Matariki marks the Māori New Year – named for the star cluster (also known as the Pleiades) that rises in the pre-dawn sky each winter, signalling a time to reflect on the year that's passed, remember those who are no longer with us, and look ahead with hope. It's traditionally a time to slow down and spend time with the people who matter most, which makes it the perfect excuse for a day trip or even long weekend away. And with the island this quiet, it's exactly the kind of place to do that slowing down properly.
Most people think of Waiheke in summer – sun-soaked decks, rosé by the glass, ferries packed with people, beaches full of bronzed bodies. But winter is when you really get to enjoy the island on your own terms. It's quieter, easier to get around, and at most venues you'll land the best seats in the house for those brilliant island vistas. But the best part? It's an island escape without the passport – all you need is a ferry ticket and a free weekend.
This Matariki long weekend is the perfect excuse to see Waiheke in a completely different light.
Less crowds means more of the island for yourself
The beaches are empty enough that it’s likely you might have it to yourself. The vineyards swap the sun umbrellas for cosy fires – although truth be told, sometimes those sun umbrellas still need to be out – it can still get hot. Spots at your favourite venue are easier to get. There's a nice stillness to the island that's hard to find any other time of year - and it makes everything feel a little bit more like it’s your own
It's exactly the kind of high-quality, low-effort local escape worth having in winter. No long-haul flights, no big itinerary to plan - just a short hop across the gulf to somewhere that feels half a world away.
Don't write off a sunny day, either. Waiheke runs about 2 degrees warmer than Auckland, so some winter days on the island genuinely feel like summer – I was there for a weekend at the end of June and can confirm that people were dressed like it was a warm summer’s day. You too may just hit seasonal the jackpot.
So let's get into what you can do this long weekend.
Cosy vineyard hopping
Winter is arguably the best time to do the rounds of Waiheke's wineries, simply because they're built for it. Mudbrick's tasting room has that English-cottage warmth to it - all low beams and big glasses of red, with the gardens looking moody rather than manicured.
Down the road in the Onetangi Valley, Stonyridge is one for the wine lovers - a world-class Bordeaux-style producer with an outdoor deck overlooking olive groves and vines, and guided tastings that take you through their flagship Larose. It's a beautiful, spot. And if you want something a little more relaxed, yet somewhat playful, Wild Estate is right nearby - boutique wines and craft beer brewed on-site, wood-fired pizza, pétanque on the lawn, and enough going on that you could happily spend an entire afternoon there with your crew.
Hot tip - Stick to two or three stops - any more and the wines (and the afternoon) starts to nicely blur together. All three are stops on the Waiheke Western Explorer hop-on hop-off bus, so you can leave the car behind and bounce between them at your own pace making it a very easy day out.
Head east to Man O' War Bay
For something a little further afield, take a trip out to Man O' War on the island's eastern end. Skip the car altogether and use the Waiheke Eastern Explorer weekend transfer service, which runs straight from Matiatia out to Waiheke's east - easy, no fuss, no need to plan around a rental car or a long drive.
Once you're there, the setting does the rest. Man O' War sits right on the water - the only winery in New Zealand right on a beach (need we say more about this as a destination and why you should go here!!??). Settle in at the restaurant for lunch first, that iconic view in front of you the whole time - the lamb rump cap is a good shout, and absolutely exceptional when paired with the estate's Dreadnought Syrah. Stretch out on the sprawling lawn after if the day's kind to you, then finish with a tasting in the beachfront tasting room where local wines and a collection of curiosities make for a pretty good excuse to linger.
Sip something local at Waiheke Distilling Co.
While you're out east, it's worth swinging by Waiheke Distilling Co. Perched high above Cowes Bay with panoramic views over to the Coromandel, their Garden Bar pours tastings of gin and vodka made with native botanicals (and, unusually, macadamia instead of whey for a smooth, creamy finish). Their signature Spirit of Waiheke gin is my personal favourite as it's infused with dried New Zealand giant kelp, which gives it a savoury, coastal saltiness unlike anything else on the island. The Red Ruby gin, made with South Island cherries, is another favourite amongst visitors to the distillery. Their pizza napoletana - is a must if you want a slice of Italy. It's an easy place to park up for the afternoon, too: sink into a beanbag on the lawn overlooking the gulf and daydream – cocktail in hand, or take a wander the spray-free botanical garden the spirits are made from.
Get active and walk a stretch of the Te Ara Hura trail
Waiheke has over 100km of walking trails criss-crossing the island, known collectively as Te Ara Hura, and winter is a brilliant time to tackle a stretch of it - no heat, no crowds, just you and the coastline.
If you have wheels and are keen to take a quick trip east, the Onetangi to Man O' War Bay leg is the one I'd point you to - 14km one-way, taking around 3-4 hours, with a worthwhile 2km detour to the Stony Batter Tunnels along the way (note that at the time of writing the tunnels are currently closed, but the reserve remains open). It's rolling farmland on gravel road the whole way, sea views throughout, and a real sense of having the island to yourself. It's rated moderate to challenging -more about the distance and exposed, hilly terrain than any technical difficulty - so pack some delicious food, wear decent shoes, and give yourself a good half-day to enjoy it properly.
Want to take it further? Using this website, you can break the full 100km trail into five days' worth of walking, stringing together as many or as few legs as you like.
Book the Waiheke Eastern Explorer Tour for an incredible day out
If you'd rather someone else do the planning for your trip east, the Waiheke Eastern Explorer Tour is a fully hosted, small-group day trip into the quieter, lesser-known side of the island that most visitors never reach. It's deliberately unhurried - limited to just 30 guests per departure - and brings together a guided tasting at Waiheke Distilling Co. overlooking Cowes Bay, a two-course vineyard lunch with a glass of wine at Man O' War, and a boutique cellar-door tasting at Jasper Ridge Estate.
Everything's taken care of: return ferry travel, all tastings and the lunch are included. It runs Saturdays and Sundays through to 30 September. It’s about as low-effort as a "wow, I needed that" day out gets.
Back on the Western side of the island - feel like you’ve landed in Spain at Casita Miro
For lunch, Casita Miro is hard to beat. It's a small, picturesque, colourful vineyard restaurant that feels like it's been teleported in from Spain - mismatched tiles, incredible charm and a menu built for sharing.
Right now, they're running a Winter Fiesta set menu ($68pp), and the one to order is the solomillo de cerdo - pork tenderloin with black pudding, jamón breadcrumbs, butternut and quince. It's rich, warming and exactly the kind of dish you want after a walk in the cold. Add wine matches for $49pp if you want each course paired with one of their own Miro wines (note: pairings are only available if the whole table opts in).
Coffee, a little something sweet, and sand between your toes
Some of the best winter mornings on Waiheke start small. Grab a coffee and a morsel from Charlie Farley's right on the beach at Onetangi, or duck into Akito in Oneroa for a coffee and something off their plant-focused menu - then just wander down onto the sand. There's something about a coffee in hand and a quiet winter beach. No plan, just a walk along the shoreline with the gulf stretched out in front of you.
Cosy up at Owhanake Bay
For something quieter, Owhanake Bay is one of my favourite of the island's best-kept secrets - a small, sheltered cove that catches the afternoon sun and stays calm even when the wind's up elsewhere. It's a short walk down from the road, with enough space to spread out a blanket and watch the light change over the water. Far fewer people know about it than the island's main beaches, which is exactly the appeal.
Getting there is easy by car: from Oneroa, follow Ocean View Road onto Korora Road, which runs straight down to the Owhanake Bay car park - from there it's a short walk across the reserve to the bay itself. Prefer to walk all the way? The coastal track from Matiatia Ferry Terminal to Owhanake Bay takes around 1.5 –2 hours one-way and is well worth it for the views alone, just be mindful the grass reserve can get a little boggy in winter.
If you find yourself on the island just before dawn, take the time to look up to view the Matariki cluster
Waiheke might not be the first place you'd think of for stargazing, being so close to Auckland - but the island's eastern side is said to be nearly as dark as Great Barrier Island, a designated Dark Sky Sanctuary, thanks to the hills that block out the city's glow. There's even a local group, Dark Sky Waiheke Island, dedicated to keeping it that way and running guided night-sky sessions most months, with telescopes and binoculars on hand to pick out planets, star clusters and the Milky Way.
You don't need a guide to enjoy it, though. Find a dark spot away from the village lights and just look up - with so little light pollution out there, the stars feel closer than they have any right to. Fittingly for the weekend, this is also prime time to spot Matariki itself: the cluster, also known as the Pleiades, rises in the pre-dawn sky through June and July and is traditionally made up of nine stars in Māori tradition, each associated with a different aspect of wellbeing -from health, to the ocean, to the year ahead. Look low on the north-eastern horizon just before sunrise for the best chance of seeing it.
Easy to get to, easy to get around
None of this requires much planning. A short ferry ride across the gulf gets you there, and once you've landed, you don't really need a car. The Western Explorer hop-on hop-off bus covers most of the western vineyards and beaches and the regular public buses get you to most other venues around the island too. If you're set on heading east though, it's worth considering a rental car, taxi, or the Eastern Explorer bus transfer, which is a cost-effective option and runs between Matiatia and Man O' War on weekends - public transport doesn't reach that side of the island in the same way.
A long weekend made for slowing down
The Matariki holiday is, at its heart, a time for reflection and togetherness - and there's something fitting about pairing that with an island that, in winter, allows you to slow down too. Just a ferry crossing and a weekend where it feels like time stands still.
Getting to Waiheke Island
Fullers360 sails frequently to Waiheke Island during winter and right now, $49 gets you a return fare so you can just walk up and go.
Once you're on the island:
- The Western Hop-on Hop-off Explorer – high frequency buses which runs daily, stopping at 16 of the island's best wineries, venues and destinations.
- Eastern Explorer - runs weekends, connecting Matiatia to Man O' War and back to meet the ferry in time for the 5pm sailing back to Auckland
The Perfect Waiheke Island Day Trip: A Curated Food, Wine & Coastal Experience from Auckland
