Waiheke Residents Boarding

• Join the Priority Lane with an eligible pass, and your Waiheke Residents’ Lane card where needed.
• The Priority Lane boards first. Crew will scan your pass when you are in the line.
• The Signature Walk-up lane begins boarding once the Priority Lane has cleared.
• The Priority Lane closes 10 minutes before departure. After that, you can still board from the Priority Lane on a first come, first served basis once the Signature Walk-up lane has opened, until the ferry reaches capacity.
• If a sailing reaches capacity while you're still in the Priority Lane, you'll be first in line for the next departure.

We recommend arriving 15 to 20 minutes before your sailing. If you have any questions on the day, our ticket office staff and wharf hosts are happy to help.

Residents can access the Priority Lane with one of the following:

• Monthly Pass
• 40-trip ticket
• Off-island ticket

These pass types are accepted when shown with a Waiheke Residents’ Lane card:

• FlexiPass
• AT HOP card
• Single trip ticket
• AT SuperGold card

Each Waiheke Residents’ Lane card gives Priority Lane access to a maximum of two people per sailing.

The Priority Lane is also used by Priority ticket holders and customers on our Taste of Waiheke, Waiheke Wine and Dine and Eastern Explorer Long Lunch Package tours.

From Downtown Auckland: Every day from 9am to 6pm
From Matiatia (Waiheke Island): Every day from 3pm to 6pm

These are our busiest times, and hours may change as passenger numbers shift through the year. Outside these hours the Priority Lane is self-managed, and residents can still use it to board first.

To get a Waiheke Residents Lane card, bring proof that you live or work on Waiheke Island to the Matiatia Ticket Office.

Acceptable documents:

• Waiheke Island residents: a document or bill showing your name and Waiheke Island address
• Off-island workers: a letter from your employer confirming you work on Waiheke Island
• School and tertiary students: your school ID and a document showing your Waiheke Island address

Our Matiatia Ticket Office team will take your photo and issue your card. Residents' cards are valid for two years and off-island workers' cards for one year.

From Monday 19 October 2026, the Residents' Lane is becoming the Priority Lane, where both residents and Priority Ticket holders will have access to priority boarding. For residents – this is a free benefit - resident card holders can use it at all times.

No, you're gaining priority boarding benefits. The Priority Lane will be available on all sailings, not just the previous Residents' Lane hours. The difference is that the lane is now shared with Priority Ticket holders. In the Priority Lane you’ll get the benefit of boarding first, ahead of the general queue.

In order to maintain a priority boarding experience for all in the lane, we will be limiting the number of Priority tickets sold on each sailing, so the lane stays quick and easy for you.

Arrive at the Priority Lane at least 10 minutes before your departure and show your Resident Card or eligible pass to join the Priority Lane and board first. If you're travelling on an AT Monthly Pass, you'll also need to show your Resident Card. You will board first and have first choice of available seating.

Our Customer Experience team manages the Priority Lane closely during our busiest times. Priority tickets are limited on each sailing. If a sailing reaches capacity, anyone still in the Priority Lane is first in line for the next departure.

You may miss priority boarding on your desired sailing, but you can still join the Priority Lane. You'll be asked to wait until everyone who arrived on time has boarded. After that, you'll board in order of arrival alongside the general Signature Walk-up queue, until the ferry is full. This keeps things fair for all customers who arrived on time.

Now is a good time to make sure you have a valid and up to date Resident Card as these will be regularly checked.