September 26, 2024
According to a story circulating amongst the members of the Waiheke Wine Growers Association, the first wine produced on the island dates back to the 1950’s and was produced, largely for personal consumption, by decedents of Dalmatian migrants to New Zealand. It was, we’re told, a ‘fairly ferocious fortified brew’, blackberry in colour and totally lacking the finesse of modern Waiheke wines.
Although only 93km2 in size, the island is today home to an impressive array of vineyards, producing some of the best wines in New Zealand. The wine makers have today been joined by artisan brewers and distillers.
The vast bulk of these are situated close to EcoZip’s Onetangi base, putting us right at the heart of what’s becoming known as Waiheke Wine Country. Within just minutes of our Trig Hill site are some of the island’s most respected vineyards and cellar door operations, like Batch Winery, Stonyridge, Te Motu, Postage Stamp Wines, Obsidian, Tantalus Estate and Casita Miro. We’re also just a stone’s throw from the fabulous Heke, home to craft beer and Waiheke Whiskey’s beautiful new distillery, and the restaurants and bars on Onetangi beach, like Ki Maha, award-winning 372, and the island’s oldest pub, Charlie Farley’s.
Our shuttle vehicle, when it departs EcoZip, makes it easy for our guests to access any of these vineyards and venues, with a drop-off right to the door. We’re also connected to the island’s Hop-on, Hop-off explorer bus service, which will connect you to vineyards like Mudbrick, Cable Bay, Kennedy Point, Jurassic Ridge and many more. Our shuttle vehicle will also deliver you to the island’s cultural heart, Oneroa village, where you can access a huge range of restaurants, including celebrity chef Josh Emmett’s, The Oyster Inn. Oneroa is also home to a wide range of boutique shops, cafes, bars and two of the best beaches on the island (check out Dragonfired, the woodfired pizza at Little Oneroa beach).
With our free shuttle service, and location at the heart of Waiheke Wine Country, we’re perfectly positioned to let you maximise your time on Waiheke, seeing and experiencing much of the variety that this beautiful island has to offer.
Stacey Scott, our Waiheke General Manager, is a 7th Generation Waiheke Islander and Onetangi’s renowned pub, Charley Farley’s, is named after her grandfather. Stacey and our Waiheke team know the island intimately and are a great resource for planning your day on the island. When you zip with us you’ll find you still have tons of time to see many of the island’s other highlights, even if you’re on Waiheke for just one day, made easier by our shuttle and mini-tour service, which is included in the cost of your experience.
-
Cable Bay
-
Mudbrick Vineyard
-
Casita Miro
-
Oyster Inn
-
The Heke
