Hop-on Hop-off Tours Auckland

Western Explorer: Waiheke Island Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour with Optional Ferry Transfers

Name: Western Explorer: Waiheke Island Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour with Optional Ferry Transfers
Start: 2026-03-04T09:00:00
End: 2026-03-04T16:00:00
Location: Waiheke Island

Matiatia Bay view from ferry, Waiheke Island, with boats and lush hills.

Ferry traveling to Waiheke Island across turquoise waters with passengers on deck.

Family walking along Onetangi Beach, Waiheke Island, with lush hills in the background.

Church Bay view of Hauraki Gulf and Auckland skyline, Waiheke Island.

Explore at your pace

Choose your entry time, stay as long as you like

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the start of your experience

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Transfers available

Experience Waiheke’s best: Mudbrick Vineyard and more with round-trip ferry and unlimited HOHO access.

4.5/5

(363)

Stephen

Feb 2026

Verified booking

Spending only one full day in Auckland and not being city folk a boat trip and vineyard tour on Waiheke Island seemed the obvious choice. Having purchased our combine ferry and Western tour bus option we began our trip. Opting for a walk up crossing worked well, ferry times were convenient and hop on hop off busses aevery 20 minutes with the addeed benefit of chatty and very entertaining guides. We opted to do a few walks between bus rides and even the imminent breakdown of our bus and timely transfer hampered the guides telling of a very funny story concerning the evil Khea!!! Great guiding under duress. You deserve a medal..

Nancy

Feb 2026

Verified booking

I took this hoho tour on Waiheke Island today and it could not have gone smoother. It was a relief to know I could go all over the island at my own pace. The tour guides were funny and informative. You can use a qr code on their brochure to see when a bus was coming but honestly we never used it. There are frequent busses along the route so we never had to wait more than 5 min. It was a nice way to catch your breath and relax a moment before getting back on. It was definitely worth it! I will do it again in the future.

Lee

Feb 2026

Verified booking

Guides were fun, buses were comfy and came mostly on time. Don't make the same mistake we did, we got a little impatient and took the city bus, only to have the Explorer bus blow past us 5 minutes later! It'll arrive, chill. Of course, it's easier to make errors in judgement after the 3rd winery.

Begin your tour on a hop-on hop-off bus with a mobile app for live tracking. This will help you plan stops at beaches and wineries.

Grab a one-day pass for a swift escape to Waiheke’s wineries, beaches, and markets or choose a two-day pass for relaxed tastings and scenic coastal views.

Travel along the Western Explorer Route with stops at local harbors, coastal villages, and key island attractions for informed visits.

Ideal for families and solo travelers who want a self-guided tour with clear route maps and real-time updates to plan their day.

Upgrade to include round-trip ferry transfers from Auckland to Waiheke, ensuring clear departure and arrival times.

1 or 2-day hop-on hop-off tour (based on option selected)

Access to the Western Explorer Route

Round-trip walk-up ferry transfers from Auckland (based on option selected)

Mobile app with live bus tracking

Entry fee to various attractions

Winery tastings or tours

TOTAL DURATION80 minutes
FREQUENCYEvery 60 minutes
MODE OF TRANSFERA/C Bus
FIRST DEPARTUREMatiatia Ferry Terminal at 10:00 AM
LAST DEPARTUREMatiatia Ferry Terminal at 5:30 PM
Timeline
Map
1. Matiatia Ferry Terminal
Get direction
2. Mudbrick Vineyard
Get direction
1 attraction
Te Rere
3 hours 58 minutes walk
3. Cable Bay Vineyard and Allpress Olive Groves
Get direction
1 attraction
Piritahi Marae
5 minutes walk
4. Waiheke Community Art Gallery
Get direction
1 attraction
Korora Beach Reserve
2 minutes walk
5. Oneroa Village
Get direction
1 attraction
Fishermans Rock
6 minutes walk
6. Goldie and Kennedy Point Vineyards
Get direction
1 attraction
Mermaid Marine
6 minutes walk
7. Ostend Village
Get direction
1 attraction
Te Toki Reserve
3 minutes walk
8. Wild Estate, Stonyridge, Te Motu and Soho Family Vineyards
Get direction
1 attraction
Waiheke Golf Club
3 minutes walk
9. Postage Stamp Wines and The Heke Kitchen, Brewery and Distillery
Get direction
1 attraction
EcoZip Adventures
5 minutes walk
10. Onetangi Beach - Charlie's, Three Seven Two
Get direction
1 attraction
Veliky Hazchem Beach
5 minutes walk
11. Waiheke Museum
Get direction
1 attraction
Rangihoua Creek
2 minutes walk
12. Opposite Wild Estate, Stonyridge, SohoTe, and Motu Family Vineyards
Get direction
1 attraction
Anzac Bay
3 minutes walk
13. Batch Winery and Waiheke Wings
Get direction
1 attraction
Cascades Waterfall
4 minutes walk
14. Ostend Village
Get direction
1 attraction
SeaLink - Kennedy Point Ferry Terminal
5 minutes walk
15. Goldie and Kennedy Point Vineyards
Get direction
1 attraction
Waiheke Honey Company
7 minutes walk
16. Oneroa Village
Get direction
1 attraction
Te Ara Hura Trail
6 minutes walk

You can cancel these tickets up to 48 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

363 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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Guests from United States, Australia, Canada and over 12 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Nancy
Feb 2026
Verified booking
I took this hoho tour on Waiheke Island today and it could not have gone smoother. It was a relief to know I could go all over the island at my own pace. The tour guides were funny and informative. You can use a qr code on their brochure to see when a bus was coming but honestly we never used it. There are frequent busses along the route so we never had to wait more than 5 min. It was a nice way to catch your breath and relax a moment before getting back on. It was definitely worth it! I will do it again in the future.
Lee
Feb 2026
Verified booking
Guides were fun, buses were comfy and came mostly on time. Don't make the same mistake we did, we got a little impatient and took the city bus, only to have the Explorer bus blow past us 5 minutes later! It'll arrive, chill. Of course, it's easier to make errors in judgement after the 3rd winery.
Stephen
Feb 2026
Verified booking
Spending only one full day in Auckland and not being city folk a boat trip and vineyard tour on Waiheke Island seemed the obvious choice. Having purchased our combine ferry and Western tour bus option we began our trip. Opting for a walk up crossing worked well, ferry times were convenient and hop on hop off busses aevery 20 minutes with the addeed benefit of chatty and very entertaining guides. We opted to do a few walks between bus rides and even the imminent breakdown of our bus and timely transfer hampered the guides telling of a very funny story concerning the evil Khea!!! Great guiding under duress. You deserve a medal..
Richard.
Feb 2026
Verified booking
Excellent. They meet you at the pier and explain how the bus tour works. Maps are easy to understand and each bus has a guide explaining the history and relevance of the island and each stop. Highly recommended.
Adrian
Feb 2026
Verified booking
We really loved the last part of the journey back from the Heke to the ferry ⛴️ with Liam and Tilley they work great together. All the drivers were fantastic we will be back in the future 😁👍

What to Bring

Bring your swimsuit, towel, and walking shoes during the summer.

Accessibility

This experience is wheelchair and stroller accessible. However, some walking trails may be difficult to access with a stroller.

Additional Information

This experience is wheelchair and stroller accessible. However, some walking trails may be difficult to access with a stroller.

Dogs inside pet carriers are welcome.

Most ferries have fully licensed cafés, Wi-Fi, power points, luggage and bike racks. All ferries are equipped with toilets.

Remember to thoroughly check your gear for pests before boarding, clean your footwear to remove soil and seeds, and ensure any food is in a sealed container.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly

Please display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID while boarding

Boarding point (ferry)

Board your ferry at Downtown Terminal

Address: Quay Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

You can board either Fullers360 Waiheke Walk-up ferry from piers 11 and 12 or the Fullers360 Waiheke Reserve ferry from piers 13 and 14 to Waiheke Island.

Get directions to the boarding point

Hop on hop off tour

You can join the bus directly in front of the Waiheke Island’s Matiatia Ferry Terminal.