Waiheke is a beautiful island in the Hauraki Gulf, and in my humble opinion, one of the best day trips you can take, when visiting Auckland.
This activity was repeatedly suggested and highly recommended.
By everyone.
Not one to miss out on anything labeled “a must do” I made plans to go in the first few days. It had to happen.
FOMO (fear of missing out) is a real thing my friends. LOL
I’m so glad that Waiheke lived up to the hype and did not disappoint.
By now you’re surely wondering what’s so special about this island that sets it apart from the other 45+ islands in the gulf.
This is New Zealand’s island of wine.
Of course there’s more to Waiheke than that. But the vineyards are definitely a big draw for both locals and tourists.
Add to that the beautiful beaches, clear emerald green waters, hiking trails, excellent food choices, shopping, and that oh so enjoyable small town vibe and you’ve got a fantastic getaway destination that’s not to be missed.
About 8000 lucky people live on the island year round. The rest pop in only for the day.
Weekends on Waiheke are said to be very busy, particularly in summer.
With so much to offer it’s really not surprising.
We visited on a Thursday, in spring (thats October in NZ) and while the ferry was indeed busy, the island didn’t feel crowded in any way.
HOW TO GET TO WAIHEKE
Ferry service to the island runs from the Quay Street Ferry Terminal in downtown Auckland and also from Devonport.
The operator of the passenger ferries is FULLERS. Tickets can be purchased online in advance, or at the ticket booth onsite.
The ferries run every hour and the ride is about 40 minutes long. They do make a quick stop at Devonport about 10 minutes after departing Auckland, before continuing on to Waiheke.
If you have a car you, can take it across to the island on the car ferries operated by SEALINK. Reservations are required.
During the busier summer months it is suggested that you buy your passage tickets in advance, especially if you’re going on the weekend.
Here’s an important tip:
If you’re buying your ticket at the terminal day of, enter the queue to board the ferry right after your purchase, or at the very least have someone in the group get in the line. Even if you are there early and there aren’t many people lined up yet. Trust me on this. The first section of the queue fills up fast and if you’re not in it you will not be boarded on the upcoming ferry. Which means you will be waiting another hour in line for the next one. I speak from experience.
Once you’ve boarded, head upstairs and outside if you enjoy salty air and wind in your hair. That’s me.
Or choose an indoor seat and enjoy a coffee and some treats from the onboard snack bar.
Auckland skyline views were fantastic from the upper deck, but it was a tad windy and chilly.
The ferry ride also passes by Rangitoto, another island in the harbour, that stands out because of its distinct volcano cone shape.
An iconic Auckland view.
The ferry docks at Matiata Bay Ferry Terminal. Just outside you will find the buses, as well as bike and car rental options.
Although the island is not very big, there’s a lot to see and do. I highly recommend you make a plan of what you want to do with your day, before you arrive.
Or you can wing it. LOL. We did a bit of both.
At the very least grab a map at the terminal to orient yourself.
HOW TO GET AROUND THE ISLAND
One of the easiest ways to get around on your own is by bus.
You can purchase a Hop on Hop Off bus option with your ferry ticket, and simply follow the designated stops on their map.
Alternatively, you can ride the local buses using your AT HOP card (the same one you use for the buses in Auckland). This is a cheaper option that works very well, and we had no issues. (take the 50A or 50B buses)
Bike riding is another great option and e-bikes are suggested, since the island is very hilly. Rental companies are found near the ferry terminal as you arrive.
You can also rent a car for the day. If your goal is wine drinking and beer tasting do plan on a designated, non drinking driver.
If you prefer using your feet to get around, there are several marked walking and hiking trails, such as the Te Ara Hura Trail, a 100 KM track that goes around the whole island and passes by all the best spots. You can enjoy at least parts of the trail on a day trip.
For a more personalized experience you might want to consider an organized group or private tour. And if you really want to live it up, treat yourself to a helicopter ride to the island that has you landing right at the vineyards. We witnessed this very thing at Tantalus. Big wow factor. Very cool.
THE VINEYARDS
Vineyards cover a large portion of Waiheke. It is indeed the island of wine.
So it will come as no surprise that there are lots of options for wine tasting. Many of them are within walking distance of each other, making it easy to enjoy several wineries on a day trip.
The hardest part is deciding on which ones to visit. It’s impossible to get to all of them, so the best plan of attack is to choose an area on the map and focus on the vineyards in that zone.
Unfortunately most, if not all of the vineyards, only stay open until about 5 PM, and only slightly later in the summer months.
In other words, the day is short, and the wines, well there are simply too many.
First world problems, I know, but still…
We managed to squeeze in 3 vineyards and sampled some very good wines, and beers too.
The best advice I can give you is this: don’t try to do too much.
Take the time to savour the moment. Fill your lungs with fresh island air.
Enjoy it. That’s what makes this kind of day trip special.
Here’s a list of the most popular wineries:
BATCH WINERY…highest vineyard on the island, great views, try the sparkling rose, full meals available and high tea
CABLE BAY VINEYARDS…good wine and beautiful sunsets
CASITA MIRO RESTAURANT AND VINEYARD….Mediterranean style, very close to Onotangi Beach
FRENCHMANS HILL ESTATE…try the Rock Earth Syrah, its their specialty
MAN O WAR TASTING ROOM…this winery has a beachfront view and serves delicious food and great wine (reservations are recommended if you want a beach view).
JURASSIC RIDGE….a smaller vineyard offering well aged, fine wine (no food currently).
MUDBRICK VINEYARD & RESTAURANT …a winery with a southern French style restaurant, it’s on the expensive side, but said to be excellent, outdoor seating available and the rooftop bar has great views and beautiful sunsets.
PASSAGE ROCK WINES …Syrah wine is their specialty here, and the restaurant serves delicious food with beautiful views
PODERI CRISCI ESTATE …a family owned vineyard and restaurant
POSTAGE STAMP WINES …offering a collection of high quality wines from small artisan vineyards on the island.
SOHO FAMILY VINEYARDS.. an unassuming and small winery located on the walk up to Stonyridge Vineyards. I almost missed it, but the music and fun vibe coming from its patio tells me it’s probably worth a pit stop.
STONYRIDGE VINEYARD
I’d heard good things about this winery, and I’m so glad we made the stop. I could have stayed here all day.
The tiered outdoor deck and patio loungers make for a very inviting scene. But it’s the rolling hills and vineyard views that make you want to linger all afternoon. Sunshine, palm trees and a glass of delicious wine.
Heaven. I’m in heaven. 🎶🎵🎶
The tasting flight consisted of 3 wines, a rosé, a white and a red.
This winery has a reputation for excellent reds, but my favourite was definitely the Fallen Angel Rosé.
TANTALUS ESTATE
This is a really lovely winery with stunning hills of vineyards and well tended gardens and flowers. The dining hall is beautiful and elegant. And it also has a craft beer cave and patio on the lower level. I didn’t try any of the wines here, unfortunately, since we opted to try their beer flights instead. More on that later.
TE MOTU ESTATE…this smaller vineyard is located on the same road as Stonyridge, just walk through the same entrance and a little further up you will see the sign on the right with a path leading you to the estate.
Te Motu was one of the first wineries on the island and has been producing delightful Bordeaux style wines since 1993.
There is also a restaurant on site.
We didn’t visit due to lack of time, but by all accounts it’s worth a stop.
WILD ON WAIHEKE
This winery is very popular with groups because they offer activities such as archery, as well as larger seating areas for food and drinks.
We barely snuck this one in since they were getting ready to close when we arrived. However they still allowed us to purchase drinks and sit outdoors to enjoy them.
I sampled a glass of their Sauvignon Blanc, which was as lovely as the vineyard views.
BREWERIES + DISTILLERIES
For those of you who prefer beer over wine, don’t despair Waiheke has you covered.
There are several very good brews to be had here, and they seemed to be available at the wineries too.
ALIBI BREWING (at the Tantalus Estate vineyard)
We enjoyed a flight of 4 beers and my favourite was the Little Red Irish Ale.
The patio has beautiful views of the vineyards and also serves food.
THE HEKE… this is a craft brewery and also a whiskey distillery
WAIHEKE DISTILLING…gin is the specialty in this gem of a place
WAIHEKE ISLAND BREWERY…makers of Heke lager
BEACHES TO DISCOVER
We lucked out with the weather on our visit. A gorgeous day filled with sunshine.
But it certainly wasn’t beach weather yet.
However it was the perfect kind of day for walking on the beach and even dipping a toe in the South Pacific. It was very chilly!
There’s no shortage of beautiful beaches, blue waters and scenic coves on this gorgeous island.
I do wish we had planned more time to explore.
These 4 beaches are the most popular as they are easy to get to and are safe for swimming.
ONEROA BEACH
ONETANGI BEACH
PALM BEACH
LITTLE ONEROA (we found this one by chance because the restaurant we lunched at overlooked it. It’s a smaller beach but a beauty)
WHERE AND WHAT TO EAT
Many of the vineyards have very good restaurants, or offer food with their wine tastings.
But there are other great choices in the towns as well.
Local oysters are worth enjoying here on the island. Try them at Oyster Inn.
Seafood is fresh and plentiful. Do lunch at Ki Maya, it’s a seafood restaurant on Onetagi beach.
Heke Kitchen was recommended to me, but we didn’t get the chance to try it. It’s a whiskey brewery too, and apparently you need to try their smash burger.
WAIHEKE OSTEND MARKET
If you are day tripping to Waiheke on a Saturday, make a pit stop at the Ostend Market.
This is a community run market and it offers a large variety of products. Booths sell arts and crafts, jewellery, clothing and so much more. And of course there’s lots of food as well.
It’s open from 8am to 1pm every Saturday.
ACCOMMODATIONS
While a day trip to the Waiheke is very doable and enjoyable, I do think staying a couple of days would be fantastic.
There seemed to be a good selection of small hotels, lodges, apartments and holiday homes available for rent. They were advertised online and also on the island map.
Something to consider if you have the time.
There’s so much more to discover in Waiheke. So much more.
But alas for us, this was just a short day trip that left us longing to return.
I hope you will find the information I shared here useful in planning your own day trip.
Waiheke is special.
You should go.
Unfortunately for us Canadians, New Zealand is very very far. But still, I do hope to be back one day.
You never know.
In the meantime I have found myself dreaming of a return trip to the Okanagan here in Canada. It’s a much shorter trip and the wine and scenery is also fantastic.
If you haven’t been, well, what are you waiting for? Just do it!
You can read more about it here…
https://potsandplanes.com/2023/04/20/4-fantastic-west-kelowna-wineries-a-cider-tasting-too/
,center>
