Waiheke Island is Auckland's weekend playground — a 92-square-kilometre island in the Hauraki Gulf 40 minutes from the city by ferry that has become New Zealand's most famous wine region in the last 30 years, with over 30 boutique wineries specialising in Bordeaux-style reds and Syrah that thrive in the island's warm microclimate. The signature experience is a wine tour (Mudbrick, Te Motu, Cable Bay, Stonyridge) with lunch at one of the vineyard restaurants, combined with a swim at Oneroa or Palm Beach.
The island also has genuinely great beaches (Onetangi is a 3-kilometre sweep of white sand), some of the best art studios in the country, and the 4-hour Te Ara Hura coastal walkway that links vineyards, beaches, and clifftop viewpoints. Accommodation ranges from glamping to lodges, and many visitors stay a night or two rather than returning to Auckland the same day. The ferry service runs every 30 minutes during peak times.
Verified Facts
Waiheke covers 92 square kilometres
The island has over 30 boutique wineries
The ferry from Auckland takes 40 minutes
Onetangi Beach is about 3 kilometres long
Get walking directions
Waiheke Island, Hauraki Gulf
