Enjoy fun team activities and world-class experiences in summer — or without the crowds in winter. With a sub-tropical climate and just 35 minutes from Auckland, Waiheke is a year-round destination. If you're wondering what to do, explore the best things to do on Waiheke Island with our top recommendations for every season.

Explore Paradise

The Te Ara Hura Walkway is a 100 km circuit around the island where you can start and stop anywhere. Choose from the “Headlands” offering million-dollar views, “Beaches ’n’ Baches” taking you through the village and quiet, quirky walkways full of island character, “Forest Heart” through beautiful native bush, streams, wetlands, and birdlife, or “The Far End,” a place apart with big skies, big views, and fresh air therapy.

Getting around Waiheke is easy with taxis, hire cars, scooters, electric bikes, and regular public buses that meet each arriving and departing Waiheke ferry.

To enjoy the best of Waiheke, we recommend staying a few days. Choose from luxury holiday homes, quaint baches, beachfront apartments, to resort-style hotels offering world-class Waiheke accommodation. If you're wondering what to do in Waiheke, the answer is — plenty.

World Famous Beaches

There are over 10 beaches within 10 minutes of each other! Stroll along unspoiled white sandy bays, take in the abundant sea and birdlife, or relax with a bite to eat at a beachfront café. For the more adventurous, try kayaking or book a fishing charter and catch fresh snapper straight from the Hauraki Gulf.

Meet, Discover & Taste Artisan Products

Curious about the best things to do on Waiheke Island that go beyond the ordinary? Visit local artists in their studios dotted across the island, or follow the easy 3 km Art Walk trail from Matiatia ferry terminal through native bush and a sculpture park, finishing in Oneroa Village — home to galleries, restaurants, and artisan retail.

Waiheke also produces some of the world’s best olive oils. Visit an olive estate for a behind-the-scenes look at production and enjoy a tasting of award-winning oils. For something truly unique, visit Timmy Smith’s, where you can blend your own tea, sample sparkling sugar-free herbal infusions, and shop memory-inspired jewellery.

At the Waiheke Wine Centre, you’ll find the largest collection of local wines under one roof, with over 30 Waiheke wineries represented. And if you’re on the island over the weekend, don’t miss the iconic Saturday Ostend market — a must for lovers of local arts, crafts, gifts, and street food (plus some of the best coffee around).

World Class Wining & Dining

With over 30 Waiheke wineries and 17 cellar doors, there’s a reason this island is known as the "Island of Wine." Sip award-winning wines by a cozy fire or admire panoramic views of Auckland City, the Hauraki Gulf, or lush vine-covered valleys.

It’s also a hotspot for craft beer. With three boutique breweries close to each other, you can sample local brews — and maybe even chat with the brewer. Top Waiheke Island restaurants serve everything from innovative fine dining to burgers on the beach, so no matter your taste, you’ll eat well here.

Fun & Adventure for Everyone

Planning for a Waiheke group activity or work function? Great Escape Island Challenge is perfect — an amazing race-style team event where you explore the island in vans, tackle fun challenges, and wrap up with a slideshow and prizegiving. It’s one of the best team building activities around.

Other thrilling Waiheke group activities include 200-metre dual ziplines over the vines, archery Waiheke style, laser claybird shooting, and barefoot bowling. For indoor or evening options, why not bring the experience to you with artisan sausage making, a botanical gin and tonic session, or a fragrance-blending experience? Ideal for team building games for work, celebrations, or just a bit of fun.