Wine on Waiheke Island

I only spent a day on Waiheke Island but it was worth a day trip if you are in Auckland. I’d recommend buying a ticket in advance for a specific time slot because crowds can be crazy in the summer on the weekend. If you’re not local it can be difficult to navigate and if you have a general ticket there is no guarantee that you will get on the next boat you queue for. We arrived about 25 minutes before the next boat and we were one of the last few people let on our boat. 

The boat ride is only 40 minutes and particularly pleasant if it's sunny. The island itself is a pinnacle of rich and successful life for Auckland’s wealthiest. With a population of almost 10,000, the port is filled with lavish yachts and sailboats. Walking along the beaches, you can see beautiful holiday homes with incredible architecture, some made entirely of glass with large decks and outdoor pools. 

We went to Ostend Road which was buzzing with tourists and full of relaxing holidaygoers. It certainly is the place for hen parties and weddings. There are organic food stores with cheese and pastries, and wine stores with local alcohol produced on the island. We then taxied up to Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant, driving past fields of vineyards and crops through the hills on the way there. At the top of the hill, you can see the ocean and a fantastic panoramic view of many vineyards. The rustic, romantic ambience of the restaurant makes it a popular venue for weddings and parties, as the inside of the restaurant has open panelling to view outside onto the fields. The outdoor seating is to the restaurant's left where you can also look out to the horizon. 

Behind the venue is a bar and another seating area with high tables on a large patio and bean bags and benches on the grass with slight stairs to go up the hill. You can explore the vineyards and walk through the fields around. The entire venue is beautifully picturesque and I can see why so many people spend long weekends or celebrations on the island. 

Hopefully, it's not long before I can explore the rest of the island!