14 Of The Best Airbnbs On Waiheke For Your Next Island Escape

Fancy yourself a pad with a mega pool and private spa overlooking the lush greens of Onetangi Golf Course? Aptly named The Fairways, this Waiheke Island Airbnb gives you luxe group living within easy reach of wineries and Onetangi beach. 

You've got four bedrooms and two bathrooms here, and some fab open-plan living space, which opens out onto that sparkling pool.

You're also walking distance to a handful of restaurants and a short drive to shops and the supermarket so picking up provisions is no trouble at all.

Oh Serenity, you had us at hello. This north-facing Waiheke Island Airbnb sits in a sheltered corner of Palm Beach, and we love that it’s own private pathway that gives you access down to the sandy stuff. 

This pad is a great base for families or groups wanting a peaceful stay and beach house vibes, and it’s got a separate sleep-out with a king bed, toilet and outdoor shower that’s 10 metres from the front door.

Get together in the open plan kitchen and dining space, and you can chat while you chop all that good stuff for the group feast. You can also throw open the wide bi-fold doors to the deck where you can sip on something fabulous while you gaze at the big blue.

Our favourite bit at this spot is the covered outdoor lounge, which has a cosy wood-burning fireplace and built-in barbecue to make sunset eats breezy. 

Don't tell anyone about Shoreline Secrets, because once they discover it sits right above the charming Hekerua Bay and gives direct access to the water’s edge they’ll want to snap it up quick.

This two-bedroom Waiheke Island Airbnb sits in a spot surrounded by native bushland, close to a penguin colony that calls the beach below home. Bring your comfy shoes, because you'll want to explore the Te Ara Hura coastal walking track that leads from the shore to the neighbouring bays and beaches. 

If you fancy staying home, you're going to want to take to the deck, which is well equipped for entertaining with a barbecue, large dining table, heaps of seats, and two day beds. Inside this property is homely, with art on the walls, a full kitchen for snack-making, and two living rooms in which to gather for that post-dinner drink.

Roll on up to Mudbrick Vineyard and prepare to be charmed. This Waiheke Island Airbnb gives fairytale cottage vibes, sitting pretty on a hillside with views overlooking the vines and towards Auckland beyond. 

Stay here, and you'll want to take the winding path to dine at the vineyard’s award-winning restaurant. There’s a cellar door to sip at, and a rooftop bar to lounge at if it floats your boat.

Back at base, tuck yourself up on one of the day beds and throw open the windows to enjoy that view. Alternatively, you could perch yourself with a good book under the white umbrella out front, and plan your next day's play. After all that fun's done, rest easy in the knowledge you can step into your own private hot tub and chillax.

How about a charming 1950s beach cottage right across from the road from Onetangi Beach? Beachfront Bliss is your two-bedroom Waiheke Island stay, which makes the perfect pad for a small family seeking sea views and a sheltered sea-facing deck. 

You can park your car here, no trouble, before exploring the delights inside: we’re talking open plan living, dining, and kitchen all facing the water, a lounge with sofa and armchairs and a dining table seating six. 

Slide open the doors in the living space, and head on out to that front deck. You're going to want to crank up the barbecue here later, so you can cook while enjoying the views across to the wet stuff.

Three words: wow, wow, wow! This Waiheke Island Airbnb is the private home of the owners of Mudbrick Vineyard, and it really is one of a kind. If you're prepared to splash the cash on a mega group stay, this is the spot for you as it really is something special (we're giving a big shout out to the pink-walled master bedroom which is glass on two whole sides and gives the most spectacular view.) 

There are three other spacious bedrooms too, as well as extra stuff like a media room, mini gym, a clifftop hot tub and sauna, so you can take your chillaxing to another level. 

The location here is fabulous too. You're five minutes from Mudbrick Vineyard, with its cellar door, restaurant, and bar, and seven minutes from the Matiatia ferry terminal, so you can be back in Auckland in less than an hour. 

Everyone with kiddos knows the lure of a bunk bed, and at this Waiheke Island Airbnb, perched above Oneroa beach, you get a bedroom with two sets of bunks, so there's heaps of space for the littlies to stay. 

The location of this family home is second to none, as you're right above the sand, and yet moments from the heart of the Oneroa village, with cafes, shops and eateries within a gentle stroll. 

Wander down the local path to the sand and relax for a while while the rascals play, or head further afield, if you fancy (you're literal minutes from the bus stop so it’s a breeze). Back at base, we reckon you're going to want to take to the deck to sip on something tasty while you look out across the bay. Or perhaps the sheltered courtyard beckons? It’s got a barbecue you can fire up to get something sizzling before nightfall.

Now for something a little bit different. Lover’s Point is a charming mix between camping and glamping, based in a clifftop cabin with mesmerising views of the Coromandel, The Noises, Oneroa Bay, and even Great Barrier Island. 

Yes, your Waiheke Island Airbnb is cosy inside, but it's super cute too, offering a comfy queen bed with sea views, a kitchen for snack making, and a wireless Bose entertainment system so you can get the love songs playing. 

This is a one-of-a-kind experience and as such, it’s worth noting that the two hot showers are outside (one has an epic view), and your toilet is 10 metres along the path from the cabin in a flushing portaloo. There’s heaps of walks nearby for romantic strolls, and Mckenzie Reserve to Palm Beach trail comes highly recommended.

Surrounded by native bush and with free parking making your arrival a breeze, the five-star rated Woodside Bay Cottage is a couples’ Waiheke Island hideaway dream.

Book a stay here, and you start the day spotting boats sailing by from the comfort of your own private deck, before treating yourself to a soak in the massive outdoor bath that fits the two of you with ease.

You've got a full kitchen to make use of if a romantic meal calls, plus a barbecue you can fire up if alfresco cheffing is more your thing. If the sun is doing its thing, we reckon you’ll want to meander down to the beach for a morning swim.

Say yes to an infinity pool and some enticing indoor/outdoor living at Atatū Clifftop, a three-bedroom, adults-only Waiheke Island stay that sits above Hekerua Bay.

If you like to wander between alfresco sips and inside eats with ease, this place delivers. The main space has an open-plan lounge, dining zone, and kitchen and from there you can open the huge sliding doors to the deck and glistening pool, where you can take a seat at a sun lounger with your favourite tipple and prepare for some panoramic sea views.

The outdoor spaces here are something special: there’s an outdoor living area with a fireplace at the front of the property and a gorgeous second alfresco lounge at the rear, with a low wooden table which pairs perfectly with a cheese plate. An added bonus? You can walk to Oneroa’s shops and restaurants.

If you’re looking for an immaculately designed, secluded boutique setting on Waiheke Island, you just found it. Fleetwood is just under 30 minutes from Matiatia Wharf and is set on an 18-acre stretch of bush with views through to Te Matuku Bay. 

Offering two studios, side by side, it was co-founded and styled by the inimitable Jackie Houghton. (If you’re lucky, she’ll pick you up in her gorgeous rover Mary-Jane.) 

Pop on those walking shoes and take a bushwalk to Te Matuku Bay. You’re within strolling distance of Poderi Crisci if a long lunch calls, and a drive of Tantalus Estate winery and Three Seven Two restaurant and bar. Your hosts helpful offer a brekky tray too, for an additional fee.

Sleeping a heap of peeps guests across the main house and a separate, more private penthouse with mind-blowing views from just about everywhere, Tihi Lodge could be perfect for a get-together with extended family. 

The main gathering spot features a kitchen, lounge, dining space and four bedrooms, each with ensuites, while the other place to hang gives guests a private area away from the rest of the crew.

Some of the more luxurious features include a gorgeous freestanding bath, rainforest shower, sauna, indoor fireplace and all the spots to curl up in.

Wake up in this sail-shaped blue gem on Waiheke Island and you’ll be greeted by epic vistas of the Hauraki Gulf and the Coromandel.

Not only is this one-bedroom chalet adorable to look at from the outside, but inside it’s got everything you need for a seriously romantic stay, including a loft-style bedroom where you can see the sunrise from bed.

You’re just a stroll from the glistening sands of Onetangi and Palm beaches here, and yet restaurants, cafes and a supermarket are just 1.5km away too. If you’re not out and about, we reckon you’ll be on the balcony back at your pad firing up the barbecue for a meal with a view.  

We don't know who Jackson is but there's no denying the man has taste. The cosy cabin (complete with a red door) is one of the best Airbnbs on Waiheke for an escape away from the daily grind. 

The cute space includes all the essentials including a kitchenette, lounge-dining space, full bathroom and on-site parking but our favourite spot is the ample deck—best enjoyed with a good book, a glass of vino, some mellow beats and a cheeseboard to graze on. 

Feel like a beach day? Enclosure Bay and Sandy Bay are an easy walk away.