New Zealand · WAIHEKE ISLAND TOURS
Some days out are worth rearranging a week for. These 15 waiheke island tours are those, each with its cost, its length and the detail that settles it.
Ride from Auckland to Waiheke Island, then use the Explorer Bus to reach 16 wineries, beaches, shops, galleries, restaurants, and nature stops. Guides such as Kira, Ruth, Aaron, and Chris add local commentary, while the bus tracker helps you plan each stop. Tastings, meals, and tours cost extra.
“Wonderful day spent at our own pace and not a long wait for the next bus to hop on.”
Meet your guide at Matiatia Wharf after the ferry from Auckland, then tour Waiheke’s scenic roads and three boutique vineyards. Guides including Oliver, Glenn, and Melita provide island stories and wine commentary. Premium tastings, a food pairing, water, and transfers are included. Ferry tickets and lunch are separate.
“Great day with or guide/driver Oliver. Great communication with the company from start to finish. Oliver was at the dock to pick us up just as described. As a resident of Waiheke Island he was knowledgeable of the area and gave us insight inRead more”
Take the 10am ferry from Auckland to Waiheke, then join a small group of up to 10 for four winery visits, tastings, island scenery, and a 1.5-hour lunch break. Guides such as Justin, David, Sherrie, and Zoltan add local stories and practical help. Lunch and ferry tickets cost extra.
“I had a fantastic day. We hit 4 really great wineries and got to try several wines that were all super. We learned a lot about all of the wines. All the people on our tour were so fun and it was great to meet so many people from all over. It was also a small bus group so it felt more personal. Our tour guide was so nice. Totally recommend!”
Take a 3-hour EcoZip trip across Waiheke Island, with three 200-meter dual ziplines over native bush and a working vineyard. Guides such as Fraser, Macy, Cat, and Kayleigh lead the safety briefing and forest walk, while a short island tour adds beaches, vineyards, and Gulf views. Ferry fares, food, and the optional phone bungy cost extra.
“Amazing views! Ben and Lucy were fabulous guides. Highly recommend.”
Meet your guide at Matiatia Ferry Terminal for about six hours of Waiheke wine tasting. You visit three or four boutique vineyards, sample three to five wines at each, and stop for lunch at one vineyard. Guides such as Michelle and David add island stories while an air-conditioned minibus handles the hills.
“Very fine experience tasting and learning about different NZ wines in exceptionally beautiful vineyards which was marred by ridiculously long wait (40-4min) for lunch (which we had preordered and was not included!) That part of the experience cost the whole business a star!”
Take the 40-minute ferry from Auckland, then meet EcoZip guides at Waiheke’s Matiatia terminal. A small group of up to 12 rides three 200-meter ziplines over vineyards and native forest, followed by a guided bush walk. Guides such as Ben, Jessie, Poppy, and Helena have helped first-timers feel at ease.
“It was amazing. My friend and I loved the zip line, it was definitely worth it and thrilling. Would definitely recommend to others”
Travel from Auckland to Waiheke Island for a private, guided food and wine day. Taste olive oil at Allpress Olive Groves, enjoy lunch and wine at Batch Winery, then visit Cable Bay and Mudbrick. Guides such as Victor and Kai have led past departures, but assignments vary. Ferry tickets are included, though you must collect and board them on your own.
“A wonderful day of wine tasting and food! The one caveat is the start of the day - the Auckland quay is a big place to meet and it wasn’t clear where to meet, what line for the ferry to get into, or that we would be met after the ferry over. Better information on the start of the tour needed. One member of the trip didn’t make it, potentially because of this. The operator needs to do better at the start.”
Meet your local Waiheke guide at Matiatia Wharf, then visit three boutique vineyards in Onetangi Valley for tastings of wines such as Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Syrah, Rosé, and Bordeaux blends. A gourmet lunch at beachfront 372 restaurant, one glass of local wine, and island transport are included. Ferry tickets are extra.
“Our tour guide Grant was exceptional. Knowledgeable and delightful at the same time. I vote him number one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”
Meet Grant at Matiatia Ferry Terminal for a six-hour Waiheke wine tour limited to nine people. After coffee in Oneroa, travel scenic back roads to small family wineries, taste up to 15 wines, hear local stories, and stop for food pairings or lunch. The tour focuses on personal service, local producers, and places larger buses often miss.
“A small group tour to some of the smaller wineries on Waiheke Island. This is not your busload descending on a large vineyard to sample “standard wines” tour. Instead, Grant, the tour operator, takes you to smaller out-of-the-way wineries to taste some excellent but perhaps less well known wines. And they were all excellent!”
Meet your guide at Matiatia Ferry Terminal for 5.5 hours of boutique vineyards, Waiheke oysters, olive oil, shared lunch, and a final whisky or wine tasting at The Heke. Guides such as Michael, Nick, Grant, and Fleur bring local stories and an easygoing style. Venues can change, and ferry tickets are separate.
“Nick was a fantastic tour guide and offered a ton of insight around the wineries as well as commentary about the island as we went. The food was overall good as well, the only reason this isn’t higher rated is the first winery was very sales focused without tasting that good, and our luncheon service left a bit to be desired. The other two wineries were lovely though and had excellent pairings.”
Take the ferry from Auckland, then explore Waiheke Island by hop-on hop-off bus for about six hours. Your host and drivers, including Ash and Simon on some departures, share local stories while you choose among vineyards, beaches, galleries, shops, and walking trails. Return ferry tickets may be included, but confirm your booking and redeem them at the Fullers360 office before boarding.
“You have, when you hop off, an hour to wait for another bus. Sadly if you hop.off at a winery which was closed it is an hour of boredom as you are miles from anywhere and no coffee shop nearby. Make sure place is open before you get off”
Meet your guide at Matiatia Ferry Terminal for a half-day Waiheke wine tour. Choose a five-hour bus route with four winery stops or a four-hour vintage double-decker option with Batch, a beach walk, and Mudbrick. Guides such as Rob, Caleb, Nooroa, and Deb add local stories, music, and humor.
“Caleb was an excellent wine tour guide! We had a blast! Every winery was excellent and lunch at batch was delicious”
Spend five hours touring three Waiheke boutique vineyards with an English-speaking local guide. Taste wines with island foods such as oysters, olive oil, honey, and smoked salmon, then share a generous vineyard lunch before free time in Oneroa. Guides may include Nick, Simon, Craig, Michael, or Fleur.
“A fantastic tour/day out! Glenn was a great guide and all of the wineries were wonderful. Lovely wine and delicious food.”
Meet your local guide at Matiatia Ferry Terminal for a five-hour Waiheke tour with three vineyard tastings and lunch at beachfront Three Seven Two. Guides such as Caleb, Nooroa, Debbie, Rob, Karen, and Shirley share island stories while you visit Cable Bay and other wineries, with stops changing by availability.
“Overall the wines and food were awesome!! Would definitely do it again! Surprisingly enough though the best part might have been the tour guide Nooroa, the views and the people on our tour.”
Pick up a pedal-assist e-bike at 6 Ocean View Road near the ferry terminal, then follow the map on Waiheke’s 30-kilometre Five Bays Ride. You’ll have a helmet, lock, phone holder, and local route advice, with time for beaches, vineyards, gelato, and lunch. Allow five to eight hours.
“Bikes hire shop was in the Ferry Terminal making it very convenient. Excellent customer service from start the finish. We did a practice ride on the e-bikes prior to starting our trip, which if you have never rode an e-bike it is a must. Our tour operator gave us many tips on using the e-bikes, main sights to see, wineries, and where to eat. Best way to tour the island and get some exercise (many hills). Lovely day on Waiheke.”
Pick a coast, a crater or a cellar door.
