Waiheke Island, just a 35-minute ferry ride from Auckland, is a lush paradise that feels a world away from city life. Known for its stunning beaches, rolling vineyards, and laid-back lifestyle, this island in the Hauraki Gulf is a little slice of heaven. Waiheke offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and cultural experiences, with its pristine shorelines, olive groves, and award-winning wineries. Whether you’re looking to unwind on golden sands, sample fine wines, or explore the island’s scenic hiking trails, there’s something for everyone… your perfect day on Waiheke Island awaits!
For a slower-paced day-trip adventure, Waiheke Island boasts plenty of diverse activities here, along the crystal-clear, picturesque coastline. As New Zealand’s island of wine, Waiheke is also a culinary gem, offering an impressive array of dining options, from casual beachfront cafes to high-end restaurants with ocean views. With its combination of natural splendor and relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, Waiheke Island is a must-visit destination for anyone exploring New Zealand.
One Day to Play
When visiting New Zealand, there are nearly endless opportunities for outdoor adventure. The vibe of Waiheke Island is best described as wine country meets beach town. Ferrying in and out for the day is the perfect amount of time to take in the highlights, drink some fabulous wine, and make it back before sunset. There are certainly options for overnight accommodations if you feel so inclined, but we felt a day trip was enough to experience the island ambiance.
Know Before You Go
This may be an obvious or redundant reminder, but since New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere, their seasons are switched. As such, summer is December through February– making these very popular months to visit. March is awesome because the weather is still nice, abate a bit cooler, and it’s not quite as crowded. While there’s certainly magic to visiting New Zealand in the winter, Waiheke Island isn’t as ideal of a day trip during these months.
Ferry Ferry
Waiheke Island isn’t tooo far from Auckland, but it is outside swimming distance– for most people at least! Fullers360 is a company that runs ferries back and forth, so they are the likely conduit to your exploration. They depart from the Auckland Ferry Terminal, which is relatively easy to locate.
Fuller360 sells a few different types of tickets: walk-up, reserve, and off-peak. We visited in February and didn’t have any issue with purchasing a walk-up (or first come, first serve) ticket and getting on the boat at our desired time. The reserve tickets are a nice option for anyone that’s excellent at sticking to an itinerary, as they guarantee the date and time of your ferry ride.
For us, we were out the door about an hour and a half later than anticipated (still trying to shake that jet lag), so we enjoyed the flexibility of a walk up ticket. The off peak ticket is a great option for anyone that plans to head to Waiheke Island after 1pm and return back to Auckland after 7pm. You can buy your tickets online ahead of time– check out the various fare options here.
* This is the ferry service we used, but Island Direct is another ferry service (similarly priced) option. They have fewer options for times (i.e. their ferries run less frequently), but you book your ticket for a specific time, so you would be guaranteed a seat on a specific ferry ride.
bonus
When you purchase your ferry ticket, you also have the option to add on access to the hop on/off bus on the island. It costs ~$20 USD more, but it might just be worth it to maximize your exploration. That being said, ensure you make a fully informed decision– buses depart from Matiatia Ferry Terminal every 30 or 60 minutes, depending on day and time of year, so if you time it up nicely, this could help streamline your transit, but if you just miss the bus, you might find yourself waiting for a bit…. or just deciding to walk anyways! You can find a full list with all the ‘hop on/off’ stops here.
Walk It Out
The Waiheke Island Short Loop trail is a 3.5 mile loop trail that starts near the ferry drop off points and takes you through the Matietie Historic Reserve and along the Ōwhanake Bay. While not everyone starts a ‘relaxing day’ with a hike, it’s too beautiful not to! It makes for incredible views to start off your day. New Zealand is known for its pristine, picturesque views and this hike will not disappoint.
The hike is a loop, so it will bring you around back towards the Matiatia wharf. If you go west along Ocean View Road, you will complete the loop, but if you go rogue and head east, you will find yourself in Oneroa Village.
Oneroa Beach
After a nice morning walk, you’ve more than earned some beachy relaxation time! Oneroa Beach is the main beach on Waiheke Island— one look at its inviting golden sands and crystal-clear waters will have you understanding why. Nestled along the island’s western coastline, Oneroa enjoys a sheltered location, which makes its waters calm and perfect for swimming. This makes it an awesome relaxation locale, with a family-friendly atmosphere. It’s also only a 30-ish minute walk from the ferry terminal, which goes by quickly– even faster if you take the bus! It’s also right along the Oneroa Village, which means there’s an array of cozy cafés, a few boutique shops, and art galleries nearby to peruse.
Mudbrick Vineyard
Mudbrick Vineyard is a must-visit spot for casual enthusiasts and wine connoisseurs alike. Not only are the wines quite remarkable, but Mudbrick also had a stunning location. Situated on the northern tip of Waiheke Island, the vineyard offers sweeping panoramic views of the Hauraki Gulf, with the Auckland skyline visible on the horizon. The contrast of lush vineyards set against the backdrop of the sparkling sea, makes it a dreamy place for wine tasting.
For the wine savants, Mudbrick is known for its Bordeaux-style reds and its Chardonnay. We were particularly keen on the Chardonnay ourselves! Even if you want to skip the wine tasting experience all together, it’s still worth making your way to the vineyard to enjoy a peaceful lunch at their rooftop restaurant.
There are a handful of vineyards within reasonable walking distance of the ferry port; however, this one takes the cake. If you only have time for one vineyard, it should be Mudbrick! The tranquil ambiance and exceptional wines make this a memorable stop.
Man O War Vineyard – optional
If you are up and out the door early, you might have time to squeeze in a visit to the Man O War Vineyard. It’s about 45 minutes east– a good bit past where the hop on/off trolley runs. The vineyard runs a shuttle over to their property twice a day– at 11am and 1pm (not free but cost is very reasonable). The shuttle is the easiest and most economical way to reach their beautiful estate.
We had considered making the trek as we’d heard that not only is the vineyard itself beautiful, but the drive out there, while a little bumpy, is rather scenic as well. However, we decided to take the day at a bit slower pace. It’s worth noting, if you do decide to go out to Man O War, be sure to make a wine tasting and/or food reservation. If you visit during high season, you’re unlikely to be guaranteed walk-up availability.
Merry Ferry
The ferry arrives and departs from the same marina, so navigating your way back to the mainland shouldn’t be too challenging. The 35 minutes back to port fly by— depending on what time of year you visit, you might just catch the sunset as well as you make your way back.
Waiheke Island is a gem of the north island. In a one-day-visit, you are able to experience some of the exquisite scenery New Zealand is known for, while enjoying a relaxing day of hiking, beach lounging, and wine tasting. We hope you enjoy the most perfect day on Waiheke Island!
If your travels bring you to South Island, spending some time in Queenstown is a MUST! Check out our awesome 2-day itinerary here. Happy travels!
written by Dana
CEO of being stubbornly independent, Dana lives to speak her mind as her feisty personality lends itself to her outspoken nature. Dana epitomizes the concept of “spending money on experiences, not things” as she is constantly complaining that she has nothing to wear, but ALWAYS has her next trip on the docket.
