Welcome to Waiheke Island
Close to Auckland and blessed with its own warm, dry microclimate, Waiheke Island has long been a favourite escape for city dwellers and visitors alike. On the island’s landward side, emerald waters lap at rocky bays, while its ocean flank has excellent sandy beaches.
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Waiheke Island activities
Waiheke Island Food and Wine-Tasting Tour from Auckland
Board your ferry at Auckland’s Ferry Terminal for a relaxing 40-minute cruise to Waiheke Island, a bucolic combination of farmland, forest, beaches and seaside villages. You might think you’re in France when you see the vineyards, olive trees, and lavender fields! Upon arrival at the island, you’ll be greeted by your tour driver and taken by air-conditioned coach. Light lunch & wine tasting at Stonyridge Vineyard - Nestled in a beautiful valley of olive trees and vines, Stonyridge is one of the most romantic and exotic venues in the greater Auckland area. Known for their Cabernet blends, Stonyridge also has a wonderful cafe menu, featuring fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Wine tasting at Casita Miro - A sprawling Spanish-style vineyard is home to Casita Miro restaurant, renowned for its delightful tapas-inspired food and fine wines. Enjoy a wine and food pairing in the beautiful art deco style pavilion. Olive oil tasting at Rangihoua Estate - Sample a range of premium, internationally-awarded Extra Virgin Olive Oil surrounded by olive groves and native New Zealand Forest. Rangihoua also hosts The Hay Paddock Cellar Door, with wine tastings to complement the EVOO. Wine tasting at Mudbrick Vineyard - Learn about Mudbrick's varietals during a special cellar door tasting. Relax on the terrace or wander the garden, enjoying sweeping sea views all the way to Auckland City. Ferry & coach transfers - The tour includes return ferry fare from Downtown Auckland, as well as all coach transfers on Waiheke Island. Your local tour driver will meet the ferry at Matiatia Wharf, sharing the island's unique story on the scenic drive. BONUS All Bay Bus Pass - if you have more time to spend on the island, enjoy a complimentary bus pass so you can explore on your own after the conclusion of the tour.
Waiheke Island Exploration and Zipline Day Trip from Auckland
At your chosen time, catch the ferry to Waiheke Island (own expense), just 11 miles (18km) from Auckland, then be met at the island’s ferry terminal by your professional guide.Enjoy a 25-minute mini-tour of Waiheke en route to the visitor center at Trig Hill, where you’ll have fabulous views from one of the island’s highest points, taking in panoramas of Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf.Then check in, grab your safety gear, and make your way to the first viewing platform for your three exciting 655-foot (200-meter) zipline flights. With a maximum of 12 zipline participants, you'll receive personal attention from your expert guide. After an instructional briefing, you’ll be safely attached to the zipline by a full-body harness.To ease you into the zipline experience gently, your first zipline flight takes you above an undulating vineyard for thrill that’s not quite as intense as bungy jumping – New Zealand’s most famous adrenaline-pumping pastime – but just as exciting!The second and third zipline flights take you across a valley, above a carpet of native forest. To add to the adventure, the gradient is gradually increased on these two flights.Back on the ground, take an easy 1-mile (1.5-km) interpretive forest walk back to the visitor center on your own. You’ll learn about New Zealand’s diverse flora and fauna. After your eco-adventure, you’ll be returned to the island’s terminal, where ferries make the 40-minute trip back to Auckland roughly every hour (own expense, approximately $35 per passenger return ticket).
Waiheke Island Ziplining, Wine Tasting, Vineyard Lunch Tour
Enjoy a relaxing 40-minute ferry ride from Auckland to Waiheke Island. Upon arrival at the island, your coach takes you through Waiheke to the zipline center. Meet your zipline guide and receive a safety briefing and gear before heading to the first platform. Your guide gets you safely attached to the zipline and then you’re ready to start the first of your three zipline flights. Your expert guide provides personal attention to each member of your small group. Soar above vineyards, a valley, and forest. When you reach the end of the zipline course, walk back to the visitor center on your own, following an easy 1-mile (1.5-km) path through the forest.Celebrate the morning’s adventure as you embark on the next part of your day: lunch and wine tasting. Travel by air-conditioned coach to your first stop at Stonyridge Vineyard, one of Waiheke’s original wineries. Enjoy a wine tasting and light lunch that refuels you after the ziplining experience. After lunch, your driver takes you to the Rangihoua Estate to taste their award-winning olive oil. Visit the olive orchards, then learn how extra virgin olive oil is made and sample several varieties in the tasting room. Next, visit Casita Miro Vineyard, for some wine sampling. Your final stop brings you to Mudbrick Vineyard, a winery with stunning views over the Hauraki Gulf. Enjoy sipping their fine wines as you gaze over lush gardens and vineyards. At the end of the tour, either return on a late-afternoon ferry to Auckland, or stay longer with your complimentary All Day Bus Pass to explore more of the island on your own. Ferries to Auckland run until late in the evening; check the schedule for details.
Waiheke Island Wine Tasting Tour from Auckland
Board your ferry in downtown Auckland and relax on the 40-minute ride to Waiheke Island, an idyllic land of farms, forests, seaside villages and beaches that is less than 12 miles (19 km) from Auckland. When you arrive on the island, your small group will be welcomed by your tour driver in an air-conditioned coach. From there, head to your first tasting at Mudbrick Vineyard. Sip on wines as you enjoy stunning views of the lush gardens and hillside vineyards that overlook the Hauraki Gulf.Next you will proceed to Cable Bay. Enjoy a selection of their wines and light appetizers while the knowledgeable and passionate staff answers any questions you may have. Your final stop will be at the Te Whau Vineyard, an operation that opened in the late 1990s to rave reviews. Taste their award-winning selection as you get an overview of making wine, from growing grapes to the finished bottle. Te Whau specializes in cabernet sauvignon and merlot, but also produces a limited quantity of chardonnay each year. At the end of the tour, you can return to the wharf via your coach for the late-afternoon ferry back to Auckland. Alternatively, you can stay on Waiheke to explore the island’s wineries and restaurants with a complimentary All Day Bus Pass for the public bus. Ferries to Auckland run until late on most evenings; check the schedule for exact details. You may not want to leave once you taste the fine wines of Waiheke!
Full-Day Waiheke Island Food and Wine Tour
Take the 9:00am Fullers ferry to Matiatia Wharf at Waiheke Island where your driver will greet you there with a welcome sign.You will visit an award-winning olive oil mill, followed by two vineyards, each offering a range of gourmet tastes to accompany their wines. Treats may include oysters straight from Te Matuku Bay, wild honey, the famous local green herb spread and artisan cheeses. Afterwards, enjoy a platter lunch at one of our top vineyard restaurants. After lunch you will be returned to your accommodation or to the ferry back to Auckland.After the completion of the tour, you will be taken back to the wharf where you can catch the 3:00 ferry or choose to be dropped off in the village if you wish to say on the Island longer.
Waiheke Premium Winery Half-Day Tour with Wine-Tastings
Waiheke was made for fine wine and if we were naming it today, we’d probably call this island Wine-heke. You’d think it was purpose-built for the growing and making of fabulous wine. It truly has the geology, soils and climate that you’d dream up if you were trying to create the perfect place to produce really extraordinary wines. For you, it means that a tasting tour of Waiheke’s wineries has the potential to be a ‘best ever’ wine adventure. Doing a wine tour of Waiheke is the icing on the cake of your Auckland holiday. And doing that tour with us will elevate the experience to another level again. We’ve put together a wine adventure that consistently gets rave reviews from our guests. It includes luxury transport and visits to three or four superb vineyards. Lunch, which isn’t included in the cost, can be at a beach-side cafe or a winery restaurant. We can also add an olive oil tour if you’re interested. From the moment we pick you up from the ferry terminal, it’s our mission to live up to your highest expectations. You’ll enjoy gorgeous scenery out the window of our luxury mini-bus, the comments of a local guide who knows everything about the island and its wines. If you want to extend your Waiheke experience, you can either stay on at the vineyards or asked to be dropped-off at The Cove, which is one of Oneroa’s best bars. Your tour guide will greet you with a "Enjoy" sign at 10:35am Matiatia Bay ferry terminal, Waiheke Island. Your tour includes three or more boutique vineyards and a 1.5- to 2-hour lunch at an award winning vineyard or beachfront cafe. Tastings are complimentary however lunch and additional drinks are at your expense. You will be transferred back to the ferry terminal at 4pm (or your accommodation on Waiheke). You have the option to extend your stay once the tour has finished. Just ask our tour guides for more options.