Waiheke Island is one of my favourite places. It was selected by the New York Times in 2013 for 46 “must go” tourist destinations in the world, It also has been named by the popular travel guide Lonely Planet as the world’s fifth-best region to visit in 2016. Waiheke Island, in Maori, means Cascading Water. It’s 92 square km in size with a population of 9330. It’s 17km from Auckland central - takes 35- 40 mins by ferry to go there.
I’ve been to Waiheke multiple times - here are some pix from my previous trips.
Waiheke Island is famous for producing wine. The warm and dry climate and the clayey soil rich in magnesium and other minerals are very suitable for the growth of grapes. It is said that there are now 32 wine estates on the island, and the wine produced is world-famous.
Stonyridge, Goldie, Cable Bay, Mudbrick and Man o’ War, IMHPO, are the most visited vineyards for a wine tasting, dining, or wedding for the locals and visitors. I’ve been to these venues for a few times!
Stonyridge - really like the olive. I recently had a bottle of 2000 vintage Cabernet Savignon opened to celebrate 20th wedding anniversary (Platinum Anniversary)
Goldie - love the gaming area and hilltop, plus the waterfront. Great location for weddings
Mudbrick - majestic views and amazing food
Man o’ War - tranquillity, serenity and scenery worth driving. The winding road has some breathtaking view!
Cable Bay - modern facilities and city view
Also worth mention is Kehao Estate which is known for its purity and organicity of their olive oil. In the factory, you can see the whole process of olive oil production from picking to pressing, especially the special tool for picking olives - a small nine-tooth nail rake aroused everyone’s attention. As long as you use this kind of small rake to “comb” the olive branches like a hair, the ripe olive fruits will fall on the floral cloth that has been laid on the ground, which is really satisfying to watch.
All the press equipment and machinery are imported from Italy @LuigiZ
This is inspired by @LuigiZ 's post
The town centre is Oneora and it’s a paradise for foodies. The main road is congested with restaurants and cafes for casual dining. There are a few artisans shops scattered selling mainly souvenirs. Oneora beach is just around the corner. The other two popular beaches are Palm Beach and Onetangi Beach.
If you visit Auckland, spare a day trip to Waiheke Island, you won’t be disappointed!
