Self-Drive Waiheke Island Day Trip Itinerary: Sober and Dry
Waiheke Island makes for one of the best day trips from Auckland, New Zealand. It’s best known for its numerous wineries and water activities. However, if neither of those are your speed, you can still have an amazing day full of adventure and beauty. This Waiheke Island day trip itinerary is perfect for those looking to stay sober and dry.
I visited Waiheke Island as a day-trip from Auckland via ferry and rented a car to get around. I rarely drink and didn’t bring the right clothes to jump in the water, so I found activities that suited my interests for the day. If you’re wondering if Waiheke Island is worth it without wine or water sports, the answer is a resounding yes!
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How to Take the Ferry to Waiheke Island
The cheapest way to get to Waiheke Island is by passenger ferry. Private boats and air transportation are options as well. In this article, I’ll just be covering the ferry as most people will opt for that.
There are 2 types of ferries that will take you from Auckland to Waiheke Island. First is the passenger ferry, which takes ~35 minutes and leaves from the Auckland Ferry Terminal. Alternatively, you can bring your car and take the ~45-minute car ferry from Half Moon Bay. It can be quite expensive to take the car ferry, so you may be better off just renting a car on the island.
We took the Fullers360 passenger ferry to get to Waiheke Island. You can purchase a ticket online in advance or just walk up and buy one onsite. Prices vary depending on times and packages, but we paid $55NZD (~$34USD) round trip per person. We pre-purchased untimed tickets so we could just walk onto the ferry whenever we arrived.
Be sure to check out the time table for exact departure times, but they tend to be every 30-60 minutes. They do depart on time!
It’s open seating on board and we chose to spend most of our time on the top deck enjoying the views and the ocean breeze. If you are prone to sea sickness, be sure to prepare accordingly, but the waves weren’t very choppy for us.
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Renting a Car on Waiheke Island
If you want to rent a car on Waiheke Island, I recommend booking in advance online (we booked ours online the night before). From there, the rental counters are located in the Matiatia Ferry Terminal building, making the process very quick and efficient.
We rented from Waiheke Car Rental and booked a 1-day rental. All the rental cars on the island were a lot older than any we’ve rented elsewhere (including mainland New Zealand). Other than our Toyota Camry being a little old and in need of a car wash, it ran just fine, which is all that mattered.
I realized when we were on the ferry that we had forgotten to bring our IDP’s or passports, but we didn’t need either to rent the car. Just our US driver’s license was enough. Remember that in New Zealand they drive on the left!
Other Ways to Get Around Waiheke Island
This article focuses on a self-drive itinerary, but here are other ways to get around Waiheke if driving on the left isn’t for you (of if you do want to imbibe in some wine):
- Taxis or rideshare. Note: Uber doesn’t exist on Waiheke, but the island has it’s own rideshare program called Ryda
- Bike & scooter rental – many are located right at the Matiatia Ferry Terminal, including eRide Waiheke
- Hop-On Hop Off Explorer Bus – stops at the Matiatia Ferry Terminal
- Public buses – click here for map and timetable
Fort Stony Batter WWII Tunnels
Visiting the Fort Stony Batter WWII Tunnels was fascinating and incredibly educational. Prior to this visit, I really had no idea of New Zealand’s involvement in WWII or how the Americans destroyed Japanese war ships off the coast of New Zealand to keep the Japanese from invading. None of that was covered in any of my history classes in school (and I majored in history in college…).
Fort Stony Batter was a secret WWII fort and tunnel system that wasn’t discovered until long after the war. A lot of locals still don’t even know they exist. Though it’s owned by the New Zealand government, preservation is funded entirely by tourists visiting the site.
How to Get to Fort Stony Batter
Fort Stony Batter is located in the far northeast corner of Waiheke Island. This remote location means the best way to get there is by car, though admittedly our rental car company gave us a map saying not to take the roads that lead there. We didn’t listen and found ourselves on a single lane unsealed gravel road with blind turns until we eventually came to a gate. Thankfully we only passed 2 other cars and gave warning honks ahead of the blind turns.
Fort Stony Batter does appear on Google Maps, but it is missing from several tourist maps you can find throughout the island.
We parked outside the gate and made our way onto private farmland with lots of sheep milling about. Multiple times we looked as each other sure we were in the wrong place. It was about a ¾ of a mile walk (15-20 minutes) to the entrance.
The Tour
When we finally arrived, we were the only ones there. Our guide Michael greeted us and happily sold us tickets on site for $25NZD/person (~$15.50USD), which we were able to pay via credit card. We were each given a very weak flashlight (or “torch” as the kiwis call them) and headed into the tunnels for a 30-minute guided tour. If others had joined, it would have been a group tour, but it ended up being a private tour for us.
We learned that the tunnels had actually been closed for about 10 years prior to the pandemic, but a local archeologist was no longer able to travel in 2020 and worked to reopen the tunnels to tours. They take the preservation work very seriously and are even working to restore the old submarine engines that used to run the fort.
During WWII, they installed 2 massive guns, but didn’t fired them until after the war. They didn’t want to do test shots maintain the location’s secrecy. The guns were fired 1946 just to test that they worked. I particularly loved learning about the women who worked in the plotting room of the tunnels about 60m underground during the war.
The tunnels were dark and a little eerie, but they weren’t cramped. There are stairs, so you’ll need to be able-bodied to be able to take this tour.
Lunch at Man O’War Tasting Room
I know I said this itinerary would be alcohol-free, but that doesn’t mean you should miss out an amazing meal – the alcohol is optional. Man O’War Vineyards serves lunch at their tasting room and it’s a perfect pick-me-up after exploring the WWII tunnels. Just a short drive away, the tasting room has an amazing view of the beach. Dine outside on the deck and get great food with an even better view.
We were seated immediately without a reservation and ordered the chorizo pizza, broccolini, and grilled prawns.
Afternoon Archery at Wild on Waiheke
We went into this day trip with a very loose itinerary but weren’t sure how long anything would take, so we didn’t pre-book anything except the rental car. After lunch, we drove to Wild on Waiheke and were able to sign up for archery on the spot. The cost was $40NZD (~$24USD)/person for a 30-minute session of archery in the vineyard. You also can pre-book this online.
This was a really fun way to flex our competitive muscle. I had the upper hand since I took archery lessons in high school and beat my husband with a final score of 198-133.
Wild on Waiheke also has a restaurant, winery/brewery, laser clay bird shooting, and some free games (giant chess, giant Jenga, cornhole, bocce ball, volleyball, and even a playscape for kids).
Other Activities on Waiheke Island That Don’t Involve Wine or the Ocean
Everything above is just what I did on my day trip to Waiheke Island. If you have more time or are looking for alternative things to do that don’t involve drinking wine or going in the ocean, here are some more ideas:
Zip Lining
EcoZip Adventures will take you on a 3-hour zip line tour that will have you flying over vineyards and forest. There are 3 dual lines, each spanning 650 feet, allowing you to race a friend. After completing the final zip line, your guide will take you back to the visitor center and tell you stories of the Māori and European settlers of New Zealand along the way. Optional pickup/drop off from Waiheke Island’s Matiatia Ferry Terminal is included.
Guided Art Tour
Waiheke Island has a vibrant art scene. This 5-hour art tour from Terra & Tide will take you through a local sculpture park and then meet with local artists as you enjoy lunch in one of their homes. Alternatively, you can walk Waiheke’s 3km Art Trail on your own for free (see the map here).
Horse Trek
If you’re looking for another way to explore the island beyond cars or buses, consider a horse trek. Waiheke Equestrian offers tours starting at $105NZD/person (~$65USD) which take you to incredible viewpoints throughout the island.
Golf
Waiheke Island only has 1 golf course. Rather, it has ½ of a golf course, as the Waiheke Golf Course only features 9 holes. Nonetheless it’s still considered one of the best courses in the northern part of New Zealand.
Tea Blending Experience
If you prefer a cup of tea to a glass of wine, check out the Tea Blending Experience at Timmy Smith. You will gain a deeper knowledge of tea and then create your own blend. They’ll send you home with your own creation, a house blend tea, their sparkling teas, and a tea cup for ~$60USD/person.
Waiheke Island FAQ
Final Thoughts
After we refilled our gas tank (this is the gas station we went to), we returned the car and took the next ferry back to Auckland. We happened to be flying back home on a late flight that evening, and our day trip to Waiheke was the perfect way to finish off our time in New Zealand.
Going to a region known for its wine and not drinking any may seem sacrilegious to some, but there’s so much to enjoy on Waiheke Island. If I came back, I’d come prepared to enjoy the water sports next time, but I was still very happy with how many land-based options there are for visitors.
Don’t forget to pin this post for future planning!
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