Waiheke Island Indulgence - Area Details
Waiheke Island is an island in theHauraki Gulf of New Zealand, located about 17.7 km (11.0 mi) from Auckland.
The island is the second-largest in the Hauraki Gulf after Great Barrier Island. It is the most populated, with nearly 8,000 permanent residents plus another estimated 3,400 who have second or holiday homes on the island. It is New Zealand's third most populated after the North and South Island. It is the most accessible offshore island in the Gulf, due to regular passenger and car ferry services and some air links.
Waiheke translates as "the descending waters" or "ebbing water". This refers to an event when Maori Explorer Kahumatamomoe landed on the island and urinated. The name originally referred only to the stream at Onetangi, but now is used to refer to the entire island.
The island is 19.3 km (12.0 mi) long from west to east. The coastline is 133.5 km (83.0 mi), including 40 km (25 mi) of beaches. The port of Matiatia at the western end of the island is 17.7 km (11.0 mi) from Auckland and the eastern end is 21.4 km (13.3 mi) from Coromandel. Waiheke is very hilly with few flat areas, the highest point being Maunganui at 231 m (758 ft). The climate is slightly warmer than Auckland with less humidity and rain and more sunshine hours.
Waiheke has a resident population of 7,689 people with most of the population living close to the western end of the island,or near the isthmus between Huruhi Bay and Oneroa Bay which, at its narrowest, is only 600 metres wide. The settlements of Oneroa andBlackpool are the furthest west, followed by Palm Beach, Surfdale, and Ostend. Further east lies Onetangi, which is located on the northern coast on the wide Onetangi Bay. To the south of this on the opposing coast is Whakanewha Regional Park, Whakanewha and Omiha, or Rocky Bay. Much of the eastern half of the island is privately owned farmland and vineyards.
Waiheke Island is a popular holiday spot, and during the main summer season, especially around Christmas and Easter, the population on the island increases substantially due to the number of holiday homes being rented out, corporate functions and dance parties at vineyards and restaurants, the Wine Festival and the Jazz Festival and weekend trippers from around the country and the world. It is safe to say the population increases significantly, rents go up, almost all homes and baches are full and a festive atmosphere exists.
Socially the island is highly diverse, with the creative sector (artists, musicians, scientists, writers, poets and actors) strongly represented. Around two thousand people commute daily to Auckland for work as career opportunities on the island are limited. The main employment sectors are horticulture (wine and olives), agriculture, tourism, construction, food services, retail and real estate.
Waiheke Island has become known as New Zealand's "island of wine," home to a dedicated group of winegrowers who have successfully matched the unique maritime climate and ancient soil structures to the selection of classical grape varieties in order to produce red and whitewines with distinctive varietal character.