The Must-Dos on Waiheke Island
If there’s one Auckland city escape you can’t miss, it has to be Waiheke Island. Waiheke brings the best of city life, with good food and good drink, and mixes it with the best of island life, with golden sand beaches. Like many of us, you probably have limited time on the island so make the most of it by choosing some of the Waiheke Island must-dos!
Check out the list below for an idea of the glorious things to do on Waiheke Island.
Of course, there are plenty of reasons to stay awhile, so plan your visit over at our Waiheke Island Guide and get your Waiheke ferry tickets on Klook.
Table of Contents
1. Taste Waiheke Island Wine
Waiheke Island is not only one of the most popular wine regions in New Zealand, but it’s also one with the best vistas! There are many ways to experience the wine scene in Waiheke, from tastings in cellar doors to wine tours that can take you all around the island to different wineries.
Take a look at the wineries to visit in the 20 Vineyards & Wineries on Waiheke Island or join a wine tour with Waiheke Wine Tours, Wai Tiki Tours, Enjoi or Ananda Tours.
Location: See the above links for specific locations of wineries and tour departures.
© NZPocketGuide.com2. Relax on Oneroa Beach
Waiheke Island is equally renowned for is its beaches as it is for its wine. Although you are spoiled for choice with beaches on Waiheke Island, if you are only visiting for the day then the most accessible beach is Oneroa.
It’s about a 30 minutes walk from Matiatia Wharf where the passenger ferry arrives. A walk eastern end of the beach will give you some awesome views of Oneroa Beach and Little Oneroa Beach.
Location: Follow Ocean View Road until you reach Oneroa then follow the signs down to the beach.
© brent simpson on Wikipedia3. Taste Waiheke Olives, Oysters and More!
Waiheke Island has all the food and culture of a city set in the stunning surrounds of an island. Tasting the local cuisine is another Waiheke Island must-do and you are spoiled for choice! Taste oysters at The Oyster Inn in Oneroa.
Visit olive groves, such as the Rangihoua Estate or Azzuro Groves to taste their homegrown olive oils. Craft beer, whisky distilleries, French cafes and Italian restaurants all exist on the island so take your pick!
Location: The Oyster Inn – 124 Ocean View Road, Oneroa. Rangihoua Estate – 1 Gordons Road. Azzuro Groves – available at Island Grocer, 110 Ocean View Road, Oneroa.
© NZPocketGuide.com4. Kayak or SUP on the Coast
If you’re feeling adventurous and want to explore the Waiheke Island coastline then kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding (or SUP) would be the way to do it.
Either freedom-hire your gear from Matiatia Wharf (ferry terminal), Oneroa or Onetangi Beach or join a guided tour with Hekerua Lodge, for example, to explore the island’s hidden gems. Island life is all about getting out on the water!
Location: Kayak Waiheke – Matiatia Beachfront, Oneroa. Waiheke Adventure Centre – Matiatia Beachfront, Oneroa. Onetangi Beach Apartments – 5/7 Fourth Avenue, Onetangi. Hekerua Lodge – 11 Hekerua Road, Oneroa.
© pxhere5. Cycle Around the Island
Getting around Waiheke is half the fun, but for the more adventurous, hire a bike and make your way around the island. Pop into the Onetangi Sports Park for some fun grade 1-4 trails.
For more information, check out Mountain Biking in Auckland. (Note: There are quite a few hills in Waiheke, so consider getting an electric bike if you are not up for the challenge).
Location: Bike hire is available from outside of the ferry terminal at Matiatia Beachfront. Alternatively, guided bike tours are available with Hike Bike Ako.
© NZPocketGuide.com6. Zipline Over the Vineyards and Through the Trees
See Waiheke Island from a different perspective as you zip through the trees on three giant ziplines (or flying fox, as they say in New Zealand).
Ziplining with Ecozip Adventures takes you through and above native forests and vineyards, while you get to enjoy a walk back up to base learning about the ecosystem along the way.
Location: 150 Trig Hill Road. Ecozip Adventures can also pick up from the ferry terminal. Alternatively, book your ferry, island transport and zipline experience together or an all-inclusive zipline and wine tour with ferry tickets on Klook.
© NZPocketGuide.com7. Do an Art Crawl
Culture yourself with some art on Waiheke Island! Visit art galleries and see open-air sculptures in Alison Park.
Other art galleries worth checking out include the Waiheke Community Art Gallery, Toi Gallery, Kauri Art Studio and the Red Shed Art Gallery.
Either pick up a leaflet for a self-guided tour or book onto a guided art tour with Terra & Tide.
Location: Alison Park – corner of Oceanview Road and Mako Street. Waiheke Community Art Gallery – 2 Korora Road, Oneroa. Toi Gallery – 145 Ocean View Road, Oneroa. Kauri Art Studio – 32 Goodwin Ave, Little Oneroa. Red Shed Art Gallery – 74A Palm Road, Palm Beach.
© russellstreet on Flickr8. See Fascinating Bird Species
Although there are other islands in the Hauraki Gulf that are pest-free bird sanctuaries, you might be surprised to find that Waiheke Island also has its fair share of fascinating native New Zealand birds!
Kereru, grey warbler, fantail, kingfisher, tui, blue penguins, New Zealand dotterel and even kaka parrots can all be seen on the island.
We suggest hitting the walking trails away from the towns for your best chances of seeing the birds.
Check out the 5 Best Walks on Waiheke Island for more information.
Location: Check out the link above for specific locations.
© Chris Gin on Wikipedia9. Walk the Coastal Tracks
Exploring Waiheke Island on foot reveals a side of the island that’s easily missed from the road. Well-marked coastal tracks connect secluded beaches, dramatic headlands and hidden bays, offering constantly changing views of the Hauraki Gulf.
The Te Ara Hura Trail is the main walking network, with over 100 km (62 mi) of interconnected paths suitable for all fitness levels. You can start at any point, walk in any direction and finish wherever suits your schedule, whether that’s a vineyard lunch, a café stop or your accommodation.
The network is divided into four distinct areas: Headlands for island highlights in one accessible space, Beaches ‘n’ Baches for off-the-beaten-track village character, Forest Heart for native bush and regenerating forest, and Far End for big skies and sweeping views. Simply follow the Te Ara Hura marker posts to stay on track.
Location: Various access points across Waiheke Island, North Island. Trails span the entire island from Matiatia in the west to the eastern headlands.
© NZPocketGuide.com10. Visit Stony Batter Historic Reserve
For something a little different, explore Stony Batter Historic Reserve on the eastern end of Waiheke Island. This former WW2 defence site features impressive gun emplacements and underground tunnels with sweeping coastal views.
While you can wander parts of the reserve independently, guided tours offer deeper insight into the site’s wartime history and hidden tunnels. However, it’s worth noting that tunnel tours will temporarily stop from April 2026, though the reserve and surrounding walking tracks remain open.
From what we’ve experienced, the coastal scenery alone makes the journey worthwhile, and the historical significance adds an intriguing layer to your Waiheke adventure.
Location: Eastern end of Waiheke Island, about 40 minutes’ drive from Matiatia Wharf. Not serviced by public transport. From Onetangi, head up the hill on Waiheke Road, turn left into Man O’War Bay Road, then left into Stony Batter Road.
© NZPocketGuide.comMore Must-Dos and Things to Do on Waiheke Island
That’s it for our guide to the best things to do on Waiheke Island; for more information about exploring the region, check out the following articles:
- 10 Alternative Things to Do in Auckland
- 10 Islands to Kayak to From Auckland
- 5 Fun Things to Do at Goat Island Marine Reserve
- The 10 Best Islands in Auckland to Visit
- 10 Things to Do in Auckland
Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in The Complete Travel Guide to Auckland.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
- Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2025])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2025])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2025])
- NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2025])
- Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (Road and transport tips - Updated [2025])
- DriveSafe (Road safety - Updated [2025])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2025])
- Safe Travel (NZ travel advisories - Updated [2025])
- Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2025])
- TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2025])
- Discover Auckland (Regional tourism website)
- Auckland Council (Local council website)
- Hauraki District Council (Local council website)
Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
