Are you tired of the hustle-bustle of the city and want some time to relax and enjoy a few activities? If you do, there is no better place than Waiheke Island, just off the coast of Auckland. It is a small paradise that has quickly become one of the best spots for tourists and locals.
The island has beautiful beaches, endless vineyards, and will offer you a tropical subclimate to enjoy. So, if you are looking for a change of scenery or just to relax, you have come to the right place. Here are the top things you can enjoy with friends or family on Waiheke Island.
Top 15 Things To Do On Waiheke Island
1. Sunbathing On The Beaches
One of the best things about Waiheke Island is its beaches. Most people come here to enjoy the clear waters and relax by the sea. The best part is that there are endless beaches you can choose from to relax.
For example:
- Palm Beach
- Oneroa Bay
- Enclosure Bay
- Sandy Bay
- Man O War Bay
- Onetangi Beach
- And many others
You can participate in many activities on these beaches, such as sunbathing, swimming, and much more. If you want to enjoy a little bit of beach and city life, your best option is Oneroa Bay. That is because you will find many art galleries, cafes, and restaurants around this beach.
So, be sure to pick out a few beaches to visit during your trip. Once you do, you will love the relaxing atmosphere this island has to offer to its people and visitors.
2. Cycling On Waiheke’s Trails
If you are an active individual and love cycling, this activity will be ideal for you. There are many cycling and mountain bike trails on the island you can enjoy. For example, if you want some magnificent views, you can use The Rangihoua Trail that ranges from grade two to four.
On the other hand, the Sports Park in Onetangi also has some great bike trails that range from grade one to four. In addition, you will find a few more biking trails in the Whakanewha Regional Park. So, why not use these bike trails to get a workout while you are here?
Keep in mind that Waiheke is famous for the hills, which is why you will encounter many steep trails. However, if you don’t have that much stamina or want to burden yourself less, you can always consider getting an electric mountain bike. It will help you during all those steep inclines and enhance your experience in no time.
3. Experiencing The Thrill Of Ziplining
Do you want to soar like a bird on Waiheke Island and want to experience the thrill of flying? If you do, there is no better activity than the zipline. Fortunately, the island has three unique zip lines that reach up to over two-hundred metres long.
The best part about these ziplines is that they offer you some of the best views of the well-known Syrah vineyards. You can go up to a speed of over fifty kilometres per hour and you can ride alongside your friends or family. While you are zipping your way through, you will get to experience some fantastic views of the beach and the city.
You can also keep your eyes open for some fantastic creatures on the way, such as glowworms, eels, skinks, geckos, and more. So, if you are looking for that adrenaline rush and thrill, using the zipline must be on the top of your list. It will exhilarate you and give you the energy to explore more of the island in no time.
4. Exploring Clay Shooting
Most people don’t even think of clay bird shooting as a possibility when visiting Waiheke island, but you can indulge in it to make the most out of your trip. You can book a half-hour laser clay bird shooting session with your friends and family. Many people opt for this activity for team building or stag and hen dos.
Of course, you don’t need to have a big group to enjoy this activity. Even if you are with a few people, you can book a clay bird shooting session. It will not take much of your time, and you can check off another thing on your island bucket list.
5. Hiking The Ta Ara Hura Track
Hiking on this track is for all the nature lover’s out there looking for an energetic physical activity on the island. The primary walking track on the island begins at Matiatia Bay and works all the way to the Atawhai Reserve before you finally reach Oneroa village. Keep in mind that this hike is hilly and will last for two hours or more.
However, it is worth it as you will get to enjoy some of the most majestic views of the island. It will allow you to take in the native bush, forestry, and more. Once you reach the destination, you can find something exquisite to eat to fuel yourself after the tiring walk.
When hiking on this track, be sure to wear the right clothing and have plenty of water with you. The climate of Waiheke is tropical, and it can get hot sometimes, especially in the summer. If you go during this time, you will need water and light clothing to keep you cool so you can finish the entire track in no time.
6. Going For Wine Tasting
If you come to Waiheke Island and you don’t indulge in the wine, you are missing out because the island is reputable for its amazing wines. That is because the microclimate and the soil make it one of the top regions in New Zealand to produce fantastic grapes and make the best wines. The island has more than thirty wineries for you to explore.
You can go for a casual tasting, or you can take part in a complete tasting of the wine to have a more extensive experience. Besides that, if you want to have delicious food with your wine, the wineries have got you covered there too. Keep in mind that there are also a few companies on the island that offer wine tours.
So, if you want someone else to plan your wine tour and guide you while you sit back and relax, you can select one of these companies and their tours. It will allow you to enjoy the tour and wine tasting with ease. Besides that, booking such a tour is an ideal option if you plan on coming with a large number of people to the wineries.
7. Enjoying The Sculpture Collections
Auckland has many collections of sculptures, and one of these top collections is on the island for you to explore. For example, if you want to spend a few hours looking at these sculpture collections, then The Connells Bay Sculpture Park is your best option. The track runs two kilometres long and offers you over thirty sculptures.
The park keeps adding a new and temporary display to keep adding variety to their collection. Besides that, they have one of the top collections of permanent art that you will love. All the sculptures you will witness are made using various materials, such as aluminium, stone, and much more.
Another option for you to explore is Alison Park in Oneroa. The trail of this sculpture park takes thirty minutes to finish and features many beautiful works you will love. The best part about Alison Park is that you can view all the sculptures free of cost.
8. Relaxing While Horse Riding
Are you looking for a way of active relaxation on the island? If you are, there is no better activity than horse riding. It will allow you to get from one place to another while enjoying the breathtaking views on the way.
Thanks to the majestic beaches and gorgeous vistas, you will have the perfect backdrop to indulge in horse riding in no time. You can go high up the island and enjoy the views from the top. However, if you are scared of heights, you can always go horse riding along the beach and enjoy the waters.
The best part is that you don’t need to be an experienced horse rider to indulge in this activity. Waiheke offers many options for people of all skill levels, even if you are a beginner. It is also possible to take your horse swimming if you are feeling a little more adventurous.
9. Visiting The Beautiful Whakanewha National Park
The Whakanewha National Park is south of the island, and it offers the best walking tracks for people of all skill levels. Of course, the best part about this park is that you will experience the best of nature on this island as there is lots of flora and fauna. You can enjoy the beautiful native trees and creatures, such as silver eye, kerry, grey warbler, and much more.
On the other hand, if you are a history buff, there are also historical sites for you to visit. These include the Pakeha settlements and the Maori pa site. These are from centuries ago and will help you understand the land and its people better in no time.
The walking tracks include:
- Park Walk (2.5 hours)
- Nikau Track (2.5 hours)
- Rua Loop Track (Half an hour)
- Pa Loop Track (Half an hour)
You can select any of these tracks for your hiking adventure. Once you are done, you can take a dip on the beach at this park to cool down. However, if you want to spend the night stargazing here, you can also camp on the grounds for the best experience.
Keep in mind that you can only access the national park through a shuttle or ferry. That is because it is situated on Gordons Road.
10. Strolling The Olive Groves
Yes, Waiheke island is known for its grapes and the best wines, but it is also known for its olives. Throughout the island, you will find many olive groves that include Woodside Bay and Azzuro, Matiatia, Rangihoua Estate, and many others. All of these groves produce award-winning olive oils you will love.
You can stroll through the olive groves with the guides and learn about how these trees are grown and how the people take care of them. Besides that, you will also enhance your knowledge of how people harvest olives and produce the oil. The best part is that the people there will also allow you to sample the oils.
So, if you are looking to learn more about this fascinating process and enhance your knowledge, there is no better activity than visiting the olive groves. You can even take your kids to help them learn more about these processes. It will be an educational and fun trip for everyone in the family.
11. Checking Out The Onetangi Reserve
Waiheke Island is a paradise for people who love to walk because there are endless beautiful spots to indulge the habit. Onetangi Reserve is one of the spots, which is a hidden gem just back from the beach. Native forest and bush cover the entire reserve, which is why it is one of the top cool spots to relax in.
When you visit the reserve, you will enjoy the best of subtropical nikau palms and the kauri trees. There are also many native birds that use the reserve as their home. These include the piwakawaka, kaka, tui, and many others. That is why if you love to watch beautiful birds, the reserve is one of the top places that must be on your list.
We recommend you visit the Onetangi Reserve and enjoy the fantastic nature this place has to offer to its visitors. Once you go there, you will wonder why you didn’t visit before.
12. Sailing around Waiheke
Of course, if you are on the island, your trip will be incomplete without taking part in water activities. While most of us don’t own a launch or yacht, you can always rent one and sail around the island to fulfil your dreams for a day. After all, sailing is one of the most soothing water activities you can indulge in.
The best part is that you can find many boat charters on the island. It is one of the top ways to view the island and witness the best of what Waiheke has to offer. These charters can take you to little islands and remote beaches that you can’t access through any other mode.
We recommend that you talk to the boat charter to make a lunch stop at Man O War Bay before going further. You will find some of the most delicious food here and the best lunch views for you to enjoy. On the other hand, if you own a boat or know someone who does, you can come to the island yourself through the waters.
13. Joining A Jet Ski Tour
Another great water activity is jet skiing, and you can do that on the island for a thrilling adventure in the day. If you want to race your way across Hauraki Gulf, the top way to do that is by joining a jet ski tour on the island. The tour is incredibly fun, and it will allow you to cover a long distance in a short period.
The best part about this tour is that they will take you to many locations you can’t access through the land. So, if you are looking for a good and thrilling time while finding hidden gems and enjoying the waters, there is no better activity than the jet ski tour. Moreover, you can take part in it with your family or friends.
All of you can race your way down to these places and enjoy the best time of your life. We can guarantee you will leave with memories of a lifetime once you are done with the tour.
14. Exploring The Waiheke Island Historical Village
If you are a history buff, you have to visit the Waiheke Island Historical Village, as your trip will be incomplete without it. It will offer you a look at the past as it represents the transitions and transformations of the Kiwi village. The museum contains five buildings, and you are allowed to explore all of them.
Besides that, you will also find an extensive collection of historical items that will add to your knowledge of the island and its past. The best part is that it is a low-cost activity for all the history lovers out there. You can visit with your family if you want to improve your kids’ knowledge about the island.
15. Heading Out For Snorkelling Or Scuba Diving
Scuba diving and snorkelling are not for the faint-hearted, but you will love this activity if you give it a chance. All you have to do is dive straight into the gulf and make new friends underwater in no time. You can also snorkel off the beach in a few locations.
However, if you want to make the most of this activity, we recommend that you join a scuba diving or snorkelling tour. It will guarantee that you visit the best spots in the region while enjoying this activity. On the other hand, if you are a daring soul, you can also go for a nighttime dive for more adventure.
During a nighttime excursion, you will go into the ocean in the dark, arm yourself with a powerful torch and have the best dive gear to make the most of this experience. Once you dive in, you will get to experience the best of nocturnal sea life you will never witness anywhere else in your life.
The best way to find a snorkelling and scuba diving tour is to do your research and talk to the locals. They will offer you the best advice on where you should go if you want daytime or nighttime experience. Once you have the advice, you can join a tour that suits your budget and preferences as you dive into the ocean.
Final Words
These are the best things to do on Waiheke Island. You can add all of these items to your list, depending on what you want to do while you are there. If you want to make the most of your trip, you can spend the entire week or ten days there to check off all these items on the list.
After all, a true Waiheke experience is incomplete without these activities, which is why you need to make the most of your time while you are there. So, what are you waiting for? Select the activities that speak to you the most and make your trip to Waiheke Island the most memorable one of your life in no time.
