Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Ferry -- Fullers Ferries (tel. 09/367-9111; www.fullers.co.nz) offers an hourly service (20 sailings daily) from downtown Auckland to Waiheke Island. Ferries depart from Pier 2, Quay Street, in Central City. Most sailings are met by buses, shuttles, and taxis at Matiatia, near the main township of Oneroa. The Fullers trip takes 35 minutes and costs NZ$28 (US$20/£10) round-trip for adults, NZ$15 (US$11/£5.40) for children ages 5 to 15.

The SeaLink Travel Group (tel. 0800/732-546 in NZ, or 09/300-5900; www.sealink.co.nz) passenger and vehicular ferry leaves from Half Moon Bay, Pakuranga, and arrives at the Kennedy Point Wharf farther east across the Surfdale Causeway. Ferries run every hour daily between 6am and 6pm. The fare is NZ$125 (US$89/£45) round-trip for a car and driver. Passengers without cars pay NZ$29 (US$21/£11) adults, NZ$16 (US$12/£6) children ages 5 to 15. Reservations are essential.

Pine Harbour Ferry, Jack Lachlan Drive, Pine Harbour, Auckland (tel. 09/536-4725; www.pineharbour.co.nz), operates regular service to Waiheke, between 8:30am and 5:40pm, with extended hours between December 27 and January 31. The round-trip fare is NZ$25 (US$18/£9) adults, NZ$12 (US$8.50/£4.40) children. It's a shorter, cheaper ferry trip, but you have to drive farther on the Auckland side if you're staying in the city.

By Tour -- Fullers Waiheke Explorer Tour(tel. 09/367-9111) gives you the option of being met on the island by a bus and taken on one of four tours, which last from 1 1/2 hours to all day. It's an excellent option if you're short on time and it includes unlimited bus travel on the island for the rest of the day. It departs daily at 10am and noon and costs NZ$45 (US$32/£16) for adults, NZ$22 (US$16/£7.90) for children 5 to 15 years old.

Orientation

The island is approximately 19km (12 miles) long and has 90km (56 miles) of coastline, 40km (25 miles) of which is white-sand beaches. Oneroa, the largest shopping village on Waiheke, is a 15- to 20-minute uphill walk from Matiatia Wharf, where the passenger ferries dock. It's a 10-minute drive from the Kennedy Point Wharf, where the vehicular ferry docks. This western end of the island has the most settlement around Sandy and Enclosure Bays and Palm Beach. Ostend and Surfdale also have shops and cafes. The best supermarket is at Surfdale.

Getting Around

By Car -- If you don't want to take a car to the island, pick up a rental when you arrive. Waiheke Auto Rentals, Matiatia Wharf (tel. 09/372-8998; www.waihekerentals.co.nz), has good hourly rates and offers pickup and key drop-off service. Four-wheel-drive vehicles, scooters, motorbikes, and mountain bikes are also available. For bicycle rental, contact Waiheke Bike Hire (tel. 09/372-7937; waihekebikehire@xtra.co.nz), open daily from 8:30am. Rates begin at NZ$30 (US$21/£11) per day.

By Bus -- For information on Waiheke Island bus services visit Maxx (tel. 09/366-6400; www.maxx.co.nz). Buses serve most bays and beaches at the west end of the island. Pick up a schedule from bus drivers. Inquire about the All-Day Bus Pass, which costs NZ$15 (US$11/£5.40) adults, NZ$9 (US$6.40/£3.25) children ages 5 to 15, and NZ$35(US$25/£13) family.

By Motorcycle -- For a unique perspective on the island, go pillion with Waiheke Harley-Tours (tel. 09/372-9012). Steve Marshall will give you a memorable tour of all the best spots.

Visitor Information

For more information on Waiheke Island, check out www.waihekenz.com, www.4waiheke.co.nz, and www.gotowaiheke.co.nz.

Special Events

Book accommodations months ahead for the hugely popular Easter Jazz Festival (www.waihekejazz.co.nz), because Aucklanders flock to the island for the event. The Waiheke Island Wine Festival (tel. 09/372-7676; www.aucklandnz.com), in February, is a great chance to taste the island's terrific, award-winning wines. Tickets go on sale in October.