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Waiheke Island Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus
Waiheke Island, New Zealand
Likely to Sell Out
From $48.86
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Free cancellation
Up to 4 days in advance.
Waiheke Island Tours
Attractions
Recommendations
- 6 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Explore Waiheke Island at your own pace, with all-day tickets for a hop-on, hop-off island explorer bus. Plan the perfect day with help from the onboard host, then see the things that interest you most, choosing from 8 stops near vineyards, galleries, beaches, and trailheads. This full-day Waiheke Island experience offers a personalized combination of nature, culture, and food, and departs from Matiatia every 30 minutes throughout the day.
- Hop-on, hop-off bus tour of Waiheke Island
- See the island on your own
- Get tips from the onboard host
- Choose from 8 stops around Waiheke
- Departs from the Matiatia ferry terminal
What's Included
- Driver/guide
- Live commentary on board
- Tour escort/host
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting And Pickup
Start time
12:00 AM
What To Expect
Make your way to the Matiatia ferry terminal, where this island explorer departs every 30 minutes from 9am until 7:15pm.
Take a spin around the island as the driver shares a running commentary on Waiheke history and culture, or hop off at stops along the way. The 8 stops on the island explorer route are carefully selected, so you can see the best of the island in a single day.
Tour some of the 30 vineyards on Waiheke Island to taste locally-made wines, then visit one of the island restaurants for a gourmet lunch or dinner. There are picture-perfect beaches along the way, and trails that lead to sweeping views of the Coromandel Peninsula. Ask for tips on where to stop for the best shopping and galleries, then loop back to Matiatia, where you can finish the tour—or hop back on the bus for another trip around scenic Waiheke Island.
Take a spin around the island as the driver shares a running commentary on Waiheke history and culture, or hop off at stops along the way. The 8 stops on the island explorer route are carefully selected, so you can see the best of the island in a single day.
Tour some of the 30 vineyards on Waiheke Island to taste locally-made wines, then visit one of the island restaurants for a gourmet lunch or dinner. There are picture-perfect beaches along the way, and trails that lead to sweeping views of the Coromandel Peninsula. Ask for tips on where to stop for the best shopping and galleries, then loop back to Matiatia, where you can finish the tour—or hop back on the bus for another trip around scenic Waiheke Island.
Main Route
16 Stops
9 Points of Interest
Duration: 6 hours
Operating Schedule: Departs every 60mins. First departure from Matiatia off the 9am ferry. Last loop in time for the 7.00pm return ferry.
34 Mako Street
Waiheke Community Art Gallery
14 Makora Avenue
Oneroa Village - Ocean View Road at Tui Street
39-43 Causeway Road
Goldie & Kennedy Point Vineyards - Main Road Stop
22 Calais Terrace
Ostend Shopping - 22 Belgium Street
165 Onetangi Road
Stonyridge/Te Motu/Wild Estate
60 Onetangi Road
Tantalus Vineyard/Waiheke Museum
11 Waiheke Road
Onetangi Beach - 3rd Avenue, Charlie's, Three Seven Two
Unnamed Road
Tantalus Vineyard/Waiheke Museum
88 Onetangi Road
Stonyridge Vineyard - Main Road Stop
171 Carsons Road
Batch winery/Waiheke Wings
98-100 Musson Drive
Rangihoua Estate
Lush Beauty
Ostend Shopping - by RSA
8A Donald Bruce Road
Goldie & Kennedy Point Vineyards - Main Road Stop
7 Matai Road
Oneroa Village - Ocean View Road at Tui Street
126 Church Bay Road
Mudbrick Vineyard
61 Church Bay Road
Cable Bay Vineyard
Points of interest passed by on this route
Mudbrick Vineyard
Oneroa Beach
Stonyridge Vineyard
Batch Winery
Tantalus Estate Vineyard & Winery
Rangihoua Estate
Wild on Waiheke
Waiheke Wine Centre
Waiheke Museum and Historic Village
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 day of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
- Minimum drinking age is 18 years
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
Operated by Fullers360 Experiences & Cruises
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 4 days in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 4 full days before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 3 full days before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 3 full days before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
about cancellations.
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Traveler Tips
This bus is a great way to learn about the island, lots of info about this beautiful place.
Waiheke Island is a recommended and Interesting place to visit if you like nature side seeing.
It was very relaxed with good scenery but obviously if you get off at places like the beach, for lunch or the village, it is better.
Reviews
4.0
144 reviews
Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 144 reviews
Wonderful experience
Lynette_K, Mar 2023
Wonderful experience, thoroughly enjoyed our day! Will definitely be back to do it again. Very easy to get around.
Pick and choose
Karen_E, Mar 2023
Everyone was polite and helpful. We enjoyed our day. The weekend was busy and it was windy but staff handled everything with ease.
Skip the queues.....not
Lesley_S, Mar 2023
We booked this tour expecting to be able to board the ferry as a priority (skip the queues)
However. We had to wait until 12 noon to board the ferry after arriving at 10.30am. I would in hind sight just bought a hop on hop off and saved myself 157 NZ$.
Huge queue
Richard_S, Feb 2023
Huge queue for ferry in the morning despite booking ticket. Really the company needs to allocate sailing times to those that want to plan ahead
1 traveler found this review helpful
poorly organised service
Brigitte_A, Jan 2023
I think the idea is an excellent idea, however it doesn't work during peak tourist season, although the buses were meant to leave every 30 minutes, this was not the case, we waited for almost an hour for a bus and more than 30 minutes at another stop past the scheduled arrival so it was extremelt hard to plan where an when to get off and we wasted most of the day waiting for the bus which significantly affected what we could see. also the ferry was a nightmare, the line was so long, there should be a booking system or more frequent ferries during the peak times as this also delayed what we wanted to do on Waiheke. I would not recommend this tour unless and would suggest hiring a car or bikes for the day instead.
1 traveler found this review helpful
Waiheke Day Out
John_R, Jan 2023
Wonderful island experience enhanced by knowledge of driver/host. Time allowed to visit a number of establishments
Not good in bad weather
Jacqui_N, Nov 2022
Pouring rain so not your fault. Hated lining up like sheep and wanted to only go to mudhouse as didn't realise bus would take so long to get there. Was cold and very very wet.
Very poor logistical execution
Hannah_N, Nov 2022
The island is beautiful, the wineries are beautiful! The idea is great, but the execution was quite poor. There were not enough busses, busses were always late, they literally denied us and had us wait to ride a random local bus. Because of this, and not being able to get on their bus, we missed a stop.
1 traveler found this review helpful
Just buy your tickets fromm the tour operator that day right at the ferry!
Patti_R, Nov 2022
Unfortunately we were not told that these tickets had to actually be converted to as they called it "real tickets." We had to stand in another line while they tried to find that we had actually paid for our tickets through the "third party" Viator. This caused us to miss the ferry. We got on the next one and it was delayed on the island. Then it was a long wait on the island to get on the buses because they are having staffing issues and not enough buses and so on.... The island was beautiful and we did have fun in spite of it all but the season is just getting started and they just are to ready to handle the volume. One person joined our group and just bought the tickets for both the ferry and the Hop ON Hop off bus and that was the best way to go.
1 traveler found this review helpful
This is a wine tasting adventure
Tara_I, Jul 2022
Don’t get the first ferry over as the tour is basically for a bunch of different wineries there aren’t many other tourist destinations. The wineries don’t open until about 11 am or 12 pm. If you go early you can walk from the ferry into town and have breakfast which was really nice. Our drivers were amazing had a lot of information the buses were packed by the end of the day. Hickey brewery only serves food the actual brewery isn’t open yet. The postage stamp brewery isn’t open yet they’ve been under construction for two years we have been told but some of the other wineries were really good. Highly recommend going to Goldie for the wine and service and mudbrick for the view at the end of the day.
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Product code: 6194P6
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