recommend incorporating some outdoor games into you Waiheke plan. Based at Wild on Waiheke, centrally located close to Tantalus and Stonyridge, this winery offers good wine and locally brewed beer (Waiheke Island Brewery) that you can enjoy whilst competing in some outdoor games.

There are free outdoor games such as giant chess & connect 4, bowls and cornhole. These are dotted around in between the vines, creating quite a beautiful backdrop for your game.

You can also pay for archery and laser clay pigeon shooting. These are in high demand, so be sure to book in advance. We had so much fun giving both these activities a go and then letting our competitive sides come out as we played against the other people in our group.

It’s a really fun place to visit whether you’re visiting in a big group or just with one other person.

More recommendations in Auckland?

If you’re staying in Auckland a little longer and looking to burn off some of the calories from your weekend on Waiheke, be sure to check out our article ‘Best Walks in Auckland: Our Top 5 Picks’. Click here to have a read!