Waiheke Island is one of Auckland’s favourite recreational boating destinations. Now the new facilities at Waiheke Island Marina, at Kennedy Bay in the island’s southwest, are offering shelter and convenience to not only those who live on the island or owners who want to leave their boats there long-term, but also the hordes of visitors who flock to its shores.
The marina is marketing itself as “New Zealand’s first true destination marina” – as not only a place for boats to ‘live’ but welcoming guests for short and longer stays. It offers Aucklanders and those from further afield a place to base their boat while they head off to enjoy the land-based delights that Waiheke has to offer – and there are many.
Top of the list for many people are the more than 30 wineries scattered across its green and undulating slopes, but there are also numerous restaurants and cafes, craft breweries, cool little shopping centres, beaches and a huge regional park, at Whakanewha, just east of Kennedy Bay. Most of the day trippers, and even a lot of boaties, touch just the tip of the iceberg through visiting Waiheke’s western gateway at Matiatia and the village at Oneroa, but there is much more to explore.
Waiheke has an ample coastline and plenty of great anchorages, but every boatie has the same problem: not wanting be too far away from their vessel, in case the wind changes or comes up, or some other situation means they need to move their pride and joy. There’s nothing worse than standing on top of a hill admiring a gorgeous vista and realising that it’s your boat that’s dragging its way through the anchorage below – unless it’s getting back to the beach and finding someone has nicked your dinghy.
Waiheke Island Marina was opened in late 2023, and is the City of Sails’ newest such facility. It’s right next to the Sealink depot, where the car ferries from Auckland city and Half Moon Bay arrive and depart, tucked into a quiet and picturesque bay, with a pretty beach. Unlike many marinas which have a lot of hard infrastructure linking them to the land, this sits lightly on its environment: it’s floating on it, actually. And that’s not only the pontoons: the whole administration and facilities block, and even a carpark, actually sit on the water.
The architect-designed marina office complex, with its butterfly roof, looks like it’s just alighted on the surface of the sea. The whole structure was actually built in Whangārei and made its own little journey by sea to the Waiheke site.
Because the marina is new, everything is, well, new – from that swooshy admin block to the toilet and shower facilities and the docking facilities. There’s also space for an on-the-water function centre and café to be developed, which would make the marina a destination for landlubbers as well. The marina is aiming to attract not just those with larger boats but those in smaller craft, such as jetskis, kayaks, paddlerboarders and trailer boats – anything that arrives by water – offering a place to tie up, access facilities and leave their craft and head off on land.
As well as visiting boaties being able to bus off around the island – it’s all part of the AT network, so you just take your HOP card and away you go – the island has a taxi service, and there are shuttle services and tours available. But, in a clever move, the marina is also offering its own rental cars and e-bikes which visitors can book and use to get around.
We were lucky enough to be invited over to check out the facilities in late 2024. We were also exceptionally lucky to get a burst of “February weather” – sunny, hot and windless – before Christmas, to give us a window to head to Waiheke on our Pelin Challenger.
We headed off from Auckland on a sunny Saturday morning, the marina and a lunch booking in our sights. Aside from knowing roughly where the marina was, it’s too new to be on our electronic chart and even Google Maps. Fortunately, we can just follow the bright red Sealink ferry, and the forest of marina piles appears as we approach Kennedy Bay.
We come in the well-marked entrance and make our way around the curve of the marina to our designated spot for the night. Check-in is easy, then we jump in our rental car (a very smart signwriten MG SUV) and it’s off to the Batch Winery nearby, a less-than-ten-minute drive. It’s the perfect day for a delightful platter lunch and of course a wine tasting (the Thomas Sparkling Cuvée Rosé is a particular favourite). The Batch has spectacular views to the north and west but although we can’t actually see our boat, we know we don’t have to worry about it: it’s tied up safely in its berth and isn’t going anywhere.
There’s not really much room after lunch, but it’s not a trip to Waiheke unless you go to Island Gelato at Oneroa, so we head there for a few scoops in the sunshine (Pic’s Peanut Butter Caramel is a hit) before cruising around the shops (there’s always good stuff in the Chances Surf Shop). We’re used to anchoring at Little Oneroa and walking up to the township for a visit so it’s a bit strange (and very convenient) to arrive by car, and not have to make the hot walk up the hill.
Back at the boat – which is, unsurprisingly, right where we left it – the adults can kick back in the cockpit while the kids paddleboard in the calm waters of the marina. At high tide
I follow them into the beach for a delightful first swim of the season. It’s nice to then be able to have a proper shower in the marina facilities block, rather than a water-saving sprinkle on the boat. I have to say, these are the nicest marina facilities (and public toilets) I have ever seen: more like a hotel, with beautiful timber finishes, tile floors and plenty of hot water.
We don’t need to eat much after our lovely lunch but the kids are hungry again, so we hop back in the rental car and head for Onetangi, to have dinner at Charlie Farley’s on the beach. We don’t usually get to Onetangi on the boat because it’s not a great anchorage, so it’s great to be able to visit here on a ‘boating’ weekend. Plus, when we get back to the boat after dark we don’t have to get everyone in the dinghy to get back ‘home’; we simply park the car and walk down the pier – another plus for being in the marina.
After a quiet night – no rolling, swinging chine slap or anchor woes – we head off the next day on another summery stunner to visit somewhere you really need a car to get to: Stony Batter Historic Reserve, down the eastern end of the island. Driving there really gives you a sense of how big Waiheke is; beyond Onetangi there’s a huge expanse of private land, the road dipping and rolling around the grassy hills and offering fabulous views of the Hauraki Gulf.
Stony Batter’s World War Two underground fort complex is an absolute must-see if you’re able to get to this end of the island. A guided tour takes us deep into the tunnels and reveals some of the secrets of this incredible site, which has tunnels running seven storeys underground, hidden operations rooms, gun emplacements and art displays responding to its incredible history. Plus, if you drive in a loop on the way back you pass through Man O’ War Bay, one of our favourite places to visit on the boat due to the winery and restaurant right in the middle of the beach, if you have time to stop for a rosé.
We, however, need to get back to the real world, so it’s back to the marina to drop off the car, drop the mooring lines and start motoring home. A weekend at Waiheke is always a good time, but this has been a great opportunity to experience it a little differently: to do more exploring on shore, without having to worry about the boat while we’re off having adventures. Staying over at the marina would be great if you were coming out for a special occasion lunch or dinner, bringing out a group of friends, or just want to spend more time on land, making the most of everything Waiheke has to offer, knowing that your boat is safe and secure, and that you can have a very decent hot shower. Waiheke Island Marina has made a significant contribution to the recreational boating facilities of the Hauraki Gulf, and it’s going to be a popular spot.
Words by Sarah Ell Photos by Peter Rees Photography
