Auckland is known for its sails, amazing café scene, and adventurous hikes up the likes of Mount Eden; Queenstown is all about exhilarating activities and breathtaking landscapes.
Waiheke Island is another one of many, many destinations in New Zealand that evokes a newfound passion for traveling. Only a 45-minute ferry ride from Downtown Auckland Terminal, Waiheke Island is replete with beaches, art galleries, charming cafes, and crisp, fresh air. My friends and I booked a return ticket from Fullers360 and embarked on an adventure to an unassuming island located where the Tasman Sea collides with the South Pacific Ocean.
As the ferry glided across the sea at full speed and our hair repeatedly whipped our faces, we managed to take a few timelapse shots of the changing Auckland sky. The sea dazzled under the comforting winter sun while the luscious greenery that fringed the shores moved past us in a flash of color.
The ferry docks at Matiatia Bay and once you disembark, you have the chance to make a choice that will alter the way the rest of the trip unfolds. So, choose wisely.
A mountain bike means that you slip and slide along the undulating path while a Hop-On-Hop-Off bus restricts your movement - and you really do not want to be stuck in an air-conditioned bus with a bunch of strangers on a charming island. Walking, however, will be rewarding, remarkable, and adventurous. And so, it will not come as a surprise that we chose to walk past the many shops, cafes, and beaches at Waiheke to make the most of our limited time here.
Art cafes and amazing galleries greet you at your first stop i.e. Oneroa Village. Explore some of the local shops to buy a few choice mementos, talk to the locals as they are kind and recommend some amazing places to eat, and bask in the serene and tranquil atmosphere. We were smart enough to travel to an island in the middle of peak winter, which is why we had the vast expanse of Oneroa Beach to ourselves - for that brief period in time, we owned that place. After writing our names in the sand to mark the spot, as one does, we hiked over mossy rocks, climbed atop the sharp, and in my opinion, particularly precarious, rocky coast, and found a lone stranger to take some snapshots for us as a keepsake.
The experience left us feeling exhilarated and utterly mesmerized with the absence of commercial establishments anywhere near the beach and the presence of well-behaved visitors who were at the very least aware that nature was not our prerogative. Most importantly, the freedom we felt as we danced to Sufi music with careless abandon remains unrivaled.
The only thing that came close to Oneroa Beach was the scrumptious and mouth-watering meal at The Wai Kitchen. They had a cute pupper, chirping sparrows pecking at crumbs, and an unparalleled view of the sea to accompany the most decadent meal. Post-lunch, a trip to Mudbrick Vineyard offered some exquisite landscapes with a few, now memorable, times when we lost our way, and a view that made us take a moment; an honest, unadulterated moment.
Sampling some delicious house wines in a lovely garden against the setting sun, we realized that New Zealand's beauty was truly inexplicable. Each day that I spent here taught me the importance of the world that lay beyond human boundaries. New Zealand is a country where nature is appreciated, preserved, and respected not with a warped anthropomorphic objective, but simply because it is worth it.
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Pro Tip: Visit some of the backpacker hostels even if you don't plan to stay there! They will be happy to hook you up with discount coupons and useful brochures.
Useful (and fun) Links for your New Zealand Adventure!
Budget Accommodation: JUCY Snooze
Car Rental: JUCY
Adventure: Peterpans Travel & Tours
until next time ~
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