16 Fun Things To Do On Waiheke Island Without A Car

Want to know what you can do on Waiheke Island without a car? This post will tell you everything you need to know about visiting Auckland’s gorgeous Waiheke Island without a car.

Waiheke Island is just a short 20-minute ferry ride from Auckland on the fast ferry for passengers, making it a great destination to visit in New Zealand without a car.

You can easily enjoy the best Waiheke Island has to offer without a car. Many of Waiheke’s top wineries, beaches, walks and art galleries are accessible by walking, using the public bus, cycling or joining a tour.

There are great things to do within walking distance of the Matiatia Ferry Terminal, which has direct fast ferries to Waiheke Island from Auckland. In this guide, we take a look at the 8 best things to do within walking distance of the ferry.

Plus, if you get around Waiheke Island using the public bus system, there are more fun places to visit without a car. In this post learn 8 best places you can visit on Waiheke Island by using the bus.

Additionally it is possible to visit and explore Waiheke Island on a group tour for the day from Auckland, by cycling (hire an e-bike) or get a ticket for the hop-on hop-off Explorer Bus.

If you need tips on how to get to Waiheke without a car and an explanation of your options to explore Waiheke and how to get around, we dive into this at the end of the article.

Guide To Visiting Waiheke Island Without A Car | Auckland, New Zealand

Read my New Zealand Travel Guide for all my blog posts and tips for travel in New Zealand!

If you’re visiting Waiheke Island, check out these related articles 🇳🇿:

• Waiheke Island Wineries: Ultimate Guide For Wine Tasting (& Map)
• How To Get To Waiheke Island From Auckland (Fullers Vs Sealink)
• How To Get Around Waiheke Island (By Car, Bike, Bus & On Foot)
• 16 Best Beaches On Waiheke Island, New Zealand (With Map!)
• The Best Hostel On Waiheke Island: Waiheke Backpackers Hostel Review
• Camping On Waiheke Island: Poukaraka Flats Campground
• 11 Awesome Things To Do In Oneroa, Waiheke Island
• 8 Best Things To Do In Onetangi, Waiheke Island

What Is Waiheke Island Known For?

Waiheke Island is known as the ‘Island of Wine’ as it is dotted with many vineyards and wineries.

There is also a large creative community on Waiheke Island with many artists, photographers, sculptures, painters and makers choosing to take up residence there. There are many galleries and boutiques to visit around the island.

Waiheke Island is a stunning paradise, with beautiful, golden, sandy beaches. It is the perfect spot to relax, and enjoy the scenery with good food and even better wine.

Get your FREE Waiheke Island Illustrated Guide Map download by subscribing below:

16 Fun Things To Do On Waiheke Island Without A Car

8 Best Things To Do Within Walking Distance To The Matiatia Ferry Terminal

You can enjoy the best Waiheke Island has to offer without a car. Many of Waiheke’s top wineries, beaches, walks and art galleries are located close to the terminal of the fast passenger ferry from Auckland, Matiatia Ferry Terminal. All of these things to do are around a 20 – 40-minute walk from the ferry terminal!

1. Explore Oneroa Village

Oneroa is one of the main townships on Waiheke Island. It is a very charming and cute village with plenty of awesome things to see and do.

You can easily explore Oneroa on Waiheke Island without a car. The village is quite small so you can explore on foot. It is a short walk from the ferry terminal or can be accessed on the bus.

If you’re keen on some shopping, here are some recommendations of shops to visit in Oneroa:

• Waiheke Wine Centre – wine shop selling many Waiheke wines with samples
• Four Square – small supermarket
• Greatest Friend – vintage clothing shop
• The Island Grocer – gourmet grocery shop with cabinet food

Wander around the village and you will also find lots of small boutiques and independent stores to visit.

How to get to Oneroa village: Oneroa Village is about a 20-minute walk (1.9 km) from Matiatia Ferry Terminal. Just follow Ocean View Road. You can also take the bus from the Ferry Terminal to Oneroa. Use bus routes 50A, 50B or 501, or the Explorer Bus.

Related Read: 11 Best Things To Do In Oneroa, Waiheke Island

2. Take A Walk On Big Oneroa Beach

Oneroa Beach is 1 km long making it one of the longest beaches on Waiheke Island. It is also one of the best beaches on Waiheke Island.

Oneroa Beach is in Oneroa Village, so you can easily access and explore this awesome beach on Waiheke Island without a car.

The beautiful, wide sandy bay makes it the perfect place for enjoying a long walk. The beach is dog friendly and many people enjoy having a walk here.

You can also swim at Oneroa but the bay can be very busy with boat activity. I prefer to swim at Little Oneroa Beach (see below!).

How to get to Oneroa beach: Big Oneroa Beach is about a 26-28 minute walk (2 km) from Matiatia Ferry Terminal. Once you arrive in Oneroa village, just follow one of the many beach access paths down to the beach.

3. Have A Swim At Little Oneroa Beach

Little Oneroa Beach is just down the road from Big Oneroa Beach. It is my favourite beach on Waiheke Island!

Little Oneroa Beach is the perfect place for enjoying a swim. The bay is sheltered and safe, with no boat activity. The water is wonderful and refreshing!

How to get to Little Oneroa Beach: Little Oneroa Beach is approximately 32 minutes walk (2.5 km) from Matiatia Ferry Terminal. Keep following Ocean View Road through Oneroa village and follow the signposts to Little Oneroa Beach Reserve.

Related Read: 10 Best Beaches On Waiheke Island & What To Do There

4. Wine Tasting At Cable Bay Vineyards

Waiheke Island is known as the ‘Island of Wine’ and Oneroa has some great vineyards and wineries you can visit just up the hills from the village.

Cable Bay Vineyards is one winery on Waiheke Island that is easily accessible without a car. You can walk there from the Ferry Terminal and from Oneroa Village.

The cellar door at Cable Bay Vineyards is a great place to visit to enjoy some affordable wine tasting. When I visited I did a wine tasting with a selection of 6 wines for just $12 per person! The wines and the hosting were excellent.

Cable Bay’s Cellar Door is open 7 days from 11 am – 5 pm. 

How to get to Cable Bay Vineyards: Cable Bay Vineyards is around a 29-minute walk (2.2 km) from Matiatia Ferry Terminal. Follow Ocean View Road towards Oneroa. Turn right onto Mako Street and continue straight onto Church Bay Road to Cable Bay Vineyards. The Explorer Bus stops here.

For more information about Cable Bay’s Tours & Tasting options, visit their website here.

5. Wine Tasting At Mudbrick Vineyard

Wine tasting is a really fun activity to do on Waiheke Island without a car. Another lovely cellar door to visit is Mudbrick Vineyard. Mudbrick Vineyard is just a short walk from Cable Bay Vineyards, or up the hill from Blackpool Beach Esplanade in Oneroa Village.

Mudbrick Vineyard is a beautiful setting with gorgeous gardens surrounding a picturesque building. There are great views across the bay towards Auckland CBD that you can admire while tasting your wine.

They have several wine tasting options available for different budgets. I did a $25 standard wine tasting which included 6 wines.

Mudbrick’s Cellar Door is open 7 days from 10 am – 6 pm.

How to get to Mudbrick Vineyard: Mudbrick Vineyard is about a 37-minute walk (2.8 km) from Matiatia Ferry Terminal. Follow the directions to Cable Bay Vineyards. From there, keep walking along Church Bay Road. You will find the entrance to Mudbrick on your left. The Explorer Bus stops here.

For more information about Mudbrick’s Tours & Tasting options, visit their website here.

Related Read: Waiheke Island Wineries: Ultimate Guide For Wine Tasting (& Map)

6. Visit Oneroa’s Art Galleries

Waiheke Island has a thriving creative community. Check out local artwork, sculptures and creations in the many art galleries dotted around the island. Two of the best galleries are located in Oneroa. Here are two galleries I recommend:

• Waiheke Community Art Gallery – A small, well-curated gallery showcasing local Waiheke artists and international artists. There is a small shop at the gallery too selling crafts, ceramics, prints, jewellery, books, gifts and more. Waiheke Community Art Gallery is open 7 days from 10 am – 4 pm.

• [ s p a c e ] art gallery – A collective of 8 Waiheke Island artists. A nice free gallery to explore with indoor and outdoor art. [ s p a c e ] is open in the summer daily from 10 am – 4 pm and in the winter closed on Tuesdays.

How to get to Oneroa’s art galleries: Visiting Waiheke’s art galleries is a great activity to do without a car. Just head into Oneroa Village and explore from there. Oneroa Village is about a 20-minute walk (1.9 km) from Matiatia Ferry Terminal. Just follow Ocean View Road. You can also take the bus from the Ferry Terminal to Oneroa. Use bus routes 50A, 50B or 501 or the Explorer Bus (stops at Waiheke Community Art Gallery).

7. Eat Delicious Food & Drinks In Oneroa Village

Mmmm, who doesn’t love trying local food?! There are many delicious eateries located in Oneroa. Here are my recommendations of where to try:

• Island Gelato Company – gelato
• The Oyster Inn – restaurant and bar, mainly seafood
• Akito – coffee and brunch
• Havana Coffee Works – coffee, pies and cookies
• Dragonfired – pizza takeaway (located at Little Oneroa Beach)
• Too Fat Buns – burgers

How to get to Oneroa’s cafes and restaurants: Most of Oneroa’s eateries are located on Ocean View Road in the village. To get to the village, follow Ocean View Road all the way from the Matiatia Ferry Terminal. It will take approximately a 20-minute walk (1.9 km). You can also take the bus from the Ferry Terminal to Oneroa. Use bus routes 50A, 50B or 501 or the Explorer Bus.

8. Coastal Walk From Matiatia To Owhanake Bay

For a stunning coastal walk, try the trail from Matiatia Ferry Terminal to Owhanake Bay. The walk is called the Matietie Coastal Walk.

On the walk, you’ll enjoy beautiful scenery, hidden beaches and sculptures on this 2.5 – 3 hour ramble. You can make it a loop walk, starting and finishing in Oneroa village or the Matiatia Ferry Terminal.

The walk is easy, meandering across the cliffs and following the coastline as the path ascends and descends gently. There is a small section with steps which will get your heart racing, but it doesn’t last long.

The beginning of the walk can only be accessed at low tide as it crosses a small section of the beach, so try to plan your walk with the tides – you can check the tide times on Waiheke Island here.

How to get to the Matietie Coastal Walk: After exiting the Ferry Terminal, turn left and follow the road to the end. The walk begins at the end of the car park and is signposted. If you begin in Oneroa village, head to the Ferry Terminal down Ocean View Road. From Owhanake Bay, return to Oneroa village via Korora Road. You can return to the Ferry Terminal via Delamore Drive and pedestrian access only path down the hill.

Related Read: 11 Awesome Things To Do In Oneroa, Waiheke Island

8 Best Places To Visit By Bus On Waiheke Island

Waiheke Island has a good public transport system. There are buses that operate frequently and visit the major townships and villages on the island. You can quite easily explore Waiheke just by using the Auckland Transport public bus system.

Alternatively, if you would like to explore Waiheke by bus but don’t want the hassle of using the public transport system, then the Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus is a great option for you. The Explorer Bus is a tour bus that does a continuous loop around the island all day to major tourist stops. For convenience, you can get a combined ticket for the fast passenger ferry and Explorer Bus here.

Here are the best places you can visit on Waiheke Island using the Auckland Transport public bus (with info on which bus routes to take to get there). I’ve also noted which places can be accessed on the Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus.

1. Onetangi Village & Beach

Onetangi is a pleasant township located towards the centre of the island. As well as a lot of really nice restaurants and bars, Onetangi also has a gorgeous beach.

Onetangi Beach is a wide, sandy beach and one of the best beaches on Waiheke Island. It is a popular spot for swimming, bodyboarding and surfing. The beach is very long so it is a great place to take a walk as well. There are toilets beside the beach too.

If you head to Onetangi, then I recommend stopping by Three Seven Two for lunch, dinner or a snack. They have a fantastic menu and drink selection. I tried the unusual dish of Fried Cabbage, and it was delicious! Make sure to grab a seat outside overlooking the beach.

How to get to Onetangi by bus: Use bus routes 50A or 50B to travel to Onetangi from the Matiatia Ferry Terminal via Oneroa, Surfdale and Ostend. The Explorer Bus stops at Onetangi Beach.

2. Casita Miro Vineyard & Restaurant

You’ll feel like you have been transported to Barcelona if you visit Casita Miro! Casita Miro is a beautiful, Spanish themed vineyard and restaurant. 

There are ornate, handmade mosaics decorating the walls and garden outside the restaurant. Inside, the simple yet colourful design is humbling, festive and warming. The high ceiling and large, bright windows fill the room with warmth and light.

If you’d like to eat here, I recommend booking a table in advance as they can get very busy.

If you aren’t lucky with a seat, then you can visit and simply enjoy the atmosphere and the scenery. Take a wander around the garden and admire the vineyard. There is also a tiny shop to visit.

Wine tastings are currently available at Casita Miro from Monday to Sunday from 11:30 am until 3 pm. They are offering a flight of 5 wines for $18.

How to get to Casita Miro by bus: Take bus 50A or 50B to Onetangi or the Explorer Bus. From Onetangi, it is about a 20-minute walk up the hill to Casita Miro.

For more information about Casita Miro’s Restaurant and Wine Tasting Options, visit their website here.

3. Palm Beach & Little Palm Beach

Another wonderful beachside village to visit on Waiheke is Palm Beach. Palm Beach is a quiet, mainly residential area on Waiheke. The beach is a nice place for a walk. If you get hungry or fancy a coffee, then the Arcadia cafe is a good local spot for a bite. The Palm Beach Store Waiheke is also a basic, convenience store just next door, and they also serve ice cream.

A short walk over a rocky area on the western side of Palm Beach leads to Little Palm Beach. This is a sheltered beach backed by bush. It is a popular spot for nudists! So if you happen to see some naked bodies don’t be surprised.

How to get to Palm Beach by bus: Take the bus route 502 which leaves from Matiatia Ferry Terminal and heads to Palm Beach via Oneroa.

4. Ostend Village

Ostend is the place to go to do your shopping on Waiheke Island. In Ostend, there is Waiheke’s only major supermarket – Countdown. You will also find a liquor store here and a few cafes and takeaways.

A Wild Lovely World reader and Waiheke local recommended the Ostend Market, a favourite with visitors and residents alike. The Waiheke Ostend Market sells “everything under the sun” and is held every Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm. Check it out in central Ostend on Belgium Street, by the RSA.

How to get to Ostend by bus: Take bus 50A or 50B to get to Ostend. The bus leaves from Matiatia Ferry Terminal and travels to Ostend via Oneroa and Surfdale. The Explorer Bus stops here.

5. Wild Estate (Winery, Brewery & Activities)

Wild Estate is a great place to spend a few hours. They have a great selection of wines and beers along with a food menu focusing on sharing plates and grazing boards. As well as wine tastings they also offer beer tastings. In the surrounding gardens, there are also leisure activities, such as giant chess and a playground.

Wild Estate has a more relaxed feel to it compared to others on Waiheke. When we visited we did a good value wine tasting along with sharing a pizza. The music was great and the staff friendly!

How to get to Wild Estate by bus: Take bus 50A or 50B to Wild Estate. The bus leaves from Matiatia Ferry Terminal and travels to Wild Estate via Oneroa, Surfdale and Ostend. Wild Estate is just across the road from the bus stop (the bus stop is called Vineyards). This is a stop on the Explorer Bus route.

For more information about Wild Estate, visit their website here.

6. Stonyridge Vineyard

Transport yourself to the south of France with a visit to the beautiful Stonyridge Vineyard. This picturesque, chateau inspired vineyard is one of the best vineyards to visit on Waiheke Island.

Stonyridge specialises in Bordeaux-blend wine, so if you are keen on red wine then it is a must-visit for you.

Stonyridge also grows olives, and they have the first commercial olive grove in New Zealand on Waiheke Island.

You can enjoy your wine on the veranda or bean bags on the lawns and admire the vineyards sweeping across the rolling hills. Wine tastings are available for $15 for a taste of 3 different Stonyridge wines. For $30 you can try 3 of Stonyridge’s Premium wines.

No bookings are required and Stonyridge Vineyard is open daily from 11:30 am – 6 pm for tastings, drinks and nibbles.

How to get to Stonyridge Vineyard by bus: Take bus 50A or 50B to the bus stop called Vineyards. The bus leaves from Matiatia Ferry Terminal and travels via Oneroa, Surfdale and Ostend. From the bus stop, Stonyridge Vineyard is a 5-minute walk up the drive (parallel to Wild Estate). The Explorer Bus stops here.

For more information about Stonyridge Vineyard, visit their website here.

7. Museum Of Waiheke

For a bit of history, head to the Museum of Waiheke to learn about Waiheke’s past. The small little museum features interesting displays about settlers on Waiheke Island and how they used to live. There are several buildings, full of memorabilia.

Entry is by donation. The opening hours are a little sporadic as it is a community/volunteer-run operation. You may catch it open on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holiday Mondays from 12 noon to 4 pm.

How to get to the Museum of Waiheke by bus: Take bus 50A or 50B to the Museum and Historical Village bus stop. The bus stop is directly outside the Museum of Waiheke. The bus leaves from Matiatia Ferry Terminal and travels via Oneroa, Surfdale, Ostend and past the Vineyards to get to the Museum. This is a stop on the Explorer Bus route.

For more information about the Museum of Waiheke, visit their website here.

8. Whakanewha Regional Park

To see a different side of Waiheke, head to the Whakanewha Regional Park. The park is a woodsy recreation area with many different bush walks and trails. It is beside a beach on Rocky Bay, which is an important nesting spot for birds.

A popular walk to do there is to follow the Nikau Track to the Cascades Waterfall. For a shorter walk, you can take the Pa Loop Track and you will get a nice view over the bay to the Auckland city skyline.

There is a campsite at Whakanewha Regional Park along with toilets and cold showers. It is run by Auckland Council.

How to get to Whakanewha Regional Park by bus: Take bus 50A or 50B to the bus stop called O’Brien Road. From the bus stop, walk down Obrien Road, then down Gordons Road. After a 20-minute walk, you will arrive at Whakanewha Regional Park. Bus 50A and 50B leave from Matiatia Ferry Terminal and travels to Onetangi via Oneroa, Surfdale and Ostend.

For more information on the park and the walking trail, visit Auckland Council’s website here.

Discover the best waterfalls to visit on New Zealand’s North Island in this post: 28 Amazing Waterfalls To Visit In The North Island

How To Explore Waiheke Island Without A Car

Once you arrive on Waiheke Island, then there are several options for how you explore the island. You can travel on foot, using the public bus, hopping on and off the Explorer Bus or travelling by bike. Here is a summary of how to get around Waiheke Island without a car.

Related Read: How To Get Around Waiheke Island (By Car, Bike, Bus & On Foot)

Remember to get a FREE copy of our Waiheke Island map here!

Exploring Waiheke Island By Walking 🚶‍♀️

If you choose to explore Waiheke on foot, then you’ll be pleased to hear that there are many awesome places you can visit within walking distance to the Matiatia Ferry Terminal.

Waiheke has a hilly terrain so be prepared to walk up and down hills to reach your destination.

There are many tracks and paths which are not alongside the road so you can walk peacefully away from the traffic.

Exploring Waiheke Island By Public Bus Or Explorer Bus 🚌

How To Use Waiheke Island’s Public Bus (With An AT HOP Card)

The public bus system is cashless and cannot yet accept EFTPOS payments. If you wish to use Waiheke’s bus system then you must get an AT HOP card (Auckland Transport). The card is used to tap on and tap off when you board or exit the bus at the start and end of your journey. It calculates how much you should pay. AT HOP card offers users discounted fares.

The AT HOP card costs a few dollars and can be purchased from convenience stores in Auckland or at the Four Square grocery shop in Oneroa on Waiheke Island. Once purchased, the card must then be pre-loaded with credit that can be used to pay for your rides.

You can use one card to pay for more than one person riding the bus. For example, if you are a couple then you will only need to use one AT HOP card for the two of you. If you do use one card for more than one person, the first person’s fare is at a reduced rate. The next person will pay the standard fare. Fares are usually a few dollars per journey.

It can be a little annoying to have to purchase a card to use the public bus system. However, if you are planning to take a few journeys then it will be worth the expense. The bus system is also great for saving money as the fares are quite cheap.

For more information about AT HOP, check out their website here.

How To Use The Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus

If you would like to explore Waiheke by bus but don’t want the hassle of using the public transport system, then the Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus is a great option for you.

The Explorer Bus is a tour bus that does a continuous loop around the island all day and has 8 major stops. The journey starts and ends at the Matiatia Ferry Terminal and passes through Oneroa, Ostend and Onetangi. It stops at galleries, shops and wineries along the way.

By using the hop-on-hop-off bus you’ll not have to worry about the routes or getting off at the right stop. There is a tour guide and live commentary on board the bus so you’ll know exactly where you’re going.

Once you purchase your ticket, you can use the bus at your leisure throughout the whole day. Buses run from the first ferry at 9 am to the last ferry at 7 pm.

Most of my recommended activities in this post are accessible using the Explorer Bus so it makes a really convenient option for travelling around the island.

For more information about the Explorer Bus, to see the timetable and book your tickets here on Viator.

New Eastern Waiheke Island Explorer Bus For 2025

Launched in December 2024, the new Eastern Explorer Bus travels across the remote eastern side of the island.

The new hop-on hop-off bus has 10 stops on a 110-minute loop. It goes all the way from Matiatia ferry terminal to Stony Batter scenic reserve (historic WWII tunnels), vineyards, wineries and distilleries, and other stops on the eastern side of Waiheke Island.

The bus runs every hour from Matiatia Ferry Terminal from 9:55 am – 2:55 pm. Currently it is only operating Wednesday – Sunday.

A combined ticket is offered for the ferry and the eastern explorer bus. It is operated by the Fullers360 company as well.

See the Hop-On Hop-Off Eastern Explorer Bus brochure with stops and the bus timetable.

How To Explore Waiheke Island By Bike 🚲

A popular option for exploring Waiheke without a car is to hire a bike for the day and cycle around all the wineries. However, many people do not know that many of the wineries can be accessed on foot or on the bus. Therefore it is not absolutely necessary to hire a bike to get around. Also, I would suggest that if you are visiting many wineries and drinking a lot then you will be better off using the bus to get around!

Waiheke has many hills so it can be challenging to cycle. The island is also much bigger than you might expect and many of Waiheke’s best attractions are spaced out across the island.

All that said, it can be really fun to enjoy Waiheke’s scenery and nature outside on a bike. Put in the effort and you will be rewarded with beautiful views and a well-deserved treat from the cafes and restaurants you can visit.

If you are keen to hire a bike to explore Waiheke, I would recommend investing in an e-bike. You will not be as tired from all the cycling with the assistance of an e-bike and you will be able to cover more ground.

This company offers full-day e-bike hire, including a helmet (legally required in New Zealand), lock and maps/itineraries.

More Recommendations For Waiheke Island Without A Car

Looking for more fun things to do on Waiheke Island without a car? Check out these ideas:

Explore Oneroa Village

Oneroa is one of the main townships on Waiheke Island. The village is charming and quaint, with lots of fun things to do, including eateries, beaches, walks, galleries and boutiques. Oneroa village is accessible by walking, cycling or taking the bus from the ferry terminal.

Visit The Best Beaches On Waiheke Island & Top Beach Activities

Waiheke Island has some of the best beaches in New Zealand. Each beach has its own character and is best suited to different activities. My guide on the best beaches on Waiheke Island and what to do there, shows the most spectacular beaches on Waiheke Island and what you can plan to do at each beach.

Visit Waiheke’s Island’s Wineries & Vineyards

Waiheke Island is known as New Zealand’s ‘Island of Wine’ and is a great location to visit wineries and vineyards for wine tastings. There are around 30 wineries and around 20 cellar doors on Waiheke Island. My ultimate guide on Waiheke wineries and wine tasting will help you plan your visits!

FREE Waiheke Island Guide Map

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Cycle Around Waiheke Island

Discover Waiheke’s best beaches, activities and wineries at your own pace with an e-bike! An e-bike will help you cycle Waiheke’s hilly terrain with ease! Rental includes the bike, helmet, a lock and itineraries/maps. Once you’ve finished, the bikes will be collected from you making it a stress-free experience. View more information on Full-Day Bike Rental in Waiheke Island here.

Waiheke Island Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus

Catch the ferry from Auckland and explore Waiheke on the hop-on/hop-off tour bus. Taking the bus is a flexible and cost-effective tour option on Waiheke Island. The Explorer bus goes to all the major stops on the island, including vineyards and beaches. The bus stops at 16 stops including the Matiatia Ferry Terminal, Oneroa Village, Onetangi Beach (another awesome beach on Waiheke), Mudbrick Vineyard and Cable Bay Vineyard and more! View more information on the Explorer Bus here.

Adventure On The Waiheke Island Zipline In Native Forest

The Zipline & Native Forest Adventure is a different activity to do on Waiheke Island. Glide over a forest canopy in native New Zealand bush. You can go with a friend and enjoy 3 200-meter ziplines together. The zipline glides over a vineyard! You will also get panoramic views of the beautiful Hauraki Gulf. The trip includes pickup and drop off from the Matiatia Ferry Terminal. View more information on the Waiheke Island Zipline Adventure here.

Join A Wine Tour!

Make your own way to Waiheke Island and then discover local produce and wines from top boutique vineyards on a fully-guided food and wine tour. The Waiheke Island Premium Food & Wine Tour lasts around 5.5 hours. Your guide will meet you at the Matiata Wharf (or your Waiheke Island accommodation) and will transport you across the island. Taste fresh and award-winning local foods of the island along with great wines. Your tour also includes a platter lunch at one of the island’s top vineyard restaurants. This is a really popular tour with 4.9/5 star reviews from previous visitors! View or more information on the Waiheke Premium Food & Wine Tour here.

Where To Stay On Waiheke Island

Finding accommodation for your trip to Waiheke Island?

Oneroa is a great location to book your accommodation on Waiheke Island if you’re travelling without a car. The village has great accommodation options to suit all budgets and preferences.

If you’re looking to stay at a hostel, then check out my review of The Best Hostel On Waiheke Island: Waiheke Backpackers Hostel Review. Located above Onetangi Beach, this awesome hostel has amazing views across Onetangi Bay. The hostel is comfortable, well-equipped, in a great location and, best of all, it is an affordable price.

For those wanting to camp, Poukaraka Campground is the best campsite on Waiheke Island.

For searching, I recommend the taking a look at options on Booking.com, Hostelworld and Tripadvisor. Or use the search box below for a quick look!:

How I Got FREE Accommodation On Waiheke Island (& You Can Too!)

During my trip to Waiheke Island, I did house sitting for a week in the cute town of Oneroa. I got accommodation completely for FREE by house sitting through Kiwi House Sitters. It gave me a chance to explore Waiheke without having to worry about how much I was spending on accommodation. So my budget could go on wine tastings and nice restaurant meals instead!

I did housesitting across New Zealand for more than 3 years and it is SO worth it! Membership for 12-months to a housesitting website costs less than a 1-night stay in a hotel!

Never pay for accommodation while travelling in New Zealand again! Become a housesitter and get FREE accommodation in beautiful homes in exchange for taking care of pets and homes. My top recommendations for housesitting websites are:

• Kiwi Housesitters: My favourite housesitting site for New Zealand! Join Kiwi Housesitters now via my referral link and get $10 off your membership with my unique referral code: 6SLUJC

• Trusted Housesitters: Another great website I am also a member of is Trusted Housesitters. Sign up for a FREE browsing account here OR join right away and save 25% off your membership using this link with my unique referral code: WLW25

Waiheke Island Without A Car – Thanks For Reading!

Waiheke Island is just a short 20-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland.

With excellent ferry options for passengers and cyclists, along with public transport (bus) and the hop-on/off Explorer bus, Waiheke Island is a great destination to visit without a car.

There are also plenty of cool things to do within walking distance of the ferry terminal.

Waiheke Island is a top destination in New Zealand that can be visited without a car, for a day, weekend or longer! Enjoy your visit to this island paradise! – Lauren x

Where to next? Visit Waiheke’s gorgeous Wineries & Vineyards and taste world famous wines! If you love the beach, Waiheke has amazing beaches and beach activities.

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