Waiheke is a haven of beautiful vineyards, olive groves, great restaurants and beaches, all just a 35-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland.
We just visited for the day but my boyfriend fell in love, as I’m writing this I asked him how he would describe Waiheke and he said ‘heaven on earth’ and ‘a paradise island’. It has a rather ‘upper-class’ or luxury feel to it, yet the people are friendly.
Lonely Planet describes the island as:
Tantalisingly close to Auckland and blessed with its own warm, dry microclimate, blissful 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 some of the region’s best sandy beaches.
While beaches are Waiheke’s biggest drawcard, wine is a close second. There are around 30 boutique wineries scattered about, many with tasting rooms, swanky restaurants and breathtaking views. The island also boasts plenty of quirky galleries and craft stores, a lasting legacy of its hippyish past.
When you’ve had enough of supping, dining, lazing on the sand and splashing in the surf, there are plenty of other pursuits to engage in. A network of walking trails leads through nature reserves and past the cliff-top holiday homes of the Auckland elite.
We wandered the boutique shops, sunbathed on the beach and on a whim decided to try and find some accommodation so that we could stay the night – unfortunately we were unable to find a place that had any vacancies so we found a fantastic seafood restaurant for dinner.
The Oyster Inn in Oneroa which had a great informal feel to it but delicious, simple and fresh food – exactly what we were looking for. We then sadly took a ferry back to Auckland.