Waiheke Island is known internationally as one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Just 40 minutes from downtown Auckland by ferry, Waiheke is often referred to as the jewel in the Hauraki Gulf. At Stay Waiheke, we've selected the best accommodation that Waiheke has to offer to ensure our guests have a truly special holiday.
Beaches
There are five glorious white sand beaches on the north side of the island to choose from – Oneroa, Little Oneroa, Sandy Bay, Palm Beach and Onetangi Beach. The southern side beaches include Surfdale, Blackpool, and Rocky Bay, and the Eastern side of the island is the shell covered beach at Whakanewha Regional Park – the perfect spot for a kayak and also where the camping ground is located. Man O’War Bay at the "bottom end" is also well worth a visit (if you have a car) for some wine tasting at the renowned Man O' War Vineyards tasting room right on the beach.
Georgraphy
The island is 19.3 km long from west to east and varies in width from half a kilomter to 10 kilometers, and has a surface area of 92 km². The coastline is 133.5 km, including 40 km of beaches. It is very hilly with few flat areas, the highest point being Maunganui at 231 metres. The climate is slightly warmer than Auckland with less humidity and rain and more sunshine hours.
Viticulture
Winegrowers have successfully matched the unique maritime climate and ancient soil structures to the selection of classical grape varieties in order to produce red and white wines with distinctive varietal character. There are over 20 wineries on the island, and during the summer months most have their cellar doors open to the public. You can visit most wineries via an organised tour, self-drive tour or hop on a many of the local buses.
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