Waiheke Island

The Basics

Waiheke Island is most often visited on day tours from Auckland. The most popular experiences include food tours, wine tasting excursions, adventure tours—and simply spending time on one of the many sandy ocean beaches. Wine enthusiasts should choose a wine-tasting tour to visit some of the nearly 30 wineries, many of which have locavore restaurants attached and make for the perfect way to enjoy a vineyard lunch. Adventure and culture also abound, with ziplining, hiking, and eco tours available for exploring the island’s lush forests and nature preserves, plus ancient Maori terraces and cooking pits to be discovered on cultural bike tours.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Waiheke Island is an outdoor- and food-lover’s destination for travelers and locals alike.

• The island’s beaches are some of the safest and cleanest in the world, prime for swimming.

• Excellent restaurants and cafes dot the island, with many offering food that complements the local wines.

• Private tours offer travelers personal attention from a tour guide and the ability to customize their experience.

• Sunbathers can choose between popular Onetangi Beach, secluded Palm Beach, clothing-optional Little Palm Beach, and Blackpool Beach (popular among windsurfers).

How to Get There

Waiheke Island lies in the Hauraki Gulf, 13 miles (21.5 kilometers) from Auckland on New Zealand's North Island. Fullers Ferries provides fast transport from the downtown Auckland ferry terminal (35 minutes), and Sealink has car ferries from Half Moon Bay and Wynyard Quarter in Auckland (45 minutes). Waiheke tours offer one of the most convenient ways to travel from Auckland, although it’s easy to hail a taxi or find a bus on the island. Rental cars, bikes, and motorbikes are also available for rent.

When to Get There

Aucklanders flock to Waiheke in droves in summer (December to February), the best time to hit the beach. During the less crowded month of March, some wineries offer additional experiences like the chance to stomp grapes or sample special vintages in honor of harvest time. Each Saturday from 8:30am to 1pm, a popular art and farmers market pops up in Ostend.

Waiheke Island Wine Tasting

Island wine tours often feature expert guides, combine visits and tastings at several wineries and boutique vineyards into one excursion, and leave the driving up to someone else. Some popular stops include Mudbrick Vineyard, Cable Bay, Stonyridge, Jurassic Ridge, Batch, and Casita Miro. Winery tours highlight the production process and unique terroir of Waiheke Island wine, while offering the chance to try the delicious wines.

Ways to explore

Waiheke Island is often visited on day or overnight trips from Auckland. A guided tour is the best way to make the most of limited time, and most day tours include pickup from the ferry port or your island hotel. Join a wine-tasting trip to visit the island’s famous vineyards, a bushwalking excursion to explore its natural wonders, or tours about art or history.

If you don’t want to take the ferry, you can splash out on a yacht charter or scenic flight to Waiheke, hopping off for lunch at a winery or continuing to the surrounding islands.

Accessibility

The Matiatia ferry terminal and all ferries are wheelchair accessible; buses on Waiheke Island are not accessible, but taxis are available.

Age limits

Wine tasting is available to over-18s only; some wineries allow children on-site.

What to pack

Sunscreen, swimsuit, windproof jacket (temperatures drop in the evening)

What to wear

Hiking shoes, brimmed hat, smart-casual clothes

Not allowed

Campfires, freedom camping in tents or for more than two nights, drones in Whakanewha Regional Park (permit required)

Amenities

Luggage lockers, ATMs, restrooms, bike rentals, gas stations

Address

Waiheke Island is located just off the coast of Auckland in the Hauraki Gulf. Regular ferries run to Waiheke, and most tours include pickup from the ferry terminals at Matiatia or Kennedy Point on the island. If money’s no object, a scenic flight or helicopter ride is a luxurious way to travel.

Driving

Car ferries leave from the Hamer Street Terminal in central Auckland or the Half Moon Bay Terminal in East Auckland. For Hamer Street, head north to the Wynyard Quarter, a 10-minute drive from Auckland CBD. For Half Moon Bay, take State Highway 1 and then merge onto Route 10, which is about a 20-minute drive.

Public transportation

Passenger ferries leave from Hamer Street Terminal in the Wynyard Quarter (SeaLink ferries) or Pier 13 at the Downtown Ferry Terminal (Fullers ferries). Buses 20 and 75 from downtown Auckland stop close to the Hamer Street Ferry Terminal, while the Downtown Terminal is a 5-minute walk from Britomart train station.

Best times to visit

For a day trip, get up early to catch the first ferry—typically around 6am—and catch the late ferry back. Not only will you dodge the crowds and maximize your sightseeing time, but you can enjoy one of Waiheke’s legendary sunsets.

Best days to visit

Visiting on a weekday—especially Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday—means fewer crowds, but the weekly Ostend farmers market is worth braving the Saturday crowds for. There are fewer ferries on Sunday, so plan your departure times ahead.

Best months to visit

The summer months of December to February provide the most reliable beach weather, but expect to battle the crowds for a sun lounger. March is the start of the wine harvest and a great time to watch winemakers in action.

Special events

The Waiheke Walking Festival brings nature lovers together each March, while the annual Waiheke Jazz & Blues Festival (April) features both national and international acts.