Ahh, Waiheke Island. J'adore, Je t'aime. No they don't speak French there but the island brings out my romantic French side :) Waiheke Island is off the coast of Auckland, the North Island of New Zealand. It had everything I loved about New Zealand, and everything I love about my home island Maui!
The island was extremely green like New Zealand, had sheep grazing the hillsides, friendly locals, and it was covered in wineries! It had the similar island-living lifestyles like Maui where everyone is endearing, appreciative of where and how they live, and has a small town feel where everyone knows each other. Not to mention is was a beautiful island and the only New Zealand town that didn't rain at all while we were there.
We took a ferry from Auckland to Waiheke Island, only about a 30 minute ride. The ferry ride was pretty, seeing the approaching green hilly land with beautiful blue waters surrounding it. We had spent the past week and a half driving our camper van from South Island to North Island, staying in Holiday Parks/RV parks and exploring along the way. This side trip to Waiheke was a last minute decision in our planning process and we weren't sure what to expect. Our friend Catiy lived in Waiheke for awhile and highly recommended we stop by. I don't think she realized how perfect it was for us.
This part of our trip we didn't have to worry about driving, so could be more liberal during the wine tastings :) And that we did. The sun was out for our whole stay, contrary to the winter-like conditions we endured most of the time on the mainland of New Zealand, yet it was still more nippy than our Maui weather we are spoiled with. But that temperature was perfection for Jon who likes a bit of a chill because he's so hot blooded... he literally is my heater when I'm cold. The locals were talkative and sweetness. They were genuinely interested in our journey, rather than some of the people we met just pretending like they care while we tasted their winery's wine. Also, the food was yummy.
The second Backpacker (or hostel) we stayed at was about a 15-20 minute walk from the main street in town that had everything you needed. We hung out along that main street most of the time there. Walking distance is our favorite kind of town. Getting out into the fresh air as you walk to get a cappuccino in the morning is a beautiful start to the day. And we are unconsciously exercising more... which means more indulging in calories the rest of the day!
 |
| View from our backpackers |
The first backpacker we made our way to was Kina Backpackers in Onetangi. Pretty far from the main town but was a beautiful spot! Up along real estate that I imagine goes for 100s of thousands of dollars, this backpacker was so sick. The common room was covered with flags from all over the world, an extensive, and rather interesting, movie selection (including Flight of the Conchords), and a big screen TV with video game consoles. We didn't spend much time here, just needed a place to put our bags while we explored, and a place to sleep. The next day we moved to the only other backpacker that was much closer to the main town.
 |
| Now that's a meal with a view! |
 |
| Waiting for the bus back at the harbor after wine tasting |
 |
| I dared him to.. the wine helped |
 |
| View for dinner at Charlie Farley's |
 |
| Fuzzy dinner pic, eating fish n chips, a fish filet, and soup |
 |
| Took the bus to a winery and walked to all the nearby wineries. Started here at Goldie's Vineyard |
 |
| Another winery with a tire swing like in Marlborough- kiwis must realize buzzed wine-os like to swing on tire swings after a tasting.. :) |
 |
| Wine and beer tasting at Wild on Waiheke Vineyards and Restaurant, with some hummus, pesto, olives, and bread |
 |
| Another similarity to Maui, a push to buy local to keep the island sustained |
 |
| Our friend Catiy's old work spot |
 |
| Midday cappuccino |
This island was full of the nicest people. While waiting at the bus stop, a local pulls over to give a local lady a ride because he saw her waiting at the bus stop for over 30 minutes. She refused but we recognized this guy. He was our bus driver when we traveled between backpackers, and he drove us while he was off the clock (we were waiting at the stop which is usually his last stop before lunch). We chatted with him, being the only 2 people in a huge bus. So I ran up and said Hi!! Remember us?! How are you? He's all "good! Do YOU wan a ride?" We're like... sure!
Mom and Dad-- at least our hitch hiking was with a person we kinda knew!
 |
| Oneroa Beach below the main street |
 |
| This beach was covered with shells! Something you don't find in Maui because with the massive amount of tourists that snatch them up. |
 |
| Skipping rocks and clams |
 |
| Proposing to me with a clam shell hehe |
 |
| All the clams wash ashore and these birdies eat the clams. SO when I was trying to take a pic of this cool clam shell Jon found for me, this guy comes up to check to see if the clam is still alive to eat it... He was rather territorial and aggressive haha |
 |
| Dinner. At Vino e Vino, not the ducks haha! |
 |
| Morning breakfast from our packs. New Zealand jam and bread |
 |
| Morning coffee with a view |
While shopping on this main street, we were in a bracelet shop with random little shirts and clothing. I bought the shirt seen in the next picture at this shop. The lady selling it to me was obsessed and said it looked so good and she's not a liar, she'd tell me if it looked bad, blah blah blah. Anyways, she was a good sweet sales person. And then she went on to explain the life story of the lady that had just left the shop and I agreed and had some deep conversations about judgmental people and accepting others for who they are, etc. She asked what our story is, what we were doing in Waiheke. She loved our journey and our love story and said "you guys are so cool, why don't you just take a bracelet! It's my gift to you." She was so sweet! So we got matching bracelets. (Which I later gave to my BFF and I because Jon isn't really a bracelet person)
 |
| Failing terrible at a jumping picture... over and over again |
 |
| And then we gave up |
 |
| I had to get in, but brrrr! |
 |
| The lady working here was the sweetest, and helped us plan our winery trip on foot and bus... and hitch hike :D |
 |
| Stony Ridge Winery |
 |
| Waiting for the bus, gotta get back to the harbor to catch our midnight flight out of Auckland |
 |
| A pretty typical lunch for us |
 |
| Hummus, crackers, olives, etc. |
 |
| Good bye Waiheke |
 |
| Our last hard ciders in New Zealand :( |
 |
| Auckland |
 |
| Walking off into the sunset |
 |
| Dinner at Giapo, the gelato place. Jon got Chocolate Peanut Butter, and Chocolate Hazelnut |
 |
| And me with Caramel Popcorn :) |
 |
| Sunrise from the plane. Good bye New Zealand |
And that concludes our New Zealand trip. A jam packed two weeks- that's how we tend to do international trips... It's like if you pay so much and suffer through the 10 hour plane ride... I want to see it all!
A few weeks after our trip something came in the mail for me from Jon for my birthday. While we were in Waiheke checking out the local boutique shops, I found this adorable children's book written by local Waiheke authors. This book was perfect for us. It's about a wine cork's journey along the ocean (ahem... wine... ocean... travel... That describes us!) What a perfect souvenir from our favorite New Zealand island, something for our future children. The price was a little ridiculous in the moment and we didn't buy it. But I thought about it the rest of the trip. SO Jonny works his magic and had the author sign the book, the book's sequel, and send it to me for my birthday!!
 |
My favorite quote is from the second book "Let's wiggle and waltz and shimmy and sway,
Let's live for the moment and dance every day!" |
Ahh, Waiheke Island. J'adore, Je t'aime. No they don't speak French there but the island brings out my romantic French side :) Waiheke Island is off the coast of Auckland, the North Island of New Zealand. It had everything I loved about New Zealand, and everything I love about my home island Maui! 
The island was extremely green like New Zealand, had sheep grazing the hillsides, friendly locals, and it was covered in wineries! It had the similar island-living lifestyles like Maui where everyone is endearing, appreciative of where and how they live, and has a small town feel where everyone knows each other. Not to mention is was a beautiful island and the only New Zealand town that didn't rain at all while we were there.
We took a ferry from Auckland to Waiheke Island, only about a 30 minute ride. The ferry ride was pretty, seeing the approaching green hilly land with beautiful blue waters surrounding it. We had spent the past week and a half driving our camper van from South Island to North Island, staying in Holiday Parks/RV parks and exploring along the way. This side trip to Waiheke was a last minute decision in our planning process and we weren't sure what to expect. Our friend Catiy lived in Waiheke for awhile and highly recommended we stop by. I don't think she realized how perfect it was for us.
This part of our trip we didn't have to worry about driving, so could be more liberal during the wine tastings :) And that we did. The sun was out for our whole stay, contrary to the winter-like conditions we endured most of the time on the mainland of New Zealand, yet it was still more nippy than our Maui weather we are spoiled with. But that temperature was perfection for Jon who likes a bit of a chill because he's so hot blooded... he literally is my heater when I'm cold. The locals were talkative and sweetness. They were genuinely interested in our journey, rather than some of the people we met just pretending like they care while we tasted their winery's wine. Also, the food was yummy.
The first backpacker we made our way to was Kina Backpackers in Onetangi. Pretty far from the main town but was a beautiful spot! Up along real estate that I imagine goes for 100s of thousands of dollars, this backpacker was so sick. The common room was covered with flags from all over the world, an extensive, and rather interesting, movie selection (including Flight of the Conchords), and a big screen TV with video game consoles. We didn't spend much time here, just needed a place to put our bags while we explored, and a place to sleep. The next day we moved to the only other backpacker that was much closer to the main town.
