At the Downtown Ferry Terminal, step aboard the Fullers360 fast ferry for the 40-minute journey to Waiheke Island. Spot Auckland’s youngest volcano, Rangitoto Island, amid the spectacular scenery before Waiheke appears, a green jewel emerging from the sparkling blue of the Hauraki Gulf. (Tip: off-peak and family fares will net you savings, while booking with the new Waiheke Reserve service guarantees you a seat.)

Get amongst nature on the island and the picturesque Hauraki Gulf on a customised walking or sailing adventure with Terra & Tide. On a leisurely five-hour Art Walk, you’ll discover artists’ collectives and outdoor sculpture gardens, enjoy lunch in the Church Bay studio of abstract painter Gabriella Lewenz and finish up in the soul-stirring Atawhai Whenua Forest & Bird Reserve. Knowledgeable hosts will point out bird calls – listen out for tūī, one of New Zealand’s favourite songbirds.

Waiheke Island is the getaway you didn’t know you needed. Plan your trip to Auckland now at qantas.com.

Plan your Waiheke escape over a cocktail at Hilton Auckland’s Bellini Bar, a prime spot to take in the harbour action before you join it yourself. Note the subtle nautical theme of this mainland hotel, which sits on the end of Princes Wharf, close to the ferry terminal as well as all the other city drawcards, including Commercial Bay, Britomart and Viaduct Harbour. Keep your eye on the harbour through the outdoor pool’s underwater viewing window as you clock up laps, or simply relax and enjoy the sea views from your room.  

Multiple cafés, bars and restaurants stand ready to fuel your shopping spree among the eclectic boutiques in Oneroa, the largest of the island’s villages. While you’re stocking up on organic produce and gourmet treats at the Island Grocer, browsing vintage wares at Greatest Friend, choosing gifts at Veranda or tucking into fresh seafood at The Oyster Inn, look up occasionally to admire the stunning views over Oneroa Beach. It’s just a 20-minute walk from Matiatia ferry wharf.

Some of New Zealand’s most revered vineyards make great use of Waiheke’s microclimate, including Batch Winery, where grapes were first planted in iron-rich clay on a steep north-facing slope back in 1998. The winery itself sits on one of the highest peaks of Waiheke Island, where expansive views take in the city skyline and Rangitoto Island. It’s the perfect spot to book in for a customised wine-tasting, then linger over an island-style lunch, where fresh local ingredients come together for a delicious menu that’s designed to be shared – perhaps some freshly shucked oysters with beetroot-cured salmon, followed by NZ lamb rump barbecued to perfection on the Josper charcoal grill.

Wine tastes even better when it comes with ocean views. Discover Waiheke Island when you book your Auckland flight with qantas.com.

Experience the thrill of flying side-by-side with a mate as you take in vineyards and ancient forest canopies from above with EcoZip Adventures. Guides will help ease any first-time jitters and the bird’s-eye view of the city and ocean is just one highlight. Your adventure also includes a guided walk through native bush, stopping en route to learn about local flora and fauna.

The best way to get a sense of Waiheke is to have a local show you around the places they love. Ananda Tours is a family-owned business that offers a range of gourmet group tours and bespoke private tours and has been part of the fabric of Waiheke for more than 20 years. Their most popular tour, Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour, means you’ll be taken for wine-tasting at their favourite boutique vineyards before lunch at iconic location, Three Seven Two. This hatted restaurant on the sweeping Onetangi beachfront serves up produce-driven dishes – we’re talking raw Ora King farmed salmon with citrus and ginger, Te Matuku oysters and free-range pork chop with nduja and kumara.

See how Waiheke produces its world-class olive oil at Allpress Olive Groves. Take part in a tasting, stock up on extra virgin, and take in the spectacular views. On top of milling some of Waiheke’s prize-winning olive oils, the estate offers guests four unique homes among the olive groves. Rangihoua Villa sleeps eight and includes a pool and mesmerising 180-degree views of the Pacific Ocean.

Find art, oysters, olive oil and and French-inspired wines when you explore Waiheke Island, a quick ferry ride from Auckland. Plan your getaway now at qantas.com. 

Combine Waiheke’s finest drops with a meal to remember at Tantalus Estate, a must-visit among the world-class wineries of Waiheke. The family-owned vineyard was established in 2016 in the heart of Onetangi wine country with glorious views of the Onetangi Valley. Since then, the estate has made its name with small-batch French-inspired wines made using cutting-edge technology and best-practice sustainability measures; and an award-winning fine-dining restaurant that showcases seasonal New Zealand flavours in delicious and exciting ways – think crispy pork belly with Auckland scampi and line-caught fish with Waiheke oyster, smoked mussel and leek ragout. Enjoy a tasting of Tantalus’s pinot gris, rosé and merlot-cabernet franc before making a selection to enjoy with lunch (bookings essential). Beer-lovers pay attention: also on-site is Alibi Brewer’s Lounge, where you can sample the hoppy stuff in a speak-easy-style bar. 

Secluded and spectacular, Delamore Lodge is discreetly tucked away in Owhanake Bay, yet only a short distance from the charms of Oneroa village. Just four cliffside suites and two apartments set in landscaped gardens each with postcard-perfect views of the Hauraki Gulf, make up the accommodation at this exclusive luxury retreat. The lucky few guests are afforded the ultimate luxurious experience: enjoy a facial at the day spa, while away sunny hours in the infinity pool, sip sundowners by the outdoor fireplace and enjoy elevated fine dining at the restaurant.

Quintessential Kiwi hospitality is on tap at The Heke, a new hybrid enterprise that consists of a whisky distillery, brewery and The Heke Kitchen where a woodfired pizza oven and grill take centrestage. While the chefs work at turning out dishes such as scotch fillet with anchovy and caper butter and potato and rosemary pizza, visitors can explore 1.6 hectares of beautiful grounds dotted with Māori art; try a tasting flight of whisky, beer or spirits; or take a guided tour of the brewery and distillery.

It’s just 30 steps from the idyllic two-kilometre white-sand stretch of Onetangi Beach, but Ki Māha isn’t resting on its laurels. Matching the stunning ocean vista is a breezy, pavilion-like dining room and a superlative seasonal menu involving sustainably caught fish, ethically farmed meat and local produce. Book ahead (way ahead – this place is a favourite for locals and visitors alike) for dishes such as lobster roll with fennel and lemon mayonnaise, or king salmon cured in Waiheke gin with watercress, avocado, lime, popped capers and citrus crème fraîche. No booking? Take an early ferry and begin your Waiheke adventure with brunch at Ki Māha – from 8am to 11.30am on Saturdays and Sundays, the breakfast menu is available to walk-ins only.

The Ultimate Auckland Bucket List for Your Next City Break