Waiheke Island

Waiheke Island is in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand. Its ferry-terminal in Matiatia Bay at the western end is 21.5km from the downtown terminal in Auckland—measured on GPS by Fullers Ferry captains.It is the second-largest island in the gulf, after Great Barrier Island. It is the most populated island in the gulf, with nearly 8,730 permanent residents plus another estimated 3,400 who have second or holiday homes on the island. It is New Zealand's most densely populated island, with 95 people/km², and the third most populated after the North and South Islands. It is the most accessible island in the Gulf, with regular passenger and car ferry services, a Waiheke-based helicopter operator, and other air links. In November 2015, Waiheke Island received international attention when it was rated the fifth best destination in the world to visit in 2016 by Lonely Planet and also voted the fourth best island in the world in the Condé Nast Best Islands in the World ListGeographyOverviewThe island is off the coast of the North Island. It is 19.3km long from west to east, varies in width from 0.64to, and has a surface area of 92km². The coastline is 133.5km, including 40km of beaches. The port of Matiatia at the western end is 17.7km from Auckland and the eastern end is 21.4km from Coromandel. The much smaller Tarahiki Island lies 3km to the east.