A weekend of hopping between the must-do sights on Waiheke Island is the ultimate summer escape. Just a 40-minute ferry from Auckland City, Waiheke Island is the north island paradise known for its white sandy beaches, world-class wineries and fantastic restaurants and local produce. It’s a dreamy summer destination full of good tastes and places to explore. Plus, Waiheke Island is a great spot to visit all year round with fewer crowds in winter and beautiful colours in Autumn.
Choosing a campervan for this weekend getaway means you can discover all corners of the Island. Waiheke is bigger than you’d imagine, with hills and long drives, so a comfortable camper is the perfect mode of transport. Auckland is home to plenty of vans and motorhomes available for hire on Camplify, so you can start your journey in the big city, grab your pick of the lot and take the car ferry from Auckland to Waiheke Island. Tiki-tour around, swim at the beaches, visit the vines and sleep under the stars in your cosy campervan. It’s the recipe for an incredible little getaway.
1. Take the car ferry to Waiheke Island
The ferry itself is convenient and scenic, cruising through the harbour and alongside Rangitoto Island and Motutapu Island. Get the ferry from Auckland City, Half Moon Bay in East Auckland or Devenport and enjoy the journey.
Driving your camper onto the ferry and cruising across to Waiheke Island is the ultimate weekend escape from Auckland! Take things from the road to the seas and back again for a truly unique campervan getaway experience. Hire a campervan from Camplify for the weekend and enjoy peace of mind when it comes to insurance and advice for ferry sailings thanks to their direct line of communication between hirers and campervan owners. There’s 24/7 customer support, so Camplify can help you navigate any rough seas.
Get your campervan of choice from the many options across Auckland on Camplify. This will be your accommodation, transport, kitchen and overall home for the weekend. Hire a beautiful motorhome like Nelly for a luxurious trip fit for visits to the finest wineries and restaurants. Lean into the hipster vibe of the island with a camper like Fridge, and enjoy simple pleasures in this character van.
2. Explore from coast to vines
Waiheke Island is all about the beach spots, from bustling favourites near the island’s busy areas to smaller gems in secluded locations. Must-visits include Oneroa Beach, Little Oneroa Beach, Onetangi Beach, Shelly Beach and Palm Beach. Smaller, off-the-beaten-track beaches are Sandy Bay and Enclosure Bay; both well worth a visit. Often these beaches will have general stores and cafes making them their own hubs. Driving between beaches is a necessity as they are spread out all over the island. Campervans are the perfect beach-hopping companions with space to hang your towels, prepare some beachside snacks and simply lounge out and enjoy the view.
Vineyards on Waiheke Island are plentiful, and the wineries and cellar doors offer fantastic wine tasting, dining and socialising experiences. Enjoy views of Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf at Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant, then enjoy a scenic 40-minute drive to the other end of the island for tastings and a long lunch at Man O’ War, overlooking the breathtaking Man O’ Way Bay. Having wheels to see the sights on Waiheke Island is a must.
Find the quintessential Kiwi summer scenes of pōhutukawa trees, white sand beaches and picturesque wineries on Waiheke Island.
3. Find your campground
Between morning beach swims, long lunches at wineries and incredible dinners at local restaurants, you’ll be yearning for a quiet retreat. Choose a campground on Waiheke Island to be still and soak up your surroundings. Poukaraka Flats campground at Whakanewha Regional Park on the southern coast of the Island is a stunning sheltered spot with a long sandy beach and great swimming conditions. The campground has no power, so hiring a camper from Camplify that can facilitate you staying off-grid will add ease and comfort to your stay. There’s a gas BBQ onsite for those lazy summer dinners outdoors and the close proximity to the beach will have you falling into holiday mode with a hitch.
Motorhomes like Silvy and Peace are available for pick-up in Auckland and have all the luxuries needed for a comfortable weekend stay off-grid. Embrace the simple life with Harvey the camper, a fantastic van equipped with an awning for outdoor living and all the bells and whistles for easy camping without a power source.
4. The taste of Waiheke
A visit to Waiheke Island is not complete without trying some local food favourites. It’s a foodie hub with restaurants, local grocers and of course, wineries that are essential to getting the full experience on this Island. Check out spots like Ki Maha Restaurant and The Oyster Inn for impeccable food and in particular, seafood.
If you’ve hired a camper with cooking facilities, take inspiration from your day’s travels back to the campervan kitchen. Whether you’re cooking some seafood indoors or snacking on local olives on your camping chairs outside, it’s the perfect way to enjoy Waiheke Island food.
Purchase some of your favourite local produce and bring it back to Auckland with you. There’s no shortage of storage space in most campervans making it a breeze to carry home some goodies.
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