All the tips for visiting Waiheke Island from Auckland on a day trip including what to see and do on this gorgeous island.
During our recent trip to New Zealand and Australia, I knew that we wanted to explore outside of Auckland. We decided on visiting Waiheke Island, because it is easy to get to, is a beautiful island, and offers several different things to do.
If you are traveling to New Zealand, you may also enjoy this post about what to do in Auckland, New Zealand.
How to Get to Waiheke Island
Getting to Waiheke Island from downtown Auckland is super easy and only takes 50 minutes. Fullers360 offers departures multiple times a day. You can purchase your tickets online or in their app. I highly recommend using their app to purchase your tickets because then you can use your tickets directly from your phone (there is currently not a way to add your tickets to the app after purchasing if you buy on their website).
We chose to purchase walk-up (undated/untimed) tickets because of the cost difference. You can see the ferry timetable in the Fullers360 app and see what ferry times are for walk-ups and if the ferry is direct or if it stops at other islands. If you choose to purchase walk-up tickets be sure to arrive at the dock early (at least an hour) especially if you are visiting on the weekend/holiday.
Tip: If you are traveling with children, consider purchasing a family ticket. It may be cheaper than purchasing individual tickets.
What to do on Waiheke Island
Waiheke Island, New Zealand is known for its beaches, vineyards, and beautiful scenery. It is the perfect day trip from Auckland. We specifically visited Waiheke Island to spend some time at the beach, grab lunch, and explore the town of Oneroa. We had a fabulous time on the island even though it did rain a little during our day.
Beaches – Two great beaches that are close to the ferry terminal are Oneroa Beach and Little Oneroa Beach. We enjoyed Little Oneroa Beach, its smaller, crescent-shaped beach tucked away with a nice wide sand beach. During our visit on a Saturday, it was fairly quiet in the morning with only a couple of other people sporadically on the beach. Also, the walk to Little Oneroa Beach offers some breathtaking views of the landscape and Oneroa Beach.
Tip: Grab some fish and chips from Little Oneroa Takeaways right next to Little Oneroa Beach.
Wineries – Waiheke Island is famous for its world-class wineries and high-quality red wines. There are about 30 wineries across the island. Several winery tours are available if you are looking for a guide that will take you around to taste some of the wines.
Trails – From the ferry terminal you can take the Matiatia to Oneroa Forest Path which is a scenic bush walk. When you leave the ferry terminal turn right and walk across the boat trailer parking lot (car park). Then look for signs that say Oneroa Village – scenic bush walk. The path will end on Ocean View Road where you can cross the street to a sidewalk to continue walking into the town center.
If you have time, the Te Ara Hura Walkway is a wonderful way to explore the island as it circles around the island, however, you can get on and off the trail at various points.
Town Center – Spend some time exploring the Oneroa town center. There are lots of boutique shops, wine-tasting rooms, and a variety of places to grab something to eat. There are also views from the town along the coast and of Oneroa Beach.
