Mr & Mrs Smith

With views of vineyards and olive groves, Cable Bay Winery (+64 (0)9 372 5889; www.cablebayvineyards.co.nz) is ideal for courtyard lunches or dinners washed down with its acclaimed wine. For a mellow atmosphere, Oneroa’s Mudbrick Vineyard & Restaurant (+64 (0)9 372 9050; www.mudbrick.co.nz) offers award-winning cuisine, including fish and lamb, and Stonyridge Vineyard (+ 64 (0)9 372 8822) on Onetangi Road is renowned for organic reds (think cabernet blends), with a romantic veranda café. To dine on tapas on a pretty patio amid olive trees, go Spanish at Casita Miro (+64 (0)9 372 7854; www.mirovineyard.co.nz) at Miro Vineyard, 3 Brown Road, Onetangi, or hit cheery local beachside bar/restaurant Charlie Farley’s (+64 (0)9 372 4106) on the Strand at Onetangi Bay. 

Sand Bar (+64 (0)9 372 9458), at 153 Ocean View Road, Oneroa, is handy for buzzy local drinks and music.

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.

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.