Image: Matti Vuorre | Creative Commons
Rocky Bay, Waiheke.
Waiheke Island

Located in the Auckland region

A popular day trip destination for families, with good boating, swimming, fishing, and kayaking.

Stony Batter Historic Reserve features gun sites and other impressive remains that date back to World War II. 

Waiheke is a large island in the Hauraki Gulf between the Auckland mainland and the Coromandel Peninsula.

A number of commercial ferry operators run both car and passenger ferry services to Waiheke Island.

Find authorised transport operators to this island.

A regular bus service, taxi and car rentals are available on the island.
  • The western end of Waiheke is a residential area with around 8,000 permanent inhabitants.
  • The eastern end is a mix of farm blocks and settlements.
  • There are shops and a variety of accommodation.
  • Don't disturb threatened birds like the New Zealand dotterel. Watch them from a distance.

Rules for the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park

These are part of the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park by-laws. Read the full by-laws.

Looking after the marine reserve

Rules and regulations:

  • No fishing of any kind is permitted.
  • Do not take or disturb marine life, including shellfish and seaweeds.
  • Do not remove any part of the sea floor, including rocks or dead sea shells.
  • Leave your dog at home as dogs disturb nesting seabirds. Dogs are not permitted at the marine reserve at any time.
  • Do not exceed 5 knots in a boat or on a jetski within 200 m of the mainland or a dive flag, or within 50 m of a boat or person in the water.

On the southeast side of Waiheke Island lies Te Matuku Marine Reserve, which contains the largest area of intertidal mudflats in the inner Hauraki Gulf.

Te Matuku Bay Scenic Reserve protects the coastal fringe of part of the bay, including taraire/tawa forest with pohutukawa and kauri. Fortunately Waiheke Island is free of possums  - a pest animal which threatens native forest.