Activities
Beaches:
Waiheke has too many beaches to mention them all. The popular
north facing, white sandy beaches include Palm Beach, Oneroa,
Little Oneroa, and Onetangi.
However, there are plenty of off-the-beaten track coves to
be discovered, and even beaches that can only be reached by
boat or kayak.
Hooks Bay, Takirau Bay and Blackpool Bay are among the ‘locals’’
beaches, and therefore less crowded in the summer.
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Vineyards.
Waiheke has been growing wine since the 1970s, and is now famous
for its 30 or more vineyards, some with restaurants. You will
be spoilt for choice.
A holiday on Waiheke isn’t complete without a trip to
at least one vineyard or restaurant. You could sample wines
and food at several of the following, and still leave more for
your next trip:
Goldwaters
Wines were pioneers of Waiheke wine making, having started
making wines on the Island in 1978.
Passage
Rock Vineyard is our personal favourite for a lazy lunch
of pizza in the gardens next to the vines.
Mudbrick
Vineyard and Restaurant is a popular venue for weddings,
and special occasions.
Kennedy
Point Vineyard is close to Under Takirau, has one of the
oldest and largest stands of Pohutakawa on the Island, and serves
tasting platters, and picnics in season.
Stonyridge
Vineyard is the party venue, great for wine tasting, café,
events and evening parties.
Te Whau Vineyard
and Restaurant has been awarded ‘one of the best restaurants
for wine lovers’ several years in a row by New York’s
‘Wine Spectator’ magazine.
And for more enthusiastic wine lovers, the annual Waiheke
Wine Festival in February is not to be missed.
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Restaurants and Bars:
A favourite is Ajadz Indian Restaurant, below the Art
Gallery, next to the Cinema and Artworks Theatre.
Also to be found in Oneroa, there are The Lazy Lounge, Lucky Pig,
Skinny Sardine, Schooner Café and Sandbar (hidden below
Vino Vino).
Close to Patangatanga Cottage are the renowned Stefano’s
Pizzeria, Malone’s Irish Bar and Restaurant, Island Thyme Delicatessan and Restaurant. Palm
Beach and Onetangi Beach have a further three restaurants.
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Working it all off:
But you might be planning to come to Waiheke for adventure
and outdoor activities. If so, you won’t be disappointed!
Ross Barnett’s iconic boatsheds on the foreshore at
Matiatia are home to Ross
Adventures Sea Kayaking. See Waiheke from a unique viewpoint,
and if you are lucky, meet dolphins, penguins, or even a whale.
Or you could swim, go
sailing, learn to windsurf,
join a fishing
charter, have a few rounds of golf,
send the kids off on a horse-riding
course, walk around Stony Batter, or hire
a bike and cycle to beaches, reserves, (or the next vineyard?)
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Less strenuous activities:
Another icon on Waiheke has to be the cinema-with-a-difference.
Waiheke also has a part time open-air
cinema.
Or there are plenty of art galleries to fill your time. The
easiest way to see a few is to take a tour with Ananda
Tours or visit the Waiheke
Art Gallery in Oneroa.
You could drive, or be driven around the loop at the Eastern
end of the Island. And on the way you could visit the Lavender
Farm at Orapiu.
If you are here during Easter, the annual Jazz festival is
not to be missed.
If shopping is your thing, head to Oneroa, where you will
find shops, galleries, and banks.
The library and Whittaker’s Musical Museum are also at
the Artworks’ complex.
A new farmers' Market has also recently started on Sundays in Ostend.
If even leaving your relaxing accommodation is too much for
you, you can always relax in the garden, read a book, watch
TV, or listen to The
Beach Radio. We will endeavor to leave the radio tuned to
99.4FM for you.
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