5 Best Places To Stay On Waiheke Island (Areas & Hotels)

From hotels to holiday homes and hostels, find a place to stay on Waiheke Island for all budgets.

a view of onetangi beach from high on a hill — *Holiday homes at Onetangi Beach*

There are so many things to do on Waiheke Island that you need to stay at least two nights.

Every time I’ve visited for the day, I’ve felt like the trip was too short (and taking the ferry home after touring vineyards is never a good idea).

Waiheke has been dubbed the ‘Hamptons of Auckland’ and it has something of a glamorous, escapist feel to it. Spending a few nights gives you time to visit vineyards, enjoy the gorgeous beaches, and soak up the laid-back island vibes.

There aren’t any massive hotels on Waiheke Island, but you will find smaller boutique lodges, as well as many holiday homes for rent (New Zealanders call them baches) and one really great backpacker hostel for budget travellers.

Here are my best tips for finding a place to stay on Waiheke, and making the most of this incredible island.

I haven’t tried to put together a comprehensive list of places to stay — there are too many little gems to list all of them. It’s worth sifting through a few listings to find properties that suit what you’re looking for, whether that’s an infinity pool or perfect privacy surrounded by native bush.

A quick note — some links in this post are affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you! I am very grateful when you support me by booking through these links.

Key takeaways

Find Waiheke hotels and B & Bs on Booking.com
Use Airbnb or Bookabach (sometimes cheaper) to find gorgeous local holiday homes and baches
The best budget accommodation on Waiheke is the Waiheke Backpacker’s Hostel — book on Hostelworld

Waiheke Island map of the areas and vineyards

Where to stay on Waiheke

Waiheke has a handful of small village centres.

Most places to stay on Waiheke are clustered around Oneroa, Palm Beach, Ostend or Onetangi.

These areas are easily accessed by public bus, and are walking distance to many restaurants, wineries, and beaches.

Oneroa accommodation

Oneroa Village is the main area of Waiheke — locals call Oneroa ‘town’.

Staying in Oneroa means you’re nice and close to the ferry terminal, as well as the glorious Oneroa Beach and a lovely little shopping centre.

Here you’ll find a Four Square supermarket, a pharmacy, cafes, and a gelato stand.

There are great restaurants in Oneroa and a livelier vibe than elsewhere on the island.

This is usually the first stop for people getting off the ferry at the main Matiatia ferry terminal. It’s only a 5 minute drive or 20 minute walk over a small hill to the town centre.

The best places to stay in Oneroa:

Palm Beach accommodation

Palm Beach is a lovely quiet place to stay on Waiheke. Get coffee from the local cafe, Arcadia, or enjoy a swim at the beach.

You can also walk around the rocks on the western end of Palm Beach to reach Little Palm Beach — just be aware it’s a nudist beach.

It’s a very relaxed environment and you’ll see people of all ages tanning naked, a little slice of hippie Waiheke.

Look for Palm Beach accommodation on Airbnb

Ostend

Ostend is a little further away from the beach, but it has a Countdown supermarket and a couple of good takeaway shops.

It’s also on the bus route, so easy enough to get around from here.

When I stayed in an Airbnb in Ostend with a group of friends, we liked being a 30 minute walk from Palm Beach, and a short taxi ride from vineyards and The Heke.

Waiheke Island Guesthouse, a lovely budget friendly option

Onetangi accommodation

Onetangi Beach is a long, white-sand beach on the eastern side of the island.

It’s further away from the ferry terminal than Oneroa (around 40 minutes on the bus, and the last stop on the routes) but Onetangi is a great place to stay on Waiheke because it’s so close to a lot of the best vineyards.

Casita Miro, Tantalus, Te Motu, and Wild on Waiheke are all walking distance (30 minutes) of Onetangi Beach, or a short taxi ride away.

Along Onetangi Beach are a couple of restaurants and a small cafe. There’s also a Four Square supermarket a short walk from the beach, as well as a liquor store and petrol station.

Places to stay in Onetangi:

If you’re comfortable with simple, shared accommodation, I highly recommend the Waiheke Backpacker’s Hostel. Perched on top of a hill above the beach, the views from the front lawn of this hostel are incredible. It’s also clean and tidy, so for $55 a night (what I paid for a two-bed dorm room) it’s great value accommodation.

Vineyard (and olive grove) accommodation on Waiheke Island

Mudbrick

Mudbrick offer a range of accommodation options to suit different budgets, group sizes, and tastes. For a romantic getaway for two, the gorgeous Settlers Hut is hard to beat.

The ultimate Mudbrick stay is the luxury self-contained lodge, which has three bedrooms and incredible sea views. It’s also walking distance to the Mudbrick restaurants.

Luxury places to stay on Waiheke

Delamore Lodge

Delamore Lodge provides upscale, boutique accommodation. Perched on a clifftop overlooking the pristine waters of the Hauraki Gulf, this luxurious lodge offers an unparalleled sense of serenity and natural beauty.

While not a vineyard itself, Delamore Lodge complements the island's wine culture perfectly.

Its boutique design, featuring just five beautifully appointed suites and a two-bedroom villa, ensures an intimate and personalised experience.

Marino Ridge

Marino Ridge is a luxurious private retreat with unparalleled views of native forest and glittering coastline.

Boutique hotels on Waiheke Island

Waiheke Island doesn’t have any large, chain hotels — that’s part of the charm.

There are a number of boutique hotels though, with a limited number of rooms but top notch hotel facilities.

These places are a great option if you prefer hotel quality, or want to resist the number of Airbnb lets that push locals out of rental properties.

The Oyster Inn Waiheke

The Oyster Inn is one of Waiheke’s top restaurants, but it also has three welcoming rooms for guests.

The rooms have the white-washed, pared back style of beach shacks. White-painted beams and shutters give the place a rustic but relaxed flair.

Kilim rugs and crisp linens complete the picture.

Staying in a bach (holiday home) on Waiheke Island

Booking a bach on Waiheke is a great way to experience the island.

There are still some small, charming places that hark back to the days when the island was a hippie enclave, mixed in with the more upmarket and newer holiday homes.

This is also the best way to find Waiheke accommodation in the middle of the range - not luxury lodges, but it’s not budget backpacker accommodation either.

BeMyGuest Waiheke lists a portfolio of luxury holiday homes
Stay Waiheke also offers curated holiday home listings
BookaBach is another great place to find entire homes

Airbnbs on Waiheke

Fleetwood Waiheke

Fleetwood Waiheke is an Airbnb on the island in a gorgeous, peaceful spot close to Poderi Crisci.

It’s walking distance to Poderi Crisci if you want to book in for a long weekend lunch, and there are native bush walks around the property as well.

Cheap places to stay on Waiheke Island

Although Waiheke sometimes feels like a playground for the rich, there’s still accommodation for budget travellers and more adventurous souls.

Waiheke Backpackers Hostel

Waiheke Backpackers Hostel is a little hidden gem. Run by Auckand Council, it’s perched on a hilltop with stunning views of the Hauraki Gulf.

Although the rooms are simple, the location and views make this an awesome place to stay for anyone on a budget.

A mixed dorm costs $45 a night, which isn’t bad for a stay on Waiheke.

Poukaraka Flats Campground

At $16 a night, the Poukaraka Flats Campground might be the cheapest place to stay on Waiheke.

The campground is located in Whakanewha Regional Park, near a quiet bay rich with bird spotting opportunities.

From the campground, you’re within walking distance to wineries and waterfalls, so it’s a great spot to settle in and make a home base.

The facilities are fairly limited though, so you need to be somewhat self sufficient.

Waiheke Island FAQs

How can you get to Waiheke Island?

Getting to Waiheke Island is easy. I recommend the Island Direct ferry, but Fullers also runs frequent and reliable ferry services every hour fro downtown Auckland.

You can take your luggage on the ferry, and the island is small enough that you can catch a public bus or take a taxi to most accommodation places.

Is it worth going to Waiheke Island?

Waiheke Island is one of the best places in New Zealand to go for wine, beaches, food, and a laid-back island lifestyle. It’s well worth visiting for at least a day and staying overnight if you have time.

How long should you stay on Waiheke Island?

A weekend getaway or stay of 2-3 days is ideal for Waiheke. By staying for two days, you can visit several wineries, enjoy Waiheke’s excellent restaurants, and take in some of the other activities on offer, such as the beaches and walking trails.

If you’re planning a trip to Waiheke Island, you might like to check out these posts:

The best walks in Auckland (including Waiheke Island trails)
The best things to do in Auckland — Waiheke Island is absolutely one of the top things to do!