Waiheke

We love Waiheke and we want you to love it too. Here’s our guide on how to get here, where to stay, and what to do if you’re making a trip!

  • If you’re just joining us for our wedding day on Saturday 13 February 2027, we want to make things as easy for you as possible. We will have shuttles available to transport you to the wedding leaving the Waiheke Matiatia ferry carpark at 3pm and 3:30pm.

    Please catch either the 2pm or 2:30pm Fullers or 2:30pm Island Direct. Island Direct can be pre-booked from 13 August 2026 and guarantees you a seat, while Fullers have bigger and more boats and your ticket will be flexible.

    If you are travelling on Fullers, we recommend you arrive at Auckland ferry terminal no later than 1:30pm to make sure you get a space on one of the boats - it can be really busy in summer, especially as it’s Valentine’s weekend! Alternatively, you’re welcome to get an earlier sailing and enjoy lunch in Oneroa before meeting the shuttles back at Matiatia. If you miss the shuttles and haven’t made separate arrangements with us, you’ll need to arrange a taxi at the ferry terminal.

    There will also be two shuttles back from the wedding; one will leave at 10:30pm for the 11pm Fullers sailing, and the other will leave at 11pm for the 11:30pm Island Direct sailing.

    Please make sure you’ve let us know what ferries you plan to get either in your RSVP or by emailing alexandshaf@gmail.com so we can make sure you have space on the shuttles! If you need assistance booking special transport or have accessibility needs please let us know.

  • How exciting! If you’re not immediate family or in the bridal party*, there’s three things you’ll need to sort: transport, accommodation, and the wonderful activities you’re going to get up to!

    Transport to Waiheke

    You’ll want to book your ferry on either Fullers,‍ ‍Island Direct, or Sealink if you’re bringing a car. Island Direct and Sealink can be pre-booked from 13 August 2026 and guarantees you a seat, while Fullers have bigger and more boats and your ticket will be flexible.

    Transport to the wedding

    We will have shuttles available to transport guests to the wedding leaving the Waiheke Matiatia ferry carpark at 3pm and 3:30pm on Saturday 13 February. This means you can either return to the ferry terminal to catch a shuttle from your accommodation (almost all of the island’s buses go to Matiatia), drive yourselves (see “I want to bring a car over”), catch the 502 bus (ask the driver to let you out at Margaret Reeve Lane), or organise private transport (see “I need a taxi”). The ceremony starts at 4:30pm, so please aim to be there by then!

    Transport home from the wedding

    There are a few options depending on where you’re staying and how much of a party animal you plan to be.

    • If you’ve brought a car over and have or are a sober driver, you’re sorted! Just make sure you’ve told us so we can arrange parking (see “I want to bring a car over”)

    • If your accommodation is in Oneroa, you can jump in one of the shuttles going to the ferry terminal at 10:30pm and 11pm.

    • If your accommodation is our accommodation is on the 502 bus line, the last buses will go past the end of Margaret Reeve Lane at 10:12pm and 11:42pm.

    • If your accommodation is elsewhere, you want to stay to the very end, or you need to leave early, we recommend you pre-book a taxi (see “I need a taxi”).

    Accommodation

    Waiheke is full of wonderful places to stay, and it’s a bigger island than you’d think! Our favourite spaces are Palm Beach (which is on the 502 bus route) and Onetangi Beach, and Oneroa is also a great option if you want to check out some of Waiheke’s great shops and cafes while being close to the ferry. There’s plenty of options on booking.com, Airbnb, and bookabach.co.nz to suit all group sizes and needs. If you’re after a specific recommendation, we’ve pulled together a few easy options:

    • Onetangi Beach Apartments - right on Onetangi, and next to some of Waiheke’s best restaurants

    • Boatsheds on the Bay - seafront views into Putiki Bay and just across the water from the Cole family property, these cabins are a great option and the apartment can accommodate children and babies

    • Palm Beach Bungalows - simple cabins near one of the most beautiful beaches on the island

    • Kererū Cabin - a great option that sleeps four at Onetangi

    • Karaka Sanctuary - a wonderful spot for a big group (it sleeps eight!) in Oneroa, with a spa pool

    Activities

    There’s SO many options for your time on Waiheke! Here’s just a few we recommend:

    • If you’re here on Saturday morning, make sure you get yourself to the Ostend Farmers Market for delicious coffees, treats, and handmade goods

    • Visiting a winery is the classic Waiheke experience. We really recommend Batch, Tantalus and Awaroa. Book ahead for lunch or check website for cellar door hours. You may also want to do a wine tour to maximise your options! If you’re short on time but want to try great wine - well, first of all, there will be plenty at the wedding, but you can also check out the Waiheke Island Wine Centre; they’re really friendly and run tastings in store with a great range.

    • The beaches on the island are gorgeous and we highly recommend you explore and get a nice dip in! Onetangi Beach and Palm Beach (normally the non-nudist side, but you do you) are our favourites.

    • We highly recommend the Allpress Tasting Room, the Heke, Ki Māha and Three Seven Two for a special meal out.

    • Te Ara Hura is a network of walking tracks around the whole island, and we highly recommend picking a section and exploring.

    • We love a good horse tour, and recommend Waiheke Horse Tours if you do too.

    *We’d love to accommodate all our wonderful guests, but need to prioritise immediate family and the bridal party. Your RSVP will say if your accommodation is provided.

  • Waiheke is old-school, and Uber and related apps won’t work here. We recommend you pre-book any taxis you’ll need, as summer weekends can be very busy! All drivers should take card, but they’ll really appreciate it if you pay in cash (and sometimes knock a few dollars off).

  • If you want the flexibility of bringing your own car over, please pre-book your car ferry on sealink.co.nz when they become available in November 2026. Choose a ferry that arrives no later than 3pm on Saturday 13 February 2027. You‘ll probably need to stay on the island overnight, as the last car ferry leaves at 5:40pm and you’d miss the whole reception!

    Please note there will be very limited parking available on the day. Please let us know in advance on alexandshaf@gmail.com if you will require parking.