The Boatshed
Auckland, New Zealand[view map]
Local restaurants
Cable Bay Winery (+649 372 5889; www.cablebayvineyards.co.nz) and cellar door is open for lunch every day, or for dinner Thursday to Saturday from 6pm, with private dining also available. Overlooking beautiful pastoral farmland and the inner Hauraki Gulf at 12 Nick Johnstone Drive, it's surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, with stunning island views – ideal for al fresco courtyard meals washed down with its acclaimed wines. Mudbrick Vineyard & Restaurant (+64 9 372 9050; www.mudbrick.co.nz) offers tours and daily wine tastings, as well as a scenic dining area with spectacular views. The winery restaurant has a mellow, romantic atmosphere, with its chefs garnering awards for their use of great NZ ingredients such as local fish and lamb. Pop in for a visit at 126 Church Bay Road, Oneroa. To dine on Spanish-style tapas on a pretty patio amid olive trees, head for Casita Miro (+64 9 372 7854; www.mirovineyard.co.nz) at Miro Vineyard, 3 Brown Road, Onetangi. Chef Carsten Blutner serves up a range of small plates and elegant wines, with local produce such as home-cured olives and olive oil drawn from its own kitchen garden. Two other quality local vineyards where you can enjoy wine tastings, vineyard tours or a tasty meal are Te Whau Vineyard and Cafe (+64 9 372 7191; www.tewhau.co.nz), at 218 Te Whau Drive, Oneroa, and Te Motu Vineyard (+64 9 372 6884; www.temotu.co.nz), at 76 Onetangi Road.
Local bars
Sand Bar (+64 9 372 9458), at 153 Ocean View Road, Oneroa, is handy for buzzy local drinks and music.
For a full list of eating and drinking recommendations in Auckland, check out our Auckland eating & drinking guide
Worth getting out of bed for
The Boatshed's Wellbeing Menu means the team at nearby Anu Spa are at your disposal, so order up an in-room massage to help you unwind on arrival. Done in the privacy of your suite, treatments include Polynesian Floor Work massage, which gently stretches and realigns your body.
Waiheke Island (the name means 'cascading waters') offers a chilled out pace of life with golden sand beaches every which way for safe swimming, and neighbouring islands nearby if you fancy visiting more of the Hauraki Gulf's offerings. Little Oneroa Beach below the hotel, and adjacent Oneroa Beach, are just three minutes' walk away though, if you want to keep it local.
From the Boatshed it's also just a short stroll to Oneroa village, where you can trawl local shops, antique and thrift stores, arts and crafts studios and galleries for stylish souvenirs, or lounge in its cafes. You can hire bikes, scooters or cars here too – or hop the 35-minute ferry to Auckland for a more full-on retail day trip.
Diary
February Don't miss the annual Waiheke Wine Festival (www.waihekewinefestival.co.nz) early in the month (dates change each year), when local crowds are boosted by visitors keen to soak up delicious island wines, food and entertainment. March/April The annual Waiheke Jazz Festival (www.waihekejazz.co.nz) is a big draw on Easter weekend.
For a full list of recommended activities in Auckland, check out our Auckland destination guide
