Waiheke Eastern Explorer Bus

Perched on the ridge above Cowes Bay, Waiheke Distilling Co. is home to some of the best views on the island. Specialising in premium, small-batch craft spirits, sample their unique botanical blends in the tasting room before enjoying cocktails and grazing plates in the garden, overlooking the Coromandel Peninsula.

Experiences we recommend:  

Sip & Savour Lunch Package – $55 per person (minimum two people)
Enjoy a tasting experience featuring Waiheke Distilling Co’s signature spirits board, followed by your choice of a crafted gin & tonic or vodka soda. Share a delicious Napoli-style pizza and a fresh seasonal salad. Not available on long weekends or public holidays.

Bookings strongly recommended. Learn more here: https://waihekedistilling.co.nz/ 

With iconic wines, a breath-taking coastline, picturesque vineyards, and warm hospitality, Man O’ War offers a seamless blend of nature and indulgence for an unforgettable Waiheke escape. Enjoy wine flights or a leisurely lunch at their beachfront tasting room and restaurant.

Bookings are required. Once you have purchased your Eastern Explorer Bus tour, please call Man O' War Vineyards directly to book your table.

Learn more and book here: https://www.manowar.co.nz/  

Discover Jasper Ridge Estate, a boutique, family-owned vineyard on Waiheke Island's beautiful eastern end, specialising in award-winning Rosé and Syrah.

Visit their welcoming, year-round Cellar Door to enjoy guided wine tastings, delicious food and stunning views across the vineyard and Hauraki Gulf.

For something truly special, book their signature ‘Tasting in the Vines’ experience. Take a guided walk through the working vineyard, discover the stories behind the wines and enjoy an intimate premium tasting in a unique vineyard setting.

 Experiences we recommend:

 Cellar Door Wine Tasting – Enjoy a guided tasting of their award-winning wines. Starting from $28, with food and additional tastings available.

 Tasting in the Vines – An exclusive, bookable vineyard experience featuring a guided vineyard walk, premium wine tasting and a $40 Cellar Door voucher to spend on your favourite wines and gifts.

Bookings recommended. Learn more and book: https://www.jasperridge.co.nz/

Nestled between the hills and the eastern shores of Waiheke, Passage Rock is the island’s most awarded winery. Renowned for their exceptional Syrah and other fine wines, guests can taste the Passage Rock range, followed by lunch at the vineyard restaurant, where locally inspired dishes celebrate the island’s finest seasonal produce.

Experiences we recommend:  

Wine tasting - $22 

Savour four wines, including two of our premium reserve selections. 

Wine tasting with appetizer plate - $50 

Enjoy four wines, including two reserve selections, paired with a tasting plate. 

Three-course set menu with bread - $75 

Begin with freshly baked bread, followed by a delectable three-course meal crafted by our chefs 

Please note:  

For the three-course set menu, guests must be seated by 3pm. 

Learn more and book here: https://passagerock.co.nz/

Awaroa Vineyard is an award-winning organic boutique winery. Focused on sustainable practices and small-batch production, Awaroa offers a range of premium wines in a beautiful garden setting, along with delicious antipasto platters. Visitors can enjoy intimate wine tastings, learn about the winemaking process, and immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the island.

Learn more and book here: https://www.awaroa.co.nz/

Onetangi Beach is Waiheke’s longest and most expansive sandy bay, roughly 1.8–2.5 km of golden sand with northern views across the Hauraki Gulf. It’s a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing and long coastal walks, with safe shallows at many tides and cafés, picnic areas and public facilities along The Strand.

Bus schedule

Buses depart from Matiatia Ferry Terminal at regular intervals throughout the day. Please refer to the timetable for a complete schedule.

Bookings and capacity 

Bus bookings from Matiatia, Oneroa, or Onetangi are capacity-managed for each timetabled service and are subject to availability at time of booking. 

Each bus has a maximum capacity of 38 passengers per hour. 

A valid wristband, issued at the time of travel, is required to board all Fullers360 Eastern Explorer bus services on the day of travel. 

Ferry and bus packages

Customers booking a Fullers360 ferry and Eastern Explorer bus package must account for the 40-minute ferry travel time when selecting their bus departure. It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure they arrive at the Eastern Explorer bus stop at least 2 minutes prior to their scheduled departure time. 

• Waiheke Walk-up ferry: 

Frequent, on-demand walk-up sailings. 

Ferry tickets are valid for any scheduled sailing up to 12 months from the date of purchase. Please note that the Eastern Explorer Bus ticket is only valid for the date and time printed on the ticket.  

During the busy summer period, please arrive at least 60 minutes before your preferred departure time. Upgrades to Waiheke Reserve tickets are possible at any of Fullers360 ticket offices.  

• Waiheke Reserve ferry: 

All departure times and dates must be booked in advance. Boarding opens 15 minutes before the scheduled departure. Enjoy the convenience and reliability of a pre-booked service with confirmed departure and arrival times. 

Return bus journey 

Return trips to Matiatia are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to bus capacity. 

If a return bus is full, customers may need to wait for the next available departure. 

A bus tracking service is available, allowing customers to view the location of Explorer buses on the route. 

Venue bookings 

Customers are responsible for making venue bookings (e.g., wineries, restaurants) directly with the venue. 

Allow sufficient travel time between venues to meet your bookings. 

Plan all venue visits according to the bus timetable and your return ferry schedule. 

Fullers360 is not liable for missed venue bookings due to missed connections or delays. 

Missed connections 

If you miss your outbound bus departure from Matiatia Ferry Terminal, an alternative time may be offered, subject to available capacity.

If capacity is unavailable, you may be offered a Western Explorer daily pass for same-day travel. 

Tickets are non-refundable for missed connections, in accordance with Fullers360’s general conditions of travel. 

Timetable changes

Any changes to the timetable will be communicated by the bus driver on the day of travel.