Trip Itineraries - New Zealand | 15 minutes

CURATED GUIDE TO WAIHEKE ISLAND

Stonyridge Vinyard

Sitting on the Back Deck, Sipping Wine and Taking in the view. 

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Waiheke Island is a stunning island covered with vineyards, beaches and more.

Planning a trip to a new destination always takes a lot of time and research to pick the best places to go, where to stay, what to eat, how to enjoy the area like a local and more. When I decided to go to Waiheke Island, New Zealand I found a lot of interesting things online and have put together my findings as well as my experiences here so that you can find all the information you need for your trip. 

I have included everything in this guide including: Reasons to Visit, How to Get There, Getting Around, Where to Stay, What to Do, Best Beaches to Visit, Best Wineries to Visit, and Where to Eat & Drink. 
“Waiheke reminds me a lot of Nantucket Island near Boston, MA. It has the great shops, gorgeous beaches and the same swanky vibe, with the added bonus of world-class vineyards.” 
- Lindsey Farrah
Waiheke Island is a stunning Island in New Zealand, located only 40 minutes by boat from Auckland in the northern island of NZ. My partner and I wanted to get away for a long Easter weekend and we wanted to go somewhere that was relaxing but also offered enough things to do to keep us entertained. After tons of research I came across Waiheke Island and immediately fell in love.

Funny enough, one of the first articles I found about Waiheke was an article about how Taylor Swift had recently visited and had deemed it one of her favourite places she’s ever been. I found that to be intriguing, so I kept digging to see what else I could find about this secret paradise.  
This stunning NZ island not only offers stunning beaches and crystal clear water, but also world class vineyards with spectacular wines and stunning views. It’s the ideal long weekend getaway and we really enjoyed ourselves. We did a lot of exploring around the island which included hiking, checking out vineyards and relaxing on some hidden beaches. The food scene here is also very good and we had several absolutely amazing meals.  

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Downtown Oeroa, Waiheke Island.

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If you are on the fence about planning a trip to Waiheke, I highly recommend you go for it. We had an amazing time and we highly recommend taking the trip there. If you need some push on making your decision, here are my top ten reasons to visit Waiheke.

We had an absolutely great time on this island and would easily recommend it to anyone. Thinking about going? Here are the top ten reasons we loved Waiheke.

City skyline

Yard games at Tantalus Vineyard.

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Birthday Sparks

Enjoying gelato from Island Gelato Company. Yum!

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Reasons to Visit Waiheke

List of Services

Getting to Waiheke Island

Getting to the island is extremely easy. Once you land at Auckland International Airport, you can catch the SkyBus for about $13 USD per person, one way. When you walk out of the airport there is a kiosk that is easy to spot. Simply buy your tickets, grab the next bus and get off at stop 7018 - Customs street and then walk over to the ferry terminal; about a 5 minute walk. Once you get to the terminal, purchase your tickets to Waiheke Island! We took the Fullers Ferry for about $27 USD per person, roundtrip.

City skyline

Yard games at Tantalus Vineyard.

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Birthday Sparks

Enjoying gelato from Island Gelato Company. Yum!

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Getting Around the Island

We enjoyed being able to drive around and explore the island at our leisure versus booking a tour.

Waiheke Island is a fairly small island, however it is large enough that if you want to see it all you need to rent a car. There are many tours offered on the island that you can book, however we found them to be pricey and restrictive as you run on a tight schedule. We also saw several of these tours and they were buses loaded with people. Not our style.

So, we opted to rent a car and drive around for the long weekend. We rented from a lovely place, Waiheke Island Motors. We chose to rent here because the prices were the lowest and the reviews were the highest. They have cars starting at $42 USD per day which is a lot less expensive than some of the other rental places on the island.

I booked in advance, which I definitely recommend doing as they have a limited selection of vehicles so they book up fast. I let them know what time our ferry was arriving and once we arrived they were there waiting for us. So easy. They drove us to their property, had us sign some paperwork and off we went!

The staff was so friendly and laid back, so we really enjoyed renting from them. The most convenient part is that they let you leave your car parked at the ferry terminal at no charge. So, when it was time for us to leave we drove ourselves to the ferry, parked the car and left the keys in it. Then I just emailed them describing where in the parking lot I had left it, and they came and picked it up. It was so simple and convenient.
Waiheke Island Motors - NZ (AK)
Address: 2 Belgium St, Ostend, Auckland 1081, New Zealand
Phone: +64 800 110 851
Hours of Operation: Sun - Sat open 9am to 6pm

Where to Stay

Waiheke Island has a lot of year-round residents and also a ton of part-time residents that own summer homes there. It’s not an over-developed island driven by tourism which is awesome but it also means that there are limited options for where to stay. We opted for an AirBnB since it matched out budget and had a hot tub, however we found some other places that would be great to stay at as well. In general, accommodation on Waiheke Island is pretty inflated. I have included options for every budget, however all of these are relatively more expensive than they would be if they were on the mainland of NZ.

Beach on Waiheke Island

One of the gorgeous beaches on Waiheke Island.

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Downton Oneroa

This area is filled with cafes, boutiques, art galleries and more.

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There is so much to do on Waiheke Island, and I find that many people have completely different experiences while visiting the island. Some people go there purely to visit vineyards. Others go for a relaxing weekend at the beach. No matter what you are looking for, Waiheke offers something for every time of vacationer. Alec and I really love to mix it up and do as much as possible, so we experienced a lot of different things while on the island. This is the list of our favorite experiences on Waiheke.

1. Hop Around the Stunning Vineyards

Over the years I have been lucky enough to visit Napa, Sonoma, the Yarra Valley and some other gorgeous wine regions. Something about wandering around vineyards is so enjoyable and I also love sampling a glass or two. What makes Waiheke so unique and interesting is that the vineyards have stunning views of the crystal-clear blue waters that surround Waiheke Island. One of the vineyards is actually right on the beach, and another has views of Auckland in the distance. They all have something unique and stunning to offer, but some of my favorites included Cable Bay and Mudbrick. 

Read more about the wineries on Waiheke. 
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Man O' War Beachfront Tasting Room

We really enjoyed Man O' War's beachfront tasting room.

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Wine at Man O' War Vineyard

The wine here is amazing! I highly reccomend giving the rose a try.

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2. Spend Time at the Beach

If you are planning a trip to visit Waiheke, then you should definitely spend as much time at the beach as possible. There are tons of beaches located around this island and each one is unique in its own way. These are my favourite beaches on Waiheke that we discovered during our trip. I really loved Oneroa Beach and Man O’ War beach, but honestly each and every beach was so different, so exploring them was half the fun.  

Read more about the beaches.
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Bean bags & City Skyline at Cable Bay Vineyard

We loved relaxing in the bean bags on this property and we could see Auckland in the distance.

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Wander Around Cable Bay Vineyards

This is a gorgeous property to wander around.

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3. Shopping

Downtown Oneroa is one of the most adorable little towns I have ever been to. It ranks in my top three little towns right next to Nantucket in Massachusetts and Downtown Annapolis in Maryland. There are lots of cute shops, art galleries, cafes, and an amazing gelato shop. You have to spend a few hours wandering around and enjoying this area. The best part? When you’re done you are a 2 minute walk from the stunning Oneroa Beach. My favorite places in downtown Onera were The Island Grocer, an adorable little grocery store featuring local artisanal items, and Island Gelato Company which is an amazing open air shop made from a shipping container featuring unique gelato flavors. Okay I’m drooling now just thinking about it, haha.

Stunning Sunset at Mudbrick Vineyard

If you can, stop at Mudbrick Vineyards to catch a sunset.

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Amazing Dinner at Mudbrick Vineyard

We had one of our best meals ever at their restaurant, The Archive Bistro & Bar.

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4. Hike & Bike

Waiheke has a vast variety of hiking and biking trails that vary in level of intensity. So, after you eat that big gelato cone you can hit one of the many hiking trails to explore the island. Getting around by bicycle is also very popular, and a lot of people opt for electric bikes as Waiheke is actually quite hilly. Either by foot or by bike, there are tons of opportunities to get active.

Stunning Views at Stonyridge Vineyard

We loved taking in the views of the rolling green hills at Stonyridge.

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5. Self-Arranged Culinary Tour

I have been to New Zealand twice and each time i’ve been there I have been absolutely blown away by the food. New Zealand has a focus on fresh, wholesome, local ingredients in their dishes and you can taste the difference. The culinary scene on Waiheke Island was definitely a highlight of our trip, so I highly recommend hopping around and trying as many different dishes at as many different places as possible. Remember, there are a lot of walking trails so you can walk some of it off!  

Tasty Tapas at Casita Miro

The tapas here were delicious!

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Spanish-Inspired Decor at Casita Miro Vineyard

This vineyard had the most unique, Spanish-inspired decor.

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Best Beaches to Visit

There is so much to do on Waiheke Island, and I find that many people have completely different experiences while visiting the island. Some people go there purely to visit vineyards. Others go for a relaxing weekend at the beach. No matter what you are looking for, Waiheke offers something for every time of vacationer. Alec and I really love to mix it up and do as much as possible, so we experienced a lot of different things while on the island. This is the list of our favorite experiences on Waiheke.

List of Services

Best Wineries to Visit

Read all about the vineyards I feel in love with during my trip to Waiheke.

Over the years I have been lucky enough to visit Napa, Sonoma, the Yarra Valley and some other gorgeous wine regions. Something about wandering around vineyards is so enjoyable and I also love sampling a glass or two. What makes Waiheke so unique and interesting is that the vineyards have stunning views of the crystal-clear blue waters that surround Waiheke Island. One of the vineyards is actually right on the beach, and another has views of Auckland in the distance. They all have something unique and stunning to offer, and this is my list of the best vineyards I visited during my trip.

1. Man O’ War

This stunning vineyard is located off the beaten path, as it’s the furthest location possible from the ferry on the island. However, I highly recommend you rent a car and head here. (Read my post about renting a car on Waiheke here). The drive was about 40 minutes through rolling green hills of cattle and sheep. Once we arrived we found the tasting room was located on a grassy, beach-front property. They offer free tastings which was a plus, and they also have lovely food you could order either from their kitchen or from the food truck on site. They have gorgeous tables spread across the lawn, all with stunning waterfront views. I had a glass of rose her which was wonderful, and my partner had their cab. We got the charcuterie and relaxed on the lawn and very much enjoyed ourselves. All in all, this was a gorgeous property with the perfect vibe for a relaxing Saturday. 
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Man O' War Beachfront Tasting Room

We really enjoyed Man O' War's beachfront tasting room.

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Wine at Man O' War Vineyard

The wine here is amazing! I highly reccomend giving the rose a try.

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2. Cable Bay Vineyards

This property is located on a hill, overlooking the gorgeous water with Auckland seen in the distance. They have bean bag chairs and tables with comfy seats spread all over the lawn for everyone to have a seat and take in the views. The wine here was lovely and I recommend grabbing a glass of rose. We were not able to check out the tasting room as it was closed for the Easter holiday.  
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Bean bags & City Skyline at Cable Bay Vineyard

We loved relaxing in the bean bags on this property and we could see Auckland in the distance.

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Wander Around Cable Bay Vineyards

This is a gorgeous property to wander around.

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3. Mudbrick Vineyard

We went here for the sunset and it was spectacular! The property is located very high up with 180 degree views of the water. They have tons of stunning gardens that you can wander through. We decided to have dinner here since we read rave reviews online. Our meal was absolutely spectacular! Read my post about our dinner here.
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Stunning Sunset at Mudbrick Vineyard

If you can, stop at Mudbrick Vineyards to catch a sunset.

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Amazing Dinner at Mudbrick Vineyard

We had one of our best meals ever at their restaurant, The Archive Bistro & Bar.

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4. Stonyridge Vineyard

This property is large and lovely, however it was much more crowded and touristy than some of the other vineyards we went to. It is still definitely worth checking out as it’s a very large property with tons of vineyards and olive trees that you can wander through. This property doesn't have a view of the water, but rather a view of the rolling green hills which is gorgeous in a completely different way.
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Stunning Views at Stonyridge Vineyard

We loved taking in the views of the rolling green hills at Stonyridge.

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5. Casita Miro

We enjoyed this vineyard because the vibe and decor was so unique and different than the others we visited during our time on Waiheke. Rather than traditional decor, Casita Miro is decorated with Spanish accents; the walls are covered in playful tile art and the entire place is bright and bustling. The menu here features tapas, and we decided to grab a quick snack here. Based on the bartender's recommendation we got the Baked Goat Cheese Croquetas served with honey and toasted almonds. O-M-G they were amazing! I would definitely go back here for a proper lunch or dinner. We didn’t try any of their wines here although it's nice to note that they also make their own spirits which is unique for a vineyard.  
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Tasty Tapas at Casita Miro

The tapas here were delicious!

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Spanish-Inspired Decor at Casita Miro Vineyard

This vineyard had the most unique, Spanish-inspired decor.

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6. Kennedy Point Vineyard

This lovely little vineyard is the only organic vineyard on Waiheke and had some of the best wines we tried during our trip. Their wines are award winning and have a higher price tag, so it was well worth paying $3 USD per sample. While this vineyard is a little less scenic than some of the others, it still has a lovely view of the water in the distance. This is a place you come to for the wine, as that really is the highlight of Kennedy Point. We even got the chance to chat with the winemaker, which was lovely.
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Tasting Room at Kennedy Point Vineyard

We enjoyed sampling their wines and chatting with the winemaker.

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Stunning Views at Kennedy Point Vineyard

We loved the views of the bright blue water.

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7. Passage Rock

This vineyard is also a bit off the beaten path but it’s worth stopping at either to or from Man O War. It’s a gorgeous property with a few yard games and tasty food.
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Lunch With A View at Passage Rock Vineyard

The restaurant on site offers both indoor and outdoor seating, all with a view of their vineyard.

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Perfected Property at Passage Rock Vineyard

This property is pristine and it's worth wandering around.

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8. Tantalus Estate

This is one of the newer vineyards on Waiheke and it shows. The tasting room and restaurant are gorgeous and decorated with a modern flair. The property features a boardwalk that you can walk around to enjoy the property. While the property was stunning, this is lower on my list of favorites because we found that staff here to be a bit pretentious and the wine to only be so-so. Every other vineyard we visited during our time on Waiheke we found the staff to be overly warm and welcoming, so it was a bit off-putting to find the staff here to be so cold and uninterested in conversation. With that being said, I would recommend stopping here to check out the property but if you want relaxed vibes, head to one of the previous properties I mentioned.
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Games & Gardens at Tantalus Estate

This vineyard features some outdoor games and a boardwalk through their vast gardens.

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Restaurant at Tantalus Estate

This newer vineyard has some gorgeous decor both indoors and outdoors.

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Where to Eat and Drink on Waiheke

Waiheke, like the rest of New Zealand, has awesome food that focuses on fresh ingredients. These are just a few of my favourite places.

There are tons of reasons to fall in love with New Zealand and Waiheke Island and one of the reasons is the food. We found everything there to be really tasty and wholesome, as all the restaurants we visited featured recipes featuring locally sourced, fresh ingredients. One morning we had a delicious pie at Double Shot Espresso and the beef was sourced from a local farm and then prepared by the butcher next door; it doesn’t get fresher than that. Everything is as fresh as you can get it; and as they say- good ingredients make great food.
We also loved that a lot of places offered unique, progressive menu items. They took a lot of classics and put their own twist on them, making them both tasty and interesting. These are just some of our favourite places that we ate during our trip, but I’m pretty sure you can’t go wrong with anywhere on Waiheke.

The Archive Bistro & Bar

This is an absolutely amazing place to come to for a meal. The views are stunning, the property is romantic and the food is out of this world. My partner and I both agreed that the dinner we had here was one of the best meals we’ve ever had. We would put it in our ‘top 10’ of all time lists, which is huge. They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner - and if you are looking for something even more high end then you can try their sister restaurant, Mudbrick, which is located right next door. Read my full review about our experience here.

Address: 126 Church Bay Road, Oneroa, Waiheke, New Zealand
Phone: +64 9 372 9050
Open 7 days a week from 9 am – breakfast, lunch & dinner

Dinner @ Archive Bistro & Bar

We really enjoyed the short rib dish.

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Indoor Tables With a View

You can view the sunset from inside the restaurant.

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Island Gelato Company

This adorable, open air gelato shop is located right in downtown Oneroa and you absolutely must go there during your trip to Waiheke. It’s such a cool place, as it’s just a storage container converted into a small shop. I worked at a gelato shop during high school and I also live down the street from Melbourne’s best gelato shop- so it means a lot when I say this is the best gelato i’ve ever had! The reason it was so amazing was because of the unique and interesting flavours they offered. I got two specials which were dark chocolate, easter honey & almond praline; and spiced easter cake with cream cheese and white chocolate. OMG they were amazing. My partner had the yoghurt, lemon, thyme and shortbread; and the bourbon, banana, walnut. Yum!

Address: 124 Ocean View Road, Oneroa, Waiheke Island
Email: info@islandgelato.co.nz
Sunday – Thursday
8am - 6.30pm
Friday - Saturday
8am - 9pm (late nights during Summer only)

Island Gelato Company

The adorable Island Gelato Company, made from a shipping container.

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Tasty Gelato!

Enjoysing some delicious gelato at Island Gelato Company.

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Dragonfired

We loved this place because its owned and run by three brothers and they offer tasty, simple pizzas & calzones. This restaurant is also an open-air set up which was created from an old storage container. It’s a great place to go after a long day at the beach to grab something quick & easy. We tried their margherita wood-fired pizza and it was delicious.  The open-air location we went to is only open during the summer season; but don't fret because their main location in Little Oneroa beach is open year round.

Address: Little Oneroa Beach Reserve
text orders 021 922 289
SUMMER 7 days 10am - 8pm
WINTER Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am - 7pm
WEATHER DEPENDING

Dragonfired

Dragonfired on Waiheke Island, New Zealand.

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Outdoor Oven

Dragonfired on Waiheke Island, New Zealand.

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Casita Miro

This restaurant offers spanish tapas and tasty cocktails, so it’s definitely worth checking out. We only came here for a snack, but everything on the menu looked amazing. Based on the bartender's recommendation we got the Baked Goat Cheese Croquetas served with honey and toasted almonds. O-M-G they were amazing! I would definitely go back here for a proper lunch or dinner. We didn’t try any of their wines here although it's nice to note that they also make their own spirits which is unique for a vineyard.

Address: 3 Brown Rd, Onetangi, Waiheke Island 1081, New Zealand
Phone: 09 372 7854
Lunch: 7 days from 11:30am - 3pm
Dinner: Friday and Saturday from 6pm
Wine Tastings: Daily from 11:30am - 3pm

Tapas @ Casita Miro

Tasty tapas at Caita Miro on Waiheke Island, New Zealand.

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Gorgeous Decor

Gorgeous decor at Caita Miro on Waiheke Island, New Zealand.

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Cable Bay Vineyards

Cable Bay has the ultimate al fresco dining experience as the views from this property are spectacular. We grabbed two bean bag chairs on the top of the hill overlooking the vines, the water, and in the distance-Auckland, and we had some wine & snacks here. The food is tasty and the wine is nice, however the highlight of eating here is definitely the view and the ambiance. Grab an outdoor seat here if you can!

Address: 12 Nick Johnstone Dr, Oneroa, Auckland 1840, New Zealand
Phone: 09 372 5889
Email: info@cablebay.co.nz
Open for lunch Thur-Sun from 12pm
Open for dinner Fri-Sat from 6pm

Stunning Views @ Cable Bay Vineyard

Amazing views at Cable Bay vineyar on Waiheke Island, New Zealand..

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Double Shot Espresso

This tiny, open air restaurant is located right in downtown Oneroa and it’s a great place to go for brekkie. We had two flat whites and a amazing home-made pie which was locally sourced beef which had been prepared by the bitcher next door. It was awesome! 

Address: 114 Oceanview Rd, Oneroa, Auckland 1081, New Zealand
Phone: +64 27 236 8253
Mon-Fri 6:30am - 4 pm
Sat-Sun 7 am - 5pm

Home-made Pie @ Double Shot Espresso Bar

Home-made meat Pie at Doubleshot Espresso Bar.

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Espresso Time!

Grabbing an espresso at Doubleshot Espresso Bar.

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Man O’ War Vineyards

We had lunch at Mon O’ War and it was delicious. We loved our meal here not only because of the food, but also because of the views and the ambiance. We grabbed a table on their property which overlooked the beach and ordered their charcuterie. They not only offer dining options from their in-house restaurant, but they also have a food truck that is parked on the property where you can order Mexican inspired dishes. We really wanted to try this food truck however it was cash only. It’s also great to note that they offer free tastings of their wine; 3 per person, so it’s nice to have a little, free wine with your lunch if you come here.

Address: 725 Man O' War Bay Rd, Waiheke Island, Auckland, 1971
Phone: +64 9 372 9678
Opening Hours:
During Winter open: Monday - Sunday: 11am - 4pm
* Closed Christmas Day    

Cheers to Wine & the Beach!

Enjoying a glass of wine at Man O' War Vineyard.

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Tasting Room With a View

Enjoying a glass of wine on the lawn at at Man O' War Vineyard.

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Island Grocer

So this is definitely not a restaurant but it’s worth mentioning because they sell tons of amazing fresh baked breads and pastries. They have everything a traditional grocer would have but with more locally sourced, handcrafted options. We decided to have a simple picnic on Oneroa beach one day so we came here and got a freshly-baked baguette, some locally sourced cheese and honey. It was lovely! Definitely stop in here if you want a simple, tasty meal. It’s a convenient location, right in downtown Oneroa.

Address: 725 Man O' War Bay Rd, Waiheke Island, Auckland, 1971
Phone: +64 9 372 9678
Opening Hours:
Monday - Sunday: 8am - 6:30pm 

The Adorable Island Grocer.

The adorable Island Grocer.

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Freshly Baked Bread @ The Island Grocer

Fresh baked bread at the adorable Island Grocer.

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