7 Best Sights in Hauraki Gulf Islands, Auckland

First to plant grapes on Waiheke were Kim and Jeanette Goldwater, whose eponymous wines have since earned a reputation for excellence. It's also home to Auckland University's Wine Research Institute for postgraduate research into wine as well the Goldie Room, a fantastic eatery that offers superb food and, of course, wine. Personalized tours can be arranged. The estate is known for the Long Lunch, which is a nine-course degustation menu that is held about four times a year and sells out very quickly.

On the eastern end of Waiheke Island, this award-winning vineyard in its own little valley with a view to Passage Rock has pricey and highly regarded wines. It's especially known for chardonnays, viogniers, and syrahs. The vineyard has a good bistro, which is very popular with locals. Tastings are only offered in the afternoon.

When Rangitoto Island emerged from the sea in a series of fiery eruptions around 600 years ago, it had an audience: footprints in the solidified ash on its close neighbor Motutapu Island prove that Māori people watched Rangitoto's birth. It is the largest and youngest of about 50 volcanic cones and craters in the Auckland volcanic field, and scientists are confident it will not blow again. During the 1920s and '30s hundreds of prisoners built roads and trails on the island, some of which are still used as walkways. Small beach houses were erected by families in the early 20th century. Many were pulled down in the 1970s before their historical significance was recognized. Thirty-two remain, and a few are still used by leaseholders, who can use them during their lifetimes. (Afterward, they'll be relinquished to the DOC.) The island's most popular activity is the one-hour summit walk, beginning at Rangitoto Wharf and climbing through lava fields and the pohutukawa (a flowering evergreen tree) forest to the peak. Walkers are rewarded with panoramic views of Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf. Short detours lead to lava caves and to the remnants of a botanical park planned in 1915.  Wear sturdy shoes and carry water because parts of the walk are on exposed lava flows, which are hot in the sun. You can swim at Islington Bay and at the Rangitoto Wharf in a specially made pool.

This vineyard has followers all over the world. The Stonyridge Larose, made from the classic Bordeaux varieties, is excellent, and the vintage often sells out. Reservations for lunch at the Veranda Café, which uses local produce including olive oil and wine, are essential. This place is popular with the helicopter-in crowd and visiting people who work in the film industry.

The friendly Dunleavy family started planting vines in 1989, and today Te Motu Bordeaux blend, made only when conditions are right, is on the wine list at many Michelin-starred restaurants in France. The winery gives tastings, but you must call first to check for times. Don't be fooled by the restaurant's name, the Shed; it caters to a fussy clientele for its grown-on-site garden-to-plate cooking. The wine list, which always features Te Motu wines from the heritage cellar, changes monthly. Reservations are essential for the restaurant.

You can see and hear rare native birds up close at Tiritiri Matangi, a bird sanctuary open to the public and accessible by ferry from Auckland or from Gulf Harbour on the Whangaparoa Peninsula. Gentle, well-maintained, signposted trails lead to the top of the island and the oldest lighthouse in the gulf, still in operation. A visitor center is near the lighthouse, but it does not sell food. The island is free from predators, and the birds are unafraid. Tiritiri is home to at least 18 takahe, large blue-and-green flightless birds with red beaks that are part of a nationwide breeding program for the rare species; you can usually spot them eating grass near the lighthouse.

Once a sleepy summer vacation retreat and hippie haven with beach houses dotting its edges, Waiheke is now home to 35 vineyards (many the passion projects of their owners), architecturally impressive holiday homes owned by the well heeled, and tiny, old-school weekend escapes. The island has earned an international reputation for its vineyards, and many local cafés stock Waiheke wines unavailable elsewhere. The annual Waiheke Jazz Festival at Easter attracts renowned overseas performers. From the ferry landing at Matiatia Wharf you can walk five minutes to the small town of Oneroa, the island's hub, with its shops, cafés, bars, and real estate agents. Another minute's walk gets you to Oneroa Beach, one of the most accessible beaches. The north-facing beaches—sheltered bays with little surf—are the best for swimming. The most popular is Palm Beach, 10 minutes by bus from Oneroa. Around the rocks to the left is Little Palm Beach, one of Auckland's three nudist beaches. Another great beach, Onetangi, is on the north side of the island, 20 minutes from Matiatia by bus. Whakanewha Regional Park, on the south side, is a lovely bush reserve leading down to a half-moon bay. You can hike and picnic here, and the wetlands are home to rare birds such as the New Zealand dotterel. You can get to the park from Oneroa by shuttle bus. If you go in summer or on weekends, it pays to get ferry tickets early as the island draws big crowds on fine days.