Waiheke Island Ferry and Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus

About This Experience

Fullers sells this combined ticket for exploring Waiheke Island on your own. It pairs a return Waiheke Walk-up ferry with a day pass on the Western Explorer hop-on hop-off bus, so it is transport, not a guided or narrated cruise. With 3,847 reviews and a 4.6 rating, it is the most-reviewed product on this site.

The day starts at the Downtown Ferry Terminal on Quay Street. You exchange your voucher for a boarding pass at the ticket office at least 60 minutes before sailing, then take the 9am ferry from Pier 11 or 12 for the 40-minute crossing to Matiatia. Piers can change during terminal works, so check the one on your boarding pass.

At Matiatia the Western Explorer leaves at 10am. The bus loops through 16 stops in about 80 minutes, including the Mudbrick, Cable Bay, Stonyridge and Batch vineyards, Allpress Olive Groves, Oneroa Village and Onetangi Beach. Hop off wherever you like and catch a later bus, or ride the full loop. An on-board host shares tips, and the Fullers360 app tracks the bus live. One reviewer noted the buses run about an hour apart, so plan your stops around that.

It suits independent travellers who want wineries, beaches and lunch on their own schedule without renting a car. If you want a set itinerary with tastings included, a guided wine tour will suit you better. Allow at least half a day, and more if you plan a long vineyard lunch.

Food, drinks, wine tastings and venue entry fees are paid on the day. The bus runs Wednesday to Sunday from April to November and daily from December to March, but not on Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday or ANZAC Day. Some venues close in winter. Prices start from $56 per person.

Highlights

• Return ferry across the Hauraki Gulf, about 40 minutes each way
• Hop-on hop-off bus looping 16 stops around western Waiheke
• Stops at Mudbrick, Cable Bay, Stonyridge and Batch vineyards
• Allpress Olive Groves, Oneroa Village and Onetangi Beach on the route
• Explore at your own pace and ride back to Matiatia when you are ready
• Live bus tracking in the Fullers360 app

What's Included

• ✓ Return Waiheke Walk-up ferry ticket from downtown Auckland
• ✓ Western Explorer hop-on hop-off bus pass for the full operating day
• ✓ Access to all 16 stops on the loop
• ✓ On-board host for local tips and trip planning
• ✓ Live bus tracking via the Fullers360 app

Not Included

• Food, drinks and wine tastings at vineyards and cafes
• Guided tours or entry fees at individual venues
• Hotel pickup and drop-off

What to Bring

• Your booking voucher and photo ID
• Comfortable walking shoes
• A rain jacket or warm layer
• Sunscreen and a hat
• Swimwear if you plan a beach stop
• A card for tastings and lunch

Good to Know & Caveats

• Exchange your voucher for a boarding pass at the ticket office at least 60 minutes before sailing.
• The bus leaves Matiatia at 10am, connecting with the 9am ferry. Bookings are essential; this is not a walk-up bus.
• Runs Wednesday to Sunday from April to November, daily from December to March; closed Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and ANZAC Day.
• Tickets are valid only on the date you select.
• Ferries leave Auckland about hourly between 9am and 4pm, more often at peak times; check the pier on your boarding pass.
• This is a ferry and bus ticket, not a guided cruise. Tastings and meals are paid separately.

Meeting Point

Downtown Ferry Terminal, Quay Street, Auckland CBD; exchange your voucher at the ticket office at least 60 minutes before the 9am sailing.