Day Trips from Waiheke Island to Auckland

Auckland’s Waiheke Island is famous for its wineries, but they’re spread out so it’s not easy to get between them on foot or by bicycle, and it’s not safe to drive if you’re drinking. Simplify your day with a wine-tasting and food tour. Visit three of the Waiheke’s premier wineries for tastings, and settle down to a relaxed lunch at one winery restaurant with great views overlooking Onetangi Beach.

Sample some of Waiheke Island’s finest food and drink on this handy day tour from Auckland. Catch the ferry from the central city in the morning and enjoy the scenic 45-minute ferry ride across the harbor. You’ll be met on Waiheke by your driver. Visit three wineries, each with deliciously different wines and food specialties. Wine tastings are included and you can purchase more to take home.

Te Ahi Kā is an exclusive private journey through Waiheke, curated to bring together Māori culture, spectacular landscapes, exceptional wine, cuisine and contemporary art. Hosted by Paora, your experience begins with an easy stroll through the stunning Matiatia headlands, with native landscapes and sweeping views across the Hauraki Gulf towards Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland). Along the way, experience Māori storytelling, mihimihi, whakatau and karakia while discovering the connection between tangata (people), whenua (land) and moana (sea). From the tranquillity of the headlands, your private journey continues at a relaxed pace to an iconic Waiheke vineyard for a curated wine tasting, followed by a leisurely Mediterranean-inspired vineyard lunch and a visit celebrating the island’s vibrant contemporary art scene. More than a traditional wine tour, Te Ahi Kā is a beautifully curated luxury experience of Waiheke — intimate, authentic, and deeply connected to the island's culture and spirit.

Sample several of Waiheke Island’s award-winning wines at vineyards across the island before stopping for a gourmet meal at a beachfront restaurant on this half-day tour of the island. Gaze out over the Hauraki Gulf while you dine and then continue your tour, setting off to taste yet more wine.

Indulge in the succulent tastes of Waiheke Island on a half-day food and wine tour. A guide picks you up from the wharf and takes you to boutique wineries. Taste wine accompanied by locally produced specialties such as olive oil, oysters, and artisan cheese. Then settle in for a platter lunch at a vineyard restaurant. Linger on Waiheke and take the ferry back to Auckland whenever you like.

Take an in-depth tour of the wine-growing region on Waiheke Island with a guide on this excursion. You'll learn about what makes the vineyards so successful and the characteristics of the local wine through guided commentary and visits to three top vineyards. With round-trip transportation from Waiheke’s ferry terminal provided, you can take full advantage of the tastings without worrying about who will drive.

Explore pretty Waiheke Island's beaches, vineyards, and rolling scenery on a small-group day tour that includes tastings at three boutique vineyards. You'll get an overview and orientation of the island, stopping for great views and sandy beaches, and learn about local wine production as you sip Waiheke vintages. Group size is limited to six people to ensure personal service, with pickup and drop-off at Waiheke Island’s wharf.

Discover the beauty of the Hauraki Gulf while aboard a 41-foot Catamaran Pacific Star. This charter is for an exclusive use of the yacht along with two crew members. There is the opportunity to stop at a pest-free island for a guided walk, and plenty of time to swim, snorkel, and try stand-up paddle boarding.

Experience the best of the Hauraki Gulf on this day trip from Waiheke Island. You’ll receive personalized attention on a small group tour aboard the Pacific Star catamaran. Stop at an island in the harbor for a guided walk, spot a variety of birds and marine animals, and get the chance to swim, snorkel, and stand-up paddleboard. There’ll also be time to relax on board and admire the views.

Join your knowledgeable guide on a private scenic tour of Waiheke focusing on the artisanal food and wines that the island has to offer. Sample delicious wines at up to 3 of Waiheke's vineyards, award-winning olive oil, honey, and herb spread and enjoy a fabulous vineyard lunch. This tour combines experiencing Waiheke’s wineries and beautiful locally-produced food with learning all about Waiheke and its people, with spectacular scenery around every bend. Minimum: 2 people We are proudly Qualmark Gold certified and a New Zealand Tourism Excellence Award recipient in 2024.

Drive Waiheke Island yourself, with a GPS audio guide that plays automatically as you go. Your booking unlocks the whole island in the free Wine Trails app: pick your date and starting point — most people begin at the Matiatia Ferry Terminal as they roll off the ferry, but Oneroa or anywhere on the island works just as well — choose the cellar doors you want from the 22 on the map, and the app builds your personal route with turn-by-turn narration. 56 narrated stories cover the vineyards, bays and history: as you turn onto Onetangi Road you'll hear how, in 1987, Stephen White's Stonyridge Larose was hailed as the finest red New Zealand had produced — from an island the experts had dismissed as a waste of good vines. No group, no schedule, no guide — linger over lunch, replay anything, and the audio keeps working when the signal drops on the island's quiet eastern half. You'll need a car and a designated driver; tastings are booked and paid directly with the wineries.

Take a break from Auckland's busy streets on this small-group tour to Waiheke Island. Arrive via boat from downtown Auckland for an action-packed itinerary among the island’s many vineyards and olive groves. Join your guide for a thrilling zipline experience, forest walk, and wine tasting, and recharge with a 2-course lunch.

Sample local wine and produce on a Waiheke Island wineries tour. Ferry tickets are included for easy access from downtown Auckland. Visit three vineyards to taste artisan wines and enjoy a 2-course lunch at one winery restaurant. Stop at an olive grove for local olive-oil tastings. This tour offers a relaxed pace on Waiheke Island's renowned wine route.