FUTURE GENERATION
HONOUR MITCHELL:
TEEN PICKS - WAIHEKE, THE PERFECT MINI BREAK A Waiheke trip has always been on my bucket list. Living only an hour ferry ride away, it surprised me that I have never been to check out the island before now. So Mum and I decided to embark on a much needed "girls trip" to Waiheke in order to see what everyone is raving about. We set off early in the morning on the ridiculously convenient car ferry (located on Hamer St, barely five mins drive from Ponsonby) and waved goodbye to what had become sameold, same-old Auckland. As soon as the ferry docked, we went full speed ahead to the Saturday morning market in Ostend (right next to Countdown). What I noticed first was an abundance of second-hand books, which is always a giant plus for me. Other gems included: strategically-placed recycle clothing racks, dainty jewellery stores capturing large audiences, and an impressive crystal selection which drew my sister in like a magnet. After a couple of circuits browsing, hunger distracted me and I got my hands on a Hungarian puffed-bread loaded with homemade pesto, tomatoes and feta (kind of like a cross between a sandwich and a pizza). As you can imagine it was absolutely delicious. What’s more it gave me the energy boost I needed to continue exploring the island, before checking into our accommodation. For a first-timer, a drive around the island is a good way to start. Although Waiheke is small, the settlements are spread out to make the most of all the beaches. Each area has its own special charm. Despite taking a car, it really isn’t essential as there is an excellent bus network that meets the ferry and travels around the the island with astonishing frequency. While Oneroa is the commercial hub it still feels like a quaint village. Our Airbnb was a stone’s throw away from Oneroa - in Little Oneroa - making it extremely convenient, but at the same time more secluded and peaceful than if we were in the main town. After admiring the stunning view from our deck and a spot of unpacking, we headed straight for Little Oneroa beach. On a sweltering 30 degree afternoon this sojourn was the ideal antidote. It was quiet with a laid back vibe as more people seemed to be attracted to the main Oneroa beach, instead of the little, sweet one. Honestly, I preferred having the cute, peaceful beach. It was a great place to swim with the perfect water temperature due to the petite, sheltered cove. We also checked out Onetangi beach, which was idyllic, long and expansive but more breezy with a slightly cooler water temperature than Little Oneroa. Palm Beach is also appealing - but unfortunately it was a little cloudy when we arrived so I feel we didn’t see this piece of paradise at its best. Overall, we decided that Little Oneroa was our winning spot. We cherished it so much that on our last morning we trekked down a bush track to go for a dawn-breaking swim to enhance the memories we had made over the weekend. Absolutely no one else was there. It sure was a tranquil way to say farewell!
Food
There are so many places to eat on Waiheke and we certainly admired many captivating menus, but with the spectacular view from our rental we decided to opt for takeaways and easy meal options purchased from our newly-discovered Island Grocer. We constructed many delicious platters and thoroughly enjoyed take-out from Dragonfired (pizza and an organic polenta/black bean bowl) and Little Oneroa Takeaways (Fish&Chips) all while drinking in the mesmerising view.
Shopping
Oneroa has an eclectic array of shops. We checked out multiple surf shops, a designer recycle boutique down a little lane, and another boutique boasting over 1,000 anklets and loads of pastel flowing skirts (sadly none in my size!). But our favourite was an amazing crystal shop which had exquisite hand-made crochet tops crafted by a girl on the island - plus an intriguing selection of crystals, spiritual books, cards and an in-house tarot reader. Opposite this little marvel was our second favourite: The Island Grocer. Not only did this organic grocer supply an excellent range of fresh and packaged goods, but it had an attached wing with coffee, smoothies, raw slices and very appealing lunch snacks.
56 PONSONBY NEWS+ February 2022
Waiheke surely lives up to its reputation and more. I had a
great first experience, perfect really! I loved the the relaxed island atmosphere as well as the amazing beaches. Two nights was a rejuvenating break - so nipping over to Waiheke for just a weekend is definitely worth it, even in the summer peak, as there still seems to be plenty of space for everyone. (HONOUR MITCHELL) PN
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