Today’s mission was simple—1. Have fun exploring Waiheke Island and; 2. Don’t die on the e-bike.
We picked up the bikes from the shop in the ferry terminal. This was my first time riding an e-bike.
Obviously, I didn’t die since I’m writing this. But did I have fun? Read on.😊
Located in the Hauraki Gulf, Waiheke Island spans about 36 square miles and is known for its rolling hills, vineyards, olive groves, and sandy beaches. Just 11 miles from downtown Auckland, it feels like a world away.
A gorgeous sunny day in Waiheke🍷
Brendan and I hopped on the morning ferry, about a 40-minute ride from Auckland, and arrived just before 10:00 am. We grabbed our reserved e-bikes and set off on our island adventure.
And what an adventure it was.
We rode from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm, winding our way across what felt like the entire island. We passed through vineyards, cruised along coastal roads, and stopped at some of the most beautiful beaches. Oneroa Beach and Onetangi Beach were instant favorites with their wide, peaceful, and impossibly blue water.
Lunch was at Charley Farley’s (Onetangi Bay), with the beach as our backdrop (hard to beat that view), followed by a stop at Soho Family Vineyards. From there, we pedaled our way past even more vineyards, each one picturesque and unique.
A “newer” boutique vineyard with a welcoming vibe that combines amazing wine with a stylish and social experience!
Plus we pulled over for a quick (but difficult as it went straight down, and then you had to climb back up!) hike to a little water fall.
Our short hike – it felt like we werewalking through a rain forest!What goes down, must come back up! Quick but steep hike to see the falls.The Cascades — Not a lot of water right now.
A quick note for anyone thinking of doing the e-bike: Do it! But, be aware that not all of the biking is on dedicated paths. A good portion is on roads, which means riding on the left side—something that definitely keeps you on your toes. And those hills? They are no joke. I genuinely don’t know how anyone does this without an e-bike assist.
A horse, of course, plus rolling vineyards in the background.
We wrapped up the day the best way possible—with gelato in hand and a ferry ride back, sun-kissed, a little tired, and very proud to have survived the ride.
Welcome to New Zealand, Aotearoa in Māori, meaning the long white cloud
My apple watch was the first to grasp the reality – there’s something surreal about landing somewhere new at sunrise, especially when it’s on the other side of the world.
Yesterday was our first full day in Auckland, and from the moment we stepped off the plane, it was the start of a Christina and Brendan’s grand adventure. 🌎
We landed at sunrise, equal parts excited and exhausted after the long travel day. Since our room wasn’t ready yet, we dropped our bags at M Social Auckland and decided to start exploring.
And explore we did.
And we’re off to explore!
First view of the city – Auckland CBD (Central Business District)
One of the things I already love about Auckland is how connected it is to the water. We walked to the Auckland Ferry Terminal and bought our ferry tickets to Waiheke Island (Wednesday’s adventure).
Then we stopped by St. Patrick’s Cathedral, established in 1842 and the seat of the bishop of Auckland.
Flat white first, of course.
Hot chocolate with marshmallows on the left for me and flat right in the right for Brendan. A flat white is espresso-based coffee with steamed milk.
At a local café we ordered a flat white for Brendan (New Zealanders have this perfected) and a hot chocolate with marshmallows for me. People watching over a warm cup was the perfect way to energize our tired bodies into the day.
Leaning Over Auckland
The Sky Tower stands 328 meters (1,076 feet) and is used for telecommunications and observation with panoramic views of the city, its harbors, and the volcanoes.
No visit to the city would be complete without a trip up the iconic Sky Tower. It’s one of the focal points of the city —ever lost? Look up and find the tower!
(In the background) The Auckland Harbour Bridge was constructed in 1959, has 8 lanes, and is 1,020 meters long. The bridge connects Auckland’s city center with the North Shore. And, if you want, you can plunge 40 meters (~131 feet) by bungee jumping!
But we didn’t just go up to admire the view from the two observations decks…We did the SkyWalk and I have a free t-shirt and a lot of photos to prove it.
Picture this: A narrow platform circling the outside of the tower more than 1,000 feet above the city. No rails. Just a harness (two, actually), a lot of sky, and a big drop below.😳
And while some people carefully shuffle along, we… leaned and did the challenges our guide gave us. Like hanging out over the ledge, walking backwards, and looking down.
Leaning out over the edge with Auckland stretching in every direction is one of those moments where you realize travel isn’t just about seeing places—it’s about experiencing them fully. Even when fully is out of your comfort zone.
And yes, my heart was definitely racing in the beginning but by the end, we were having fun with every challenge! (Note – safety is first and we felt so safe/secure the entire time with our knowledgeable guide, Logan.)
You can also bungee jump to off if you prefer! Remember that commercial bungee jumping was invented in New Zealand.
We headed off to a quick lunch of tapas at Depot Eatery. I had one of the best salads here and Brendan had delicious snapper sliders. For those seafood / fish fans, Auckland has you covered.
Stepping Into Rugby History
After our adrenaline rush and full bellies, we slowed things down with a visit to the All Blacks Experience.
Even if you’re not a die-hard rugby fan, the story of New Zealand’s legendary All Blacks is fascinating and inspirational. The interactive exhibits bring the history, pride, and intensity of this world class team to life.
At the end of the tour, a hologram of both the All Blacks and the Black Ferns (women’s team) perform the Haka, the Maori ceremonial posture dance. The interactive experience put me as if I was on the opposing team—talk about equal parts intimidated and exhilarated! While it’s a rhythmic dance to challenge opponents, it also shows unity and welcomes the devoted All Blacks fans. 100% New Zealand.
It’s impossible to walk out of there without a deeper appreciation for how much rugby means here.
To end the day
By this point, the jet lag was starting to scream in our ears, so we returned to the hotel and finally checked in. After a quick reset, we headed back out for the evening.
Our hotel sits on Princes Wharf and overlooks Waitemata Harbour, the main harbour in Auckland and gateway to the Pacific Ocean (via the Hauraki Gulf)
The sky turned shades of orange and pink while boats drifted across the water. Sitting there with my son, watching the light change over the city, was one of those quiet travel moments you wish you could freeze.
The Best Ice Cream and Cone (maybe ever!)
Then came dessert—and this was a very much anticipated event since researching places to eat in Auckland. I knew New Zealand would have my heart when I realized the country eats more ice cream per capita in the world! (And they’re the 3rd largest producer of milk and milk related products).
Welcome to Giapo, which may very well be the most creative ice cream shop on the planet. And, it’s 100% gluten free!! In addition to ice cream they have pastries and other GF sweets like cookies.🍪
We decided this was the time to try the island classic, Hokey Pokey. It’s a creamy vanilla ice cream with crunchy honeycomb pieces. Brendan described it perfectly: “It’s like a Butterfinger… only much better.”
Oh and did I mention everything is gluten-free, even the cones! I honestly can’t remember the last time I had a really good ice cream cone, and this one absolutely delivered. Creative, delicious, and unforgettable.
Lights Out
I would say that today was a very good day. We finally called it a night and I feel asleep the moment my head hit the pillow. Tomorrow’s agenda? Get ready to experience Middle-Earth and some glow! The adventure is just getting started. ✨
I feel like a kid on Christmas morning about this adventure!
New Zealand🇳🇿
Home to 25 million sheep, that’s 5 sheep per every person.
Where “kiwi” is used to describe 3 things—a bird, fruit (always call it kiwi fruit), and people from New Zealand.
Where the landscapes are diverse and spectacular like the Southern Alps, fjords like Milford Sound, volcanic landscapes, geothermal fields, glacier lakes, and dramatic coastlines.
Where Middle-Earth was created (and filmed) for the Lord of the Rings movies and the Hobbiton really exists.
Where you find the incredible Māori culture, and rugby is almost a national religion. In fact, the All Blacks is one of most recognized teams in the sport and the haka is mesmerizing.
10 fun (and some surprising) facts from my research.
1️⃣ It’s one of the last landmasses humans settled on Earth when the Polynesians arrived between AD 1200-1300 🗺️. While the country is an archipelago of some 600 islands located in the Pacific Ocean, there are 3 main islands —North and South, where 99% of the population lives, and Stewart Island, which is primarily a protected national park. In fact, 30% of New Zealand is protected land. We will be traveling from the North Island, starting in Auckland, to the South Island. The two islands are separated by the Cook Strait. While in Auckland, we will we will venture to Waiheke Island.
2️⃣ In 1893 New Zealand became the first country where women could vote.🗳️ One of the dedicated women behind the movement, Kate Sheppard, appears on the $10 New Zealand banknote.
3️⃣ There were no native land mammals when humans arrived (except bats). Birds then evolved to fill those roles and for this reason, the Kiwi bird is flightless and ground-dwelling.
Let’s stay on the Kiwi bird for a minute because I find them fascinating and cannot wait to see one in the wild.
Say what?? The Kiwi’s nostrils are at the tip of their beak. Every other bird in the world has nostrils near the base of their beak, close to the face, because birds rely on vision to find food, touch, or vibration.
But Kiwis hunt by smell and evolved differently because…you guessed it, there were no land mammals. They are nocturnal forest foragers.
A momma Kiwi bird lays an egg that is 20 times her body weight😮. To put that into perspective, it would be the equivalent of a 150 pound woman giving birth to a 30 pound baby! The papa bird sits on the egg for 70-85 days, which is one of the longest incubation periods of any bird.
4️⃣ New Zealand is known as Aotearoa, the Māori name meaning “Land of the long white cloud”. There are 3 official languages: English, Māori, and New Zealand Sign Language (making it one of a few countries to designate sign language as an official national language).
5️⃣ There are glowworm caves and we will go to Waitomo to see thousands of these glowing larvae light up the cave. Starlight underground.🌟
6️⃣ Lollies! Which means candy. And when you have a sweet tooth like me, you get to know the various lollies you’ll encounter.😂 Get ready Pineapple Lumps🍍 and Jaffas🍊🍫…I am coming for you!
7️⃣ 🍷New Zealand produces less than 1% of the world’s wine but what they do produce is well known and dominated by the Sauvignon Blanc grape. The Marlborough region holds over 70% of the country’s vineyard area.
8️⃣ It’s a darned long flight! It is going to take ~12 hours from San Francisco. We cross the international date line and jump ahead to the future! For example, we’re leaving SFO on Saturday at 10:45 pm and arrive Monday morning at 8:00 am.
9️⃣ Driving is on the left and the driver sits on the right. And the seasons are opposite since we’re in the Southern Hemisphere. We’re getting ready for spring in the USA, and fall in NZ. Can’t wait to gaze at that Southern sky!
🔟 I learned a few new words and customs in anticipation of the trip:
Sweet as = awesome, no problem
Togs = swimsuit
Jandals = flip flops (my favorite)
Tramping = hiking (which we will do)
The Hongi = Māori greeting where two people exchange the breath of life (ha) by pressing their foreheads and noses together. It means unity, equality, and the exchange of mana (spiritual power). How beautiful.❤️
Now I sit back, relax, and fly✈️ to the home of world class wine, the flat white, commercial bungee jumping, Hokey Pokey ice cream (per capita, New Zealanders eat the most ice cream 🍨 in the world-my idols!), jet boating, Manuka honey, Whittaker’s chocolate, and pavlova (although disputed by Australia as to which country invented it). Oh, and New Zealand has no native snakes!
Christina’s Journey Journal 