Waiheke Island
Sample from NZDH Waiheke Island chapter
Famous for its wine, arts and laid-back atmosphere, Waiheke Island offers hundreds
of safe, sheltered beaches and rocky coves - perfect for swimming and snorkelling
- only 30-minutes by ferry from Auckland’s CBD.
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Day One
Waiheke Island
The island is a heady mix of the old and the new, a place where architecturally
designed mansions and salty holiday homes mingle in a jumbled seaside manner. The
same works for clothes, and although bare feet, jandals, tank tops and shorts are
standard attire, practically anything goes.
Many artists live on Waiheke and their creativity and influence is reflected in
all spheres of island life. A laid-back atmosphere permeates and no matter where
you are, life revolves around the beach. There are many coves to choose from and
several days could be spent simply exploring the coastline: Oneroa with its golden
sand and calm waters, picturesque Enclosure Bay, and the pretty curve of Palm Beach.
Onetangi, with its light surf and stunning views north to Little Barrier Island,
is a popular place to hang out. Relax on its white sand, take a dip in the crystal-clear
ocean, or - if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to swoop like a seagull - try
paragliding with Seabirds. A speedboat pulls punters aloft from the beach and the
towline is released at 2000 feet, so you can glide back down to the beach.
Other popular waterbased activities include kayaking, sailing and windsurfing. From
October through to March, Marc Kampschulte of Windsurfing Waiheke sets up his windsurfing
trailer at Surfdale, while Dawn Perkins of The Kayak Company provides kayak tuition,
rentals, and half-day or full-day tours to beaches with no road access.
Waiheke Island has long been a yachtie’s paradise, and many boats pull into its
sheltered bays and deep inlets to anchor at night, including Bernard Rhodes and
his son, Andrew -who offer sailing trips aboard Flying Carpet: an ocean-going, bi-plane-rigged
catamaran. Sailing on the Flying Carpet is a relaxed affair: most guests relax and
enjoy the scenery, but keen sailors are welcome to help trim the sails.
Whilst Waiheke’s nature trails, art trails, shady olive groves, sculpture gardens
and range of modern eateries are tempting, it’s the island’s vineyards that provide
the greatest drawcard.
At the Tuscan-style villa of Stonyridge, Norton, a sizeable black Labrador wearing
a collar saying: “Do not feed me,” greets visitors. A heavy wooden doorway leads
to the winery’s café overlooking grapevines and olive trees. Wide doors open to
a sunny, sheltered courtyard cobbled with stones and shells; leafy vines twist around
pergola poles, and Boston ivy creeps up the adobe walls. The food is superb, the
wine outstanding (this is the home of NZ’s most sought-after red), and the setting
stylish yet casual, with a relaxed Mediterranean country atmosphere.
This vineyard, along with Goldwater Estate, was the first to plant grapes on Waiheke
Island, and when both proved successful, many others followed suit. Today there’s
a wide range to visit including Kennedy Point Vineyard, which produces delicious
Sauvignon Blanc (best teamed with an antipasto platter and sampled on its shady
pohutukawa-fringed decks); Te Whau Vineyard with its extensive wine list and spectacular
views of Auckland city from Te Whau Point; and Onetangi Vineyard, next to Stonyridge,
where you can also sample locally brewed Baroona beer.
There’s also a wealth of popular cafés and vineyard restaurants including the Mudbrick
Café, a popular haunt for visiting Aucklanders with its stunning city views, and
Salvage, Schooner and Vino Vino in Oneroa.
For an entertaining night out Waiheke-style, join the locals and curl up on family-donated
couches at the community cinema in Oneroa. It’s perfectly kosher to take along a
bottle of your favourite red, and grab a curry from Ajadz next door to enjoy while
watching the movie!
Fullers Ferries runs an hourly service to the island from the Ferry Terminal opposite
Queen Elizabeth Square in downtown Auckland. The ferry ride takes 35 – 45 minutes.
Some ferries travel via Devonport and/or Rangitoto Island. If you wish to take your
car across Subritzky Sealink offer a vehicular ferry service from Half Moon Bay.
Flights to Waiheke Island are also available from Auckland airport.
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