Our first stop on Waiheke Island was Rocky Bay where we met Aussie’s Mei and Kevin on Whisper HR.  We hadn’t seen them since before Christmas, so it was good to catch up with them and swap tales – they had been south to Tauranga to leave the boat while they went home for a few weeks.  We stayed there two nights, going for a short walk through Nikau Palms (endemic to New Zealand) then the wind turned to the south west and started blowing straight into the bay so it was time to move on.

Man O’ War bay is at the eastern end of the island, with amazing views to the neighbouring islands and the Coromandel Peninsula in the background.  It is home to the Man O’ War vineyard and farm, growing grapes, olives and lots of sheep.  Our walk here took us up through native woodland full of birdsong, past the vines and olive groves to Stony Batter, a headland that was fortified during WW2 to protect Auckland, which also has striated rock formations,that the name comes from, and fantastic views.

This little fellow is a New Zealand Dotterrel.  Its endangered with only 1500 remaining. We saw it on the beach in Rocky Bay.

Waiheke Island – forest, farmland and some amazing houses

Man O’ War Bay

You can taste their wines at the ‘tasting rooms’

and get married in the ‘wedding chapel’

Looking out to the Coromandel Peninsula

Vineyard with a view

View from Stoney BatterHRH

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