Waiheke Island - North Island, New Zealand

Waiheke Island is the most popular and populated island in the Hauraki Gulf. It is also one of the largest. Only 45 minutes by high speed catamaran Waiheke enjoys a sunny micro climate and relaxed pace. With picturesque beaches and bays, vineyards and olive groves, it is a relaxing pace to unwind.

A generation ago it was a retreat for the artistic and hippie community but more recently it has become a fashionable seaside retreat with architecturally designed houses, a grown up artistic and crafts scene, chic cafes and restaurants and vineyards producing world class wines.

You will arrive at the main wharf at Matiatia, which is 2 kilometres from the main village of Oneroa. This village resides on a narrow isthmus between Blackpool Beach and Oneroa Beach - one of the best and most accessible beaches on the island.

On the main street of Oneroa is the Visitors Centre where you can pick up a free Waiheke Island of Wine Map and the free Waiheke Island Art Map. Oneroa itself has galleries, retail, cafes and two vineyards within walking distance.

Waiheke has 24 vineyards that you can visit for tastings and sales, with some of them having very good restaurants. Some of them are set in spectacular locations and are worth the visit just to see the views.

Waiheke has many sandy beaches which offer safe swimming and enjoyable beach time. Oneroa, Little Oneroa and Palm Beach are the most popular. Waiheke's longest and most exposed beach is Onetangi, popular with surfers, board riders, confident swimmers and beach horse races. Palm Beach and Onetangi have sections of "nude bathing" zones separated by a handful of rocks.

Waiheke has a wide range of places to eat, with most cafes and restaurants located around Oneroa. Elsewhere there are scatterings of restaurants at Maitiatia, Surfdale, Palm Beach, and Onetangi - where you will also find beachside cafes, fast food outlets and wineries offering high quality fare. There are no "bars" as such but most restaurants serve alcohol or have a bar attached.

Entertainment is limited to the community Cinema and there is live music most weekends, with some music and food festivals as well as dance parties scheduled throughout the summer months.

Transportation on Waiheke

Fuller Ferries offer a quick 40 minute ferry service from downtown Auckland with ferries leaving throughout the day. There is a bus service and various tours offered around the island. For more flexibility you can rent a car, scooter or a bike. If you prefer to be driven, there are taxis also available.

Activities on Waiheke

Waiheke has plenty of coastal walks with well marked tracks. Ranging from 1 to 3 hours, these walks are well outlined in the Waiheke Island Walkways pamphlet, available at the visitors centre.

There are also many water based activities which include sea kayaking, surfing, yachting and windsurfing. For the less adventurous there are eco tours and walks, vineyard tours and tours specifically to visit artists and their galleries.

Accommodation On Waiheke

Accommodation on Waiheke covers the full range of lodges, hotels, motels , B&B's, backpacker hostels and rental homes. They are dotted all over the island but the prime locations are near and around the main beaches of Oneroa, Palm Beach and Onetangi. Camping is restricted to the hostels.

LooknbookNZ can organise your Waiheke Island accommodation and Waiheke Island activities bookings to let you and your family/friends have an amazing experience on the beautiful Waiheke Island.