I visited Waiheke Island, the ‘Hamptons of New Zealand,’ where Taylor Swift has vacationed and the ultra-rich reside. Take a look around.

Business Insider’s author visited Waiheke Island, where celebrities like Taylor Swift and Bill Gates vacation.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Waiheke Island, off the coast of Auckland, New Zealand, is a vacation spot for the rich and famous.
The island is home to ritzy vineyards and million-dollar properties.
In addition to wealth, it has unspoiled beaches, beautiful views, and delicious food.

Waiheke Island, off the coast of Auckland, New Zealand, is known to attract a wealthy crowd.

In 2017, Vogue journalist Amy Louise Bailey coined Waiheke Island, the “Hamptons of New Zealand,” and called it an “escape that is high-end but low-key.”

I was eager to see if Waiheke lived up to its Hamptons reputation, so on a trip to Auckland in 2022, I planned a two-night getaway to the island. Take a look at what I discovered.

Off the coast of New Zealand’s capital is Waiheke Island, a 36-square-mile island home to some of the country’s wealthiest residents and vacationers.

The view of Auckland, New Zealand, from a ferry.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

And while rich vacationers often take private jets and boats to the island, that wasn’t the case for me. Instead, I joined residents and visitors on a 40-minute ferry ride from Auckland.

The ferry was my first indicator that the island is a place for the wealthy. My round-trip ticket on the Fullers360 ferry cost $50, and, according to The New Zealand Herald, it was one of the most expensive public ferries in the world at the time, costing locals $250 monthly.

As the ferry departed from Auckland, the city’s harbor and Sky Tower faded into the distance. A little over half an hour later, a lush, green island speckled with homes came into view.

The entrance to the Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Waiheke Island is home to more than 30 wineries, and thanks to the region’s micro-climate, Syrah and Cabernet blends thrive in Waiheke’s environment.

Mudbrick Winery is one of the island’s most popular places to taste these varieties. Celebrities like Taylor Swift, Eva Longoria, Cindy Crawford, and Shailene Woodley have all visited the vineyard.

As I pulled into the parking lot, I understood why the winery entices such remarkable names. The vineyard had grand views overlooking Te Haruhi Bay.

A real-estate company advertises homes for sale on Waiheke Island.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

You won’t find any Hiltons, Marriotts, or large hotels on Waiheke. There’s a handful of boutique hotels, but most visitors book vacation homes for their trip.

Dotted along the coast are these rental properties, many of which cost millions of dollars. Realestate.co.nz reports that the island’s median asking price for a home was $2.5 million this past year.

While real-estate prices have fluctuated in the past five years, Waiheke is one of the places where homes have more than doubled in price this past decade.

I headed first to Cable Bay Lane, which is home to ritzy vacation properties like Fossil Cove, the property where Lady Gaga stayed when she visited the island.

The ritzy homes along the road were gated.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Fossil Cove, along with the other large and famous properties on the road, had private entrances, tall hedges, and obstructed views of the properties.

After my failed mansion mission, I decided to explore one of the island’s pristine public beaches instead. I walked along Little Palm Beach, which is free to visit.

A parking lot at Owhanake Bay on Waiheke Island, New Zealand.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

As I climbed up and through a forested area, the hiking trail led me to a freshly paved road that had a scattering of large homes.

Thanks to the hike’s high elevation, I spotted mansions Waiheke’s rich and famous own.

The tiny house was tucked into the cliffside of Waiheke Island.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I wasn’t staying on Waiheke Island with a celebrity budget, so Fossil Cove was out.

Since the island doesn’t have many hotels, I turned to vacation properties listed on Airbnb and Vrbo. That’s where I found a tiny house on the coast for $475 for two nights. It had views and privacy and was centrally located.

The only catch was that the tiny house didn’t have a proper bathroom, but rather, a porta-potty. Each time I opened the plastic door, I imagined luxuriating in one of the mansions with heated toilet seats, bidets, and running water.

The next day, I continued to explore Waiheke and headed to another part of the island, Oneroa Village. It’s the island’s largest suburb, and home to shops, restaurants, and businesses.

The main street of Waiheke Island in New Zealand.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I’m far from able to distinguish between a $20 and $200 bottle of wine, and I’m not one to insist on turn-down service in my hotel room.

But during two days on the island, I discovered much more than hot tubs, six-car garages, and helipads. I realized that I didn’t need to be a wealthy traveler to enjoy Waiheke Island.

The author in front of the tiny house on New Zealand’s Waiheke Island.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider

As I ferried off the island, I left with a better understanding of the beauty and the challenges that the Hamptons of New Zealand face.

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source:https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-waiheke-island-hamptons-of-new-zealand-2022-11