Waiheke Island

Waiheke Island is in the Hauraki Gulf near Auckland, just off the North Island of New Zealand. It is 35 minutes by ferry from Auckland and is a popular destination for day trips and longer visits.

Understand
Waiheke Island is the third most populous island of New Zealand (after the North and South Islands), with 9,800 permanent residents (2021), 2,000 of whom commute to Auckland each work day. Another estimated 3,400 have second homes or holiday homes on the island. In summer the population swells dramatically, as the island is a popular destination for both overseas travellers and New Zealanders.

The microclimate is well suited for winemaking and the island has over two dozen vineyards. Olives are well established and some extremely nice olive oils are produced. Waiheke is administered by the Auckland Council.



Passenger ferries
Fullers passenger ferries (phone +64 9 367 9111) run from downtown Auckland to on Waiheke Island, taking 40 minutes, hourly or more frequently between 6AM and 7:15PM and less frequently at night. Last departures from Waiheke are M-Sa at 12:30AM and Su at 11PM. Ferries leave Auckland from Pier 2 ferry terminal, near the corner of Quay St and Albert St. Fullers buses and the hop-on-hop-off bus depart from Matiatia, and taxis and hire cars are available there. Return fares are adult $45 ($40 using an AT Hop card), child (5-15 years or high school ID) $20, seniors with a Supergold card are free - family passes are available. The AT Journey Planner covers the Fullers ferries and Waiheke buses.

Vehicle/passenger ferries
Sealink (phone +64 9 300 5900) operate a passenger/vehicle ferry service from Half Moon Bay in eastern Auckland to Kennedy Point on Waiheke, taking 45–60 minutes. Transfers are available from Kennedy Point. Standard return fares are adult $36.50, child $20, senior/student $31, car $170 and there are different family passes. Check their website for "hot deals" - sometimes two people with a car only have to pay for the car. Cheaper fares are also available with 10-trip tickets or with day return passes.

By plane

 * Helilink makes charter helicopter flights to Waiheke.

By bus
Waiheke Bus Company. These Fullers-owned buses run around the main populated areas between Matiatia Wharf and Onetangi and Rocky Bay. They do not cover Kennedy Point, Orapiu or Stony Batter. All-day passes are available from Matiatia Wharf or can be bought with your ferry ticket from Auckland (but not before 9AM on weekdays). Day passes are not sold on the bus, but bus fares are reasonable. Auckland AT Hop cards can be used on the buses.

Waiheke Explorer Hop-on Hop-off tour bus. You can just stay on these Fullers-owned buses and have a 1½ hour tour of the island, or hop on and off as often as you want at any of 15 stops, which include vineyards, beaches and restaurants. Adult $60, child $30.

By taxi
There are multiple taxi and shuttle services.

By personal vehicles
Cars, scooters and bicycles can be hired near the Matiatia ferry terminal, or you can bring bicycles on any of the passenger ferries.

By thumb
Hitchhiking is commonplace with locals and visitors. There are few destinations and distances are relatively short, which increases the chances of a driver stopping for hitchers.

Do

 * Try deep sea fishing with Fat Snapper Fishing Charters, 21 Waiheke Road, Onetangi, +64 9 372-8755 (andfloor@xtra.co.nz). Full or half day deep sea fishing. Includes all equipment (rods, reels & bait). Half day charter $80 per person. Minimum charge $200.
 * Go walking round the island's tracks and bush reserves. Including roadside tracks there are some 100 km of walks on the island. Pick up a copy of the guides locally.
 * Try deep sea fishing with Fat Snapper Fishing Charters, 21 Waiheke Road, Onetangi, +64 9 372-8755 (andfloor@xtra.co.nz). Full or half day deep sea fishing. Includes all equipment (rods, reels & bait). Half day charter $80 per person. Minimum charge $200.
 * Go walking round the island's tracks and bush reserves. Including roadside tracks there are some 100 km of walks on the island. Pick up a copy of the guides locally.
 * Try deep sea fishing with Fat Snapper Fishing Charters, 21 Waiheke Road, Onetangi, +64 9 372-8755 (andfloor@xtra.co.nz). Full or half day deep sea fishing. Includes all equipment (rods, reels & bait). Half day charter $80 per person. Minimum charge $200.
 * Go walking round the island's tracks and bush reserves. Including roadside tracks there are some 100 km of walks on the island. Pick up a copy of the guides locally.

Beaches
The northern side of Waiheke is known for its relatively uncrowded white sand beaches, while the southern side beaches are quite tidal and swimming is dependent on the tides.

Buy
Oneroa has the main shopping street with a post office, two banks, a chemist, a greengrocer, a wine shop, a small supermarket, real estate agents and some clothes and souvenir shops. Ostend has a full sized supermarket, a chemist, a fishmonger, and a Placemakers if are looking for a bag of cement.



Drink
Waiheke does not have a mains water supply so water fountains are not as common as elsewhere in Auckland (and your accommodation may ask you to save water). There is a filtered water fountain in the Matiatia ferry terminal.

Waiheke wine are premium brands, with bottles starting around $25 in the supermarket, and many costing a few times more.



Go next

 * Take a ferry back to Auckland.
 * Head out to Great Barrier Island for a more remote experience.
 * Catch the weekend and holiday ferry to Coromandel town.