Happy Monday traveler!

This week, we’re taking you to Waiheke Island in New Zealand. Get ready for wineries, hiking trails, beaches, and sunset views!

🌍️ What’s Going on In the Travel World?

• Good news for tall passengers flying Southwest - not sure if we like all of Southwest’s changes but nice to have extra leg room for domestic flights

• Well done, Delta Airlines -👏🏻 45 million gallons!?

• Flight passengers without REAL IDs may face travel delays up ahead - we keep mentioning this but it’s important to stay up to day

• The 6 New Google AI Features I'm Using to Plan My Summer Travel - there’s no sub for the human touch, but not gonna lie, AI is pretty incredible

• Alpaca on the loose rounded up in New York - we’re headed to South America this summer to see alpacas, maybe we could’ve just stayed stateside

A message from Passport Inspiration

Looking to plan an inspiring adventure right now?

Planning an international trip can be overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be.

How?

You just need a plan for your plan.

It’s important to prepare with enough time for things like:

• Visas

• Dining

• Lodging

• Passports

• Excursions

• Travel Arrangements

  If you want a head start planning, we can help you prepare for an amazing trip.

🙌This Week’s Inspiration

We had no intentions of visiting Waiheke Island when planning our trip to New Zealand. We had never even heard of it. Our plan was to spend a few days in Auckland (a place for a future edition of the newsletter) before heading down to the South Island (there are two main islands). A friend of Bob’s suggested Waiheke Island as an option for things to do. We are so thankful for that recommendation. 🙏🏼

Waiheke Island is a 45-minute ferry ride away from Auckland and is known for its world-class wineries, beautiful beaches, and laid-back atmosphere. It also has a number of incredible restaurants and cafes that serve both gourmet meals and local specialties.

The Wineries

Waiheke’s climate, warmer and drier weather throughout the year, makes it ideal for vineyards. There are 30 wineries, giving it the nickname “Island of Wine.” These wineries come with gorgeous views of rolling hillsides and the ocean. Olives also grow well here, and Waiheke is also known for making some of the world’s best olive oil.

Here are the Top 5 Wineries in Waiheke Island:

1. Stonyridge - known for making some of the greatest red wine in New Zealand

2. Tantalus - also known for its craft beers, within walking distance to other wineries

3. Mudbrick - specializes in Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah

4. Man O’War - located on the northeastern end of the island

5. Cable Bay Vineyards - also has several restaurants, olive grove, and onsite vineyards

The Trails:

There are more than 100km of walking paths on Waiheke Island, which gives you endless possibilities of what to see.

Want to hike to a waterfall? There’s a trail for that. Want to hike to the beach? No problem. Go on a winery tour and walk to different locations? That’s also an option. It’s super easy to get a map with all the trails from places such as the Waiheke Island Visitor Information Centre or the Ferry Terminal. The island also has a Hop-On Hop-Off bus schedule so you can complete one hike, take the bus to another location, and continue on from there.

The Beaches:

White sand beaches are all over Waiheke Island, making it a beautiful place to soak up some sun. There is something special about each beach, so it’s really up to what your preferences are.

Onetangi is the longest beach and is said to have the whitest sand. Head to Blackpool for kayaking, paddleboarding, and swimming. Surfdale provides views of East Auckland. At Christmastime, Oneroa Bay is lit up with lights. Matiatia is located on the northwest end of the island, near the ferry terminal. Stingrays and dolphins can be spotted here in the bay.

The Sunsets:

As beautiful as Waiheke Island is during the day, it saves the best views for dusk. Watching the sunset on the island was the perfect way to end our day. This view literally had us holding our breath in awe.

If you only make Waiheke Island a day trip, we recommend you stay for the sunset, then take a later ferry back to Auckland.

*How to Get to Waiheke Island:

The easiest (and most practical way if you’re coming for the day) is to take a ferry from Auckland. Here is a ferry option for you. There are many different times to choose from.

We recommend getting there as early as possible and taking one of the later ferries to return. You’ll want as much time as possible on the island! You can also head to the Downtown Ferry Terminal Pier 11 in Auckland to purchase your ferry tickets.

Where to Stay:

While it’s common to come to Waiheke for the day, we think you’ll wish you stayed longer. Here are some great options for you:

Woodside Bay Chalets - adults only chalets with gorgeous sea views

The Settlers Hut - an entire home with kitchen and patio

Waiheke Island Resort - hotel with spa

The Little Blue Bach in Oneroa Village - an entire home minutes away from wineries and Oneroa Beach

The Sanctuary- an Airbnb couples retreat

What to Pack:

Since Waiheke Island has a variety of things to do, it depends on what you want to do.

If winery tours are your thing, dress casually or a little more on the dressier side. Beach attire (swimsuits, sandals, sunscreen, etc.) is needed for the beaches. Comfortable shoes are needed if you plan on hiking. It’s possible to do all three in one day, by using one of the public restrooms at the beaches to change if needed.

*Remember New Zealand’s summer months are December, January, and February. The winter months are June, July, and August. You should bring a waterproof jacket if visiting Waiheke in the winter. We went there in June and needed our rain ponchos for a little bit while we were hiking.

👋 Have an Inspiring Week

Here are a few things to help you when in Waiheke Island.

• Greater Than a Tourist: Waiheke Island travel book

• This women’s rain jacket if there in the winter.

• These women’s hiking pants are perfect for all the trails

• Bob loves these men’s dry fit t-shirts.

• This travel neck pillow for the long flight to New Zealand.

See you next week,

Trisha & Bob