Waiheke Activities. Click on each activity to take you to that section. Alternatively, keep scrolling for the full experience
Boho Hill Boutique Accommodation Owner|Hosts, Neill & Michelle Clarke, share their Waiheke activities - play eat, drink & explore
Having once co-owned a luxury bespoke tour company on Waiheke — Michelle is the perfect person to share her island recommendations. Here, the former Purveyor of Unique Experiences tells us why a trip to this “Pacific Paradise” shouldn’t be complete without a stay at their beautiful boho chic accommodation, Boho Hill in Palm Beach, a summer hike with packed picnic or a bite of some top-notch fare.
Neill and Mich, on being early risers, love their daily walks along idyllic Palm & Little Palm Beaches, both of which incidentally, are only 300 steps from Boho’s doorstep. Another favourite thing of theirs are night walks along a Waiheke beach at Full Moon when the tide is full. Extraordinary. During winter, they love to thaw out after a full day in their outdoor cedar hot tub (which their guests can prebook in Winter as an added extra - it’s worth it), after a full day or sip on mulled wine in front of a fire on the deck of the cottage and toast (complimentary to our guests) marshmallows. If the weather’s dismal, and fishing (off anything) is off the cards, Mich (usually) books in for one of Yenny Jari’s deep tissue treatments — if there’s anything ailing you, she WILL FIX YOU. She’s worth every dollar you spend.
Play
Activities and shopping on Waiheke Island
Waiheke’s Community Cinema.
If you haven’t already been, you’re in for an absolute treat (but ring in and book your desired movie ahead or you might not be able to get in). They’ve about 20 old couches thrown in. Thread your way straight to the front row if you’ve arrived early. Make this night an event. Try not be like the rest of the audience not too long after the movie’s begun with your head thrown back, your jaw ajar and you’re fast asleep with the majority of them.
For perfect pre-cinema drinks or cocktails head to The Courtyard Bar & Restaurant in Oneroa where Kit, their Barman Extraordinaire, will mix you THE best Negronis this side of the Equator. Well, we think so at least! Their Bloody Marys are outrageous too! For dinner, head to Adajz (excellent curries) located next door to the cinema. Post cinema, if you’re not hotfooting it back to The Courtyard from whence you came pre-cinema drinks for their tiramisu, then enjoy dessert & cocktails at Fenice close by. If you attended an afternoon matinee, Island Gelato for their award winning gelato is perfect for a post-cinema OR dinner treat to enjoy whilst wandering around the village’s quaint boutiques.
Picnics at Goldies.
Neill and Mich rarely miss the opportunity to kick back at the island’s oldest vineyard with one of their artisan picnic baskets, a bottle of their rosé on a blanket up the hill under the sun. The relaxed surroundings will blow you away.
Shopping
On Saturday mornings, Christy’s Nourish Gardens Flower Farm for a wheelbarrow load of Christy’s fresh and dried flower bunches. One bunch of her exquisitely grown blooms is never enough.
Oneroa has become home to some chic retail.
I wholly recommend dropping into boutique homeware store Verandah in Oneroa for stylish homewares where the owner, Mary, curates everything so beautifully it’s impossible to walk out empty-handed. I rarely have. I love Timmy Smith for her unique jewellery pieces and for last minute gifts, Island Design in Oneroa and iconic True Blue in Ostend for nostalgic kiwiana.
For clothing, Greatest Friend has some pretty cool, hipster vintage finds.
No visit to Waiheke is complete without a trip to the Ostend Market on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm. From delicious juices to sampling locally made honey, the market provides an introspective cross section of Waiheke life, hippies and hipster included.
Eat
Restaurants, cafes and more on Waiheke Island
Italian long lunch at Poderi Crisci
This family owned vineyard and restaurant serves as the ultimate combination of exquisite food, quality wine and glorious scenery.
The Courtyard Restaurant and Garden Bar
In nearby Oneroa Village, this spot is renowned for its brunch & their cocktails - the Bloody Mary is like no other.
Ki Maha
This casual smart beachside restaurant is a recent opening in Onetangi. Their seared scallops are the best we’ve ever eaten anywhere.
Three Seven Two (372)
Another excellent beachfront eatery that we find hard resisting anything anytime. On their mouthwatering menu conceived by uber talented Chef, Bronwen Laight (formerly of Te Motu), the deep fried cabbage is an absolute must try. Also, If you thought you'd tried fish and chips all over, prepare your self for 372's version of it... Their whole melt-in-the-mouth flounder, bouillabaisse sauce, juicy Vanuatu organic prawns and saffron served with the perfect accompaniment of shoestring potatoes. A next level experience.
Wild On
The best calamari & on the planet can be devoured at Wild On.
Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant
Celebrating something really special? Mudbrick is always an absolute hit. It has excellent food and wine, an elegant setting, and is the perfect place to watch the sun set over the Auckland City skyline in the distance.
Te Matuku Bay Oysters
In Ostend, slurp down half a dozen freshly shucked oysters that were plucked out of the water a few kilometres away in Te Matuku Bay. Bring them home or take them down to the beach with you.
Akito
A cool new plant focused café,this is Michelle's go to for a hefty chunk of their decadent chocolate gateau (why I’ll never fit into a bikini)
Island Coffee
For freshly roasted coffee beans and some of the best coffee in the Hauraki
Little Tart Bakery
The perfect compliment to coffee, these guys have the most indulgent pastries and cakes (ooh, they're everything).
Palm Beach Store
Their toasted sandwiches are loved by all, as well as their really warm hospitality. Mark will make you feel like a Rock God!
Notable mentions
Other ‘Waihetian’ nods include Merchant for Supreme Coffee, Double Shot for theirs, La Dolce Vita for pizza & their Gelato, Little Oneroa Fish and Chips for the freshest fish and chips, Arcadia Restaurant and Bar for their steak nights on Wednesdays (steak night is our date-night) and Mint As (food cart) for their dynamic burgers (they make their own beef patties & homemade sauces) and hands down the best truffle fries on the island.
Drink
Wine and coffee on Waiheke Island
Obviously, being Waiheke, this could become a huge, long list. So we'll keep it brief with our favourites!
The Courtyard
Cocktails
Frenchmans Hill Estate
All their wine
Goldie
Reserve reds
Fenice
Cocktails
Mudbrick
Bubbles at sunset
Man O’ War
All their wines, as well as their fantastic non alcoholic ginger beer
Explore
Places to explore on Waiheke Island
A Boho Wine or Sightseeing Tour
A good way to get your bearings is to put yourself in the hands of a local guide for a private or small group tour. One of the first people you meet on the island is Michelle Clarke, your host at Boho Hill, of ex Waiheke Bespoke Tours. Michelle will greet you with hugs and introduce herself as a “purveyor of unique experiences”. Her emphasis is on luxury with a choose-your-own-adventure spirit.
Go for a Glorious Walk
Did you know Waiheke has over 100km of walking trails? If the hills are a bit too daunting, be sure to stroll on the golden sands of one of the island’s gorgeous beaches. Oneroa, Palm Beach and Onetangi beaches are firm favourites.
Go for a coastal walk; the little coves, the vast vistas, the birdlife, and the mansions that you see along the way appeal to most tastes, and the exercise is fantastic. It takes the appreciation to a whole new level.
A magical, must-do path is the Matiatia walkway, where New Zealand’s leading outdoor art exhibition, Sculpture on the Gulf, is held every two years. The event features a range of contemporary artistic concepts installed along a scenic coastal trail; think the Whitney amid a serene, natural environment.
Take a look at what some of our past guests have enjoyed on the Island
Lorna W
I grew up spending school holidays on Waiheke and so we are not the typical tourists to the island. We tend to spend all our time between our accommodation, the store for toasties (which are THE best), coffee and ice cream, and the beach and then sun downers at Arcadia on our way back to our accommodation. That’s my perfect holiday!
We have enjoyed a day trip to wander Stony Batter and eat lunch at Man O War looking over the beach. And on occasion we treat ourselves to an afternoon on the terrace (summer) or in the bistro (winter) at Mudbrick. A visit to Waiheke is not complete without an ice cream from Island Gelato - the seasonal flavours are always a treat - and a wander around the cute, boutique shops in Oneroa a given.
The Cottage was a lovely retreat from the business of organising and running a wedding. Peaceful, calming and quiet. It was a lovely space for me as the Bride to get ready and the small “box” room was perfect for getting dressed and hanging my dress up in the days beforehand, tucked away in secret from the groom! The bedroom was a pretty setting for photos surrounded by all the greenery.
Our wedding planner, Michelle Gras, was thrilled with how our wedding turned out at Palm Beach. It was her first wedding there and the first time she used the hall for the reception and she is now planning to promote it as a venue, particularly in these times when high-end weddings are not being planned.
Amba W
“We loved driving around the whole island in our hire car exploring the beaches and enjoying the scenery.
Taking a day trip to Mudbrick was our favourite. Enjoying snacks with the awesome view with some wine. Just divine. We also loved going on our winery tour. This was amazing. We weren't really there long enough to do much more.”
What can I say.. staying at Michelle & Neil’s place is like heaven on earth. I’ve stayed with them twice in both the cottage & studio and they are so preciously taken care off in every little detail. All
located in a beautiful tropical garden. The cottage even has a bathtub outside on your private terrace.. you can only feel relaxed staying here!
The beautiful Palm beach is just a stroll away and Arcadia restaurant for some fish of the day or enjoy a coffee from the grocery store. Waiheke has so much to offer, great beaches, great wine and great art are all just so close by.
I in particularly loved Tantalus winery for great wine & food, the best squid & ginger beer ever at Wild on Waiheke, beautiful modern cuisine at Three Seven Two located at the gorgeous Onetangi beach and the best ice cream of the island is at Island gelato company.
Take your time to visit all the nice art galleries in the main town centre but especially the incredible house of local artist Gabriella Lewenz.
And oh, a visit to the Saturday morning Ostend Market is not to be missed as well! I can’t wait to be back in this place I like to think of as home away from home...
Sachi M
“We spent 24 hours on Waiheke Island and were so glad we chose your cottage for our only night. Thanks again for accommodating us, we are truly grateful. This quick getaway made our honeymoon extra special.
Upon arrival, we enjoyed appetizers against a beautiful, scenic backdrop at Mudbrick Vineyard. From there, our next stop was Wild on Waiheke which was pleasantly empty so we got to chat with one of the Managers for a bit. Probably the most fun, spontaneous activity we did was archery, a
first for both of us. The Instructor was great too, very patient. Finally, we made our way to Tantalus Estate for more drinks and small bites. Spent the majority of the evening winding down in the cottage, a perfect break between our 2 major stops, Auckland and Queenstown. The following morning, we enjoyed a leisurely stroll on Palm Beach before grabbing coffees/sammies from Palm Beach Store to go and taking the ferry back to the city.
In regards to transportation, we only took a taxi once (from the port Matiatia to Mudbrick). The fare was so surprising that we only took the bus/walked from that point forward. Looking back, we could have been more proactive about seeking out bicycle rentals.
Can't wait to find ourselves back there in the future one day.”
Louis P and Duncan B
Our stay at Boho Hill was the perfect remedy to our busy lifestyles. My Husband is an ICU Nurse and I’m a small business owner, so we both needed a little getaway.
We absolutely adored the stay at Boho Hill, right from the moment we started walking down the path through the beautiful bush towards our accommodation for the night. We stayed in the cottage, and what a masterpiece it is! We adore the boho chic styling, feeling like we were immersed in a Balinese paradise! The cottage was very roomy, with a comfy bed and a lovely little outdoor bath.
We chose to drive our car over on the car ferry, as we love exploring backroads and seeing all the not-so-touristy spots! This worked out great, as we got to see so much beautiful scenery. One of our favourite spots is Woodside Bay, which has a lovely little sheltered beach.
Food-wise, for the first night we opted to grab takeaway burgers from Too Fat Buns in Oneroa. WOW they were great!
We also had some cinnamon brioches from the Palm beach store the next morning, which was lovely. We hear they make wonderful toasties there too!
The hosts, Michelle and Neill, are very lovely and welcoming. We’re sometimes a little hesitant staying at new places, but Michelle and Neill are so wonderful and welcome anyone and everyone to stay with them.
All in all, it was a wonderful trip and a top-notch place to stay. The only downside? Two nights just wasn’t enough to cover all the great Waiheke activities!
Sophie C
Having stayed at the cottage before we knew it had amazing amenities which made packing much easier and we did a grocery shop so we could make a few meals at home an enjoy the lovely surroundings of the property, because trust me it's hard to leave the idyllic location and serenity the cottage experience provides.
- We had our morning coffees from the local store which do a great flat white with all types of alternative milks available!
- We had a light dinner at the cute and cheerful Arcadia as once again we didn't want to travel too far.
- We caught the bus from the ferry terminal which was super easy and a 2min walk from the bus stop. Just make sure you have a hop card.
- We enjoyed swimming and beach walks along palm beach, the sunset is especially beautiful!
- Walking to Enclosure Bay is also really lovely and only takes about 30mins each way, aim to arrive at high tide if you want to take a dip!
- We loved sitting on the deck burning incense and drinking our morning coffees.
Other times on the island we have loved visitng:
- Casita Miro - beautiful tapas style lunch or dinner
- Onetangi beach for a great swim and if you prefer a longer beach walk
- Watching sunrise at the top of Trig Hill Road
- Zip-lining at Eco Zip adventures
- Mich took us to a lovely small french winery - Frenchman's Hill Estate
- Tantalus for an extravagant lunch
- Mudbrick is lovely to enjoy a beverage over a stunning view
- We always love checking out the art gallery in Oneroa Shops
- Too Fat Buns does great burgers in Oneroa
- We love the walk from little Oneroa to Oneroa and quite often stop up the top to have a freshly cooked Dragonfly Pizza.
There is something very inviting about Palm Beach that makes you not want to leave so these days we really enjoy staying local and taking time out to really relax and unwind.
