Islands

Waiheke Island

At the southern end of Waiheke Island, Rocky Bay is a haven for artists and boaties.

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One of the larger Hauraki Gulf islands, Waiheke is just 14 kilometres by ferry from the heart of Auckland city. It's a place that visitors, and the people who are lucky enough to live there, find particularly relaxing.

Home to many of New Zealand's successful artists, Waiheke has a longstanding arts and crafts focus. You'll find a number of galleries and craft outlets in the seaside shopping areas. There are plenty of places to enjoy a good coffee or a taste of New Zealand's clean, fresh cuisine. And with more than a dozen high-quality vineyards, Waiheke is a wine lover's delight. Many of the vineyards include relaxing cafe-style restaurants that look out across the vine-covered valleys to the blue sea beyond.

Several well signposted walkways can help you work up an appetite or walk off an indulgence. The trails include cliff tops, beaches and native forest enclaves. At the eastern end of the island, the Stoney Batter walkway leads to fascinating World War II gun emplacements with underground tunnels that run deep into the hillsides. The tunnels are open to the public, so bring a torch and a sense of adventure.

The popular northern Waiheke beaches at Oneroa, Palm Beach and Onetangi look out over the waters of the Hauraki Gulf. These safe, white sand beaches slope gently down into the sea, making them ideal for picnics, swimming, kayaking or seaside strolls.

Getting around on Waiheke is easy. There are public buses and taxis or you can hire a mountain bike, motor scooter or even a car. If you have your own bike, you can bring it over with you on the ferry. Accommodation on the island ranges from backpacker dorms to luxury boutique lodges.

AUCKLAND Region

CONTACT DETAILS

Contact:	Auckland i-SITE Visitor Centre - Princes Wharf
Phone:	+64 9 3070 612
Fax:	+64 9 3072 614
Postal:	P O Box 5561 Wellesly Street Auckland
Website:	www.aucklandnz.com

Waiheke Island is the closest town to this highlight.

In Waiheke Island:

Other towns near Waiheke Island by ferry and road:

Auckland (35 minutes)
Orewa (55 minutes)
Helensville (76 minutes)

Other towns near Waiheke Island by air:

Waiheke Island does not have scheduled passenger air services.

The nearest airport is in Auckland (35 minutes)

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All information available on this web site concerning products and services is provided by the suppliers of those goods and services. Because information is liable to change from time to time you should not rely on the information on this web site but should check the accuracy of the information with the relevant supplier. Tourism New Zealand is not responsible or liable for any claims arising in relation to information supplied to it.

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