Private Personalised Tour In Waiheke Island

We had a wonderful 5 1/2 hour tour with Cindy and Ferg (last day of training), and they showed us the flora and fauna, the beaches, the forest canopy, took us on a wonderful hike, explained the history of New Zealand, discussed the Māori at length, everything we asked for!!

Would prefer to give them 10 stars. Extraordinary experience from start to finish. Group of six on the beautiful Pacific Star -40 foot catamaran. Our Captain Bruce and Co-Captain Cindy were absolutely wonderful. Great sail, food, beverages, and most of all companionship. Had a great time learning about Waiheke Island and sea. Could not recommend the experience more.

Terra and Tide provided our family group of six with a delightful day out, personalised to our needs and interests. Our lovely guide, Dell, was helpful, considerate, knowledgeable and adaptable. From the initial inquiry to the day on Waiheke Island, the Terra and Tide team were professional, friendly and reliable. In fact, they were the only tour group to respond to my website inquiries across a number of companies. We appreciated their eco and sustainability approach to all they do. Thank you for a wonderful time!

Had an awesome experience with Justine from Terra and Tide today on our private tour of Waiheke Island! She showed us some very beautiful views from the island, took us to olive oil and wine tastings, the Sacred Blessing Sanctuary with its ornate gardens and exquisite statues and scenery, and provided wonderful historical insight into the Maori culture and history of the area. This was the best tour of our holiday for its personalization, knowledge of the guide, and relaxing atmosphere created by Justine throughout the day! If we ever make ot back to Auckland we'll definitely do this your again.

What a magical place Waiheke is and we couldn't have enjoyed it more than with Dell as our guide. Her knowledge was only matched by her love for the island. From the olive oil tasting at AllPress, wine tasting at Mud Brick, tapas lunch Casita Miro all with spectacular views every way you looked. She educated us on local culture, took us shopping for snacks and made the day the best for us in every way, Thank you Dell!

Dell our guide met us at our Hotel and the rest of our day was amazingWaihek. She planned the most outstanding day for us and her knowledge of the area, plants and trees, history of the island made the day very special. Travel around the island with special stops at the Sacred Blessing Sanctuary, visit to AllPress olive oil, Lunch at Casita Miro, delish, and a last stop at Mudbrick for a wine tasting. I would request Dell on my next trip to NZ.

Amazing tour with Dell who personalised the experience with her amazing understanding of the island

Justine was a great tour guide, very knowledgeable and friendly and the tour was relaxed and we did everything we wanted to do

We were picked up by Cindy for our Private tour. I was travelling with my 15-year-old son, so I wanted our tour to be interesting to him, and it absolutely was! We end to Whakanewha Regional Park in hopes of spotting the Dotterel (Dottie for short). This in a severely endangered bird. We were fortunate enough to spot 2 and watch them playing along the beach. We also did a walk through the rainforest and along the clifftop for incredible views, history, and Cindy was very enthusiastic making my son feel engaged. Waiheke is a MUST when visiting Auckland, and Terra & Tide should be part of that experience!

Fantastic day tour, saw the best viewpoints, visited vineyards, olive oil tasting and a lovely lunch as well as visiting local are galleries. Justine was a super guide , great personality and good laughs along the way. She shared incredible knowledge and history of Waiheke, New Zealand itself and its people. Highly recommended. N&A

Excellent tour of the island with Cindy. She was flexible to adjust your to visit artist friend and a special location for a cup of coffee, which made th tour that much more unique and enjoyable.

Cindy, our tour guide, did an amazing job. She managed to fit many places in, while keeping an eye on the time schedule. She communicated with the vineyard/restaurant in the background, when it was obvious that we would be a bit late for our wine tasting. She shared a lot of knowledge about the island and its fauna and flora. Despite all our additional requirements, she managed to drop us off in time to the ferry.

We had a great Island tour! Justina told and showed us all the beautiful places of the Island!

Wine and Heritage tour on the island provided origins, history and modern day perspectives of island life, with a focus on the wine industry and the Māori culture, particularly the Polynesian traditions of NZ and the surrounding islands of Auckland. Whilst focused on the wine history, we were entertained by short walks and a trip around Waiheke island. The wines were great, leaning about the early pioneers was thoughtful, and our guide of 17 years on the island provided knowledgeable perspectives.

We spent a full day touring Waiheke Island. Easy to get to the island on the local passenger ferry. Our guide Karen, was a local who was able to share so much about the region and the Island. We visited stunning lookout areas, wineries, and had a great lunch. Karen even managed to arrange a last minute trip to a few galleries in the town center. I highly recommend this tour company.

We had the best excursion / tour with this company. They were extremely flexible and our guide Dell was personable, friendly, funny and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend this company.

Dell was an informative and native New Zealander now residing on Waiheke Island. As such she brought the history and soul of this place alive right before our eyes! She greeted us after we exited the ferry onto the Island. We explained we had booked a luncheon at Mudbricks for 1:30 pm. With a smile and a flourish she managed to move the wine tasting she had planned for us there to one hour before our luncheon. Then she proceeded to show us all of the highlights and backstory of this beautiful place. From very light walking tours to beach and neighborhood drive-by’s, even calling our flora and fauna names and histories. Dell was kindness personified and helped us to really feel this place in our hearts.

We met Maria where we were staying, at the Delamore Lodge. We drove out to the eastern part of Waiheke Island heading to Stony Batter. Maria's vast knowledge of the islands history, geography, as well as the birds and animals, was incredible. She joined us on the tour of the SB tunnels and continued to give us background information in addition to the tour guide. We finished up our tour at the Man O' War winery and lunched there as well. We have never had a tour guide quite as knowledgeable as Maria. She made it one of the highlights of our trip

Justine was fabulous…prompt welcoming warm knowledgeable. She was attentive to our interests, tailored the trip when possible and took us to so many cool and beautiful locations. Highly recommend her and the tour company!

Cindy was an awesome tour guide. She was very knowledgeable about Waiheke Island and we learned so much. Above all though, she was great fun to spend a day with and we had such a fun day!

Guide Justine was very knowledgeable & fun & responded to our interests. We could not have experienced the island to this extent on our own. Wholeheartedly recommend this company!

Dell was an amazing guide! She gave wonderful insight to the island’s history, plants, and birds. Every stop was lovely, but I especially liked the sculpture garden. What a beautiful jewel of an island! Very memorable day! Dell, thank you for showing me your island home!

Most family tours follow a predictable, weary rhythm, but our day with Terra and Tide on Waiheke Island was a refreshing departure from the scripted norm. We arrived as a family of four, including two boys whose primary hobby is asking questions that would exhaust a search engine. We were met by Justine, who stepped into the role of guide, educator, and logistical mastermind with an ease that can only be described as professional grace. The beauty of a private, personalized tour is the luxury of choice, and Justine curated a day that felt precisely calibrated to our interests. We didn't just see the island; we actually learned it. The boys were kept fully engaged as we delved into the island’s history and the nuances of Māori language and culture. It is one thing to look at a landscape, but quite another to have the flora and fauna explained with the kind of depth Justine provides. She has a gift for making complex history feel like a series of fascinating stories rather than a dry classroom lecture. The itinerary itself was well balanced. We spent time on a bush walk that felt rugged yet accessible, followed by a private olive oil tasting that was a sophisticated highlight for the adults while remaining surprisingly engaging for the kids. Lunch was a genuinely tasty affair. Of course, no successful outing with children is complete without a strategic gelato stop, and Justine’s timing on that front was impeccable. What really sets Terra and Tide apart is the seamless nature of the experience. Being picked up and dropped off right at the ferry terminal removed the typical logistical friction that usually haunts a family day trip. There was no checking maps or worrying about timing; we simply moved from one highlight to the next. Justine is kind, caring, and possesses a level of local knowledge that makes you feel like an insider by the time you head back to the mainland. She handled our inquisitive group with genuine patience that we all appreciated. If you are looking for a way to see Waiheke that avoids the crowds and offers a smart, deep dive into what makes this place special, this is it. It is rare that a day meets every expectation, but this tour exceeded them all. My highest recommendation for anyone who prefers substance over spectacle.

Most family tours follow a predictable, weary rhythm, but our day with Terra and Tide on Waiheke Island was a refreshing departure from the scripted norm. We arrived as a family of four, including two boys whose primary hobby is asking questions that would exhaust a search engine. We were met by Justine, who stepped into the role of guide, educator, and logistical mastermind with an ease that can only be described as professional grace. The beauty of a private, personalized tour is the luxury of choice, and Justine curated a day that felt precisely calibrated to our interests. We didn't just see the island; we actually learned it. The boys were kept fully engaged as we delved into the island’s history and the nuances of Māori language and culture. It is one thing to look at a landscape, but quite another to have the flora and fauna explained with the kind of depth Justine provides. She has a gift for making complex history feel like a series of fascinating stories rather than a dry classroom lecture. The itinerary itself was well balanced. We spent time on a bush walk that felt rugged yet accessible, followed by a private olive oil tasting that was a sophisticated highlight for the adults while remaining surprisingly engaging for the kids. Lunch was a genuinely tasty affair. Of course, no successful outing with children is complete without a strategic gelato stop, and Justine’s timing on that front was impeccable. What really sets Terra and Tide apart is the seamless nature of the experience. Being picked up and dropped off right at the ferry terminal removed the typical logistical friction that usually haunts a family day trip. There was no checking maps or worrying about timing; we simply moved from one highlight to the next. Justine is kind, caring, and possesses a level of local knowledge that makes you feel like an insider by the time you head back to the mainland. She handled our inquisitive group with genuine patience that we all appreciated. If you are looking for a way to see Waiheke that avoids the crowds and offers a smart, deep dive into what makes this place special, this is it. It is rare that a day meets every expectation, but this tour exceeded them all. My highest recommendation for anyone who prefers substance over spectacle.

We had the pleasure of having Dell as our private tour guild on Waiheke Island in November 2025. She was outstanding in her knowledge of the island and the Maori people. She set up exclusive tours of different properties that were just so unexpected and stunning. For our final destination stop, we had lunch at a hilltop winery with sweeping veiws of the vistas. I would recommend requesting Dell for your private tour guide when visiting Waiheke Island.

My wife and I had a fantastic experience on our private tour of Waiheke Island. Our guide Justine was fabulous ! Faultless experience. Highly recommended without hesitation.

Beautiful island! We loved the hike we did, the views we took in, the vineyard for lunch and our guide Justine was delightful.

My wife and I spent the day with Dell on Waiheke Island as part of our honeymoon. To say that she made the day a memorable one would be an understatement. We visited several unforgettable sites, while learning about New Zealand history and culture. Both of us could not recommend Dell enough if you are considering a tour

Justine was an excellent and knowledgeable guide. She made every effort to make our tour enjoyable despite the inclement weather, tailoring the tour to our specific interests. Justine was fun and very personable and we learned a great deal about the island of Waiheke, its history, flora, and fauna. We even learned some Maori vocabulary.

We had the pleasure of being guided by Cindy and Maria, both of whom are highly knowledgeable and genuinely passionate about all that the island has to offer. It was an enjoyable and enriching day during which I learned a great deal about the history of Waiheke, its vibrant artistic community, and its renowned wineries and other local products, such as olive oil. A truly well-spent day under the sun.

Our two guides for the day ( Cindy and Justine ) were brilliant, great local knowledge of Māori history plant and bird names . Great tastings at Allpress Olive Grove and Mudbrick Vineyard with a stop at Batch Winery for lunch. A very enjoyable day and would recommend.

Justine was really wonderful. We had a perfect day of wine tasting, lovely hikes (bush walks) and especially learning about life on Waiheke Island. We learned about the development of the New Zealand wines, some history of the country and of this unique island, only a 40 minute ferry ride away from Auckland, but a small close community. Fun and interesting.

We had Robyn as a guide and she was so great! She took us around the island, did a hike and also checked out some wineries. She was really friendly and knowledgeable about waiheke. Would go back!

It is so wonderful. I will join this tour again as soon as possible. It is my first time in New Zealand. I have the amazing experience with nice person in Island.

This tour is off the charts beautiful. Our guide Justine was so knowledgeable and fun and knows the island so well! We had an incredible day. Thank you!

Excellent tour of Waiheke Island. Interesting sights, history, and plants. We enjoyed the wine tasting, lunch, and visit to the beach for swimming. Ask for Dell. She was great.

Our birding tour with Gabriella was one of the best we have done anywhere in the world. She is very knowledgeable about Waiheke Island birds, flora and fauna, and about the programs to protect the birds. We added 18 species to our life list while touring the shoreline, forest and wetlands of Waiheke. The included picnic lunch was outstanding. Highly recommended tour.

The ladies were very knowledgeable. I felt they took us to places such as an Art Gallery and vineyard where others could not take us. They listened to us in designing the tour and cared that we enjoyed the experience. We have no reservations in recommending them for the design of a personalized tour.

Dell was the BEST guide we could have asked for. She was welcoming, knowledgeable, friendly, informative. Dell knew so much about the history of Māori and of the island. The day we went it was raining but because of Dell it turned out to be a fantastic day. I highly recommend this tour company and definitely ask for Dell!!!

Great way to see Waiheke Island. Dell was a fantastic guide, very knowledgeable and lots of fun. Highly recommend this tour.

Our group of 16 enjoyed our private guided tour of gardens and vineyards. Our guides, Maria and Dell, were informative, flexible, attentive and just all round lovely. Our two vans appeared to be brand new and were very comfortable. The island itself is lovely and a treat to visit.

The views were amazing! The olive oil tasting, and the wine tasting were exceptional. My guide was fabulous and designed the tour based on my interest? This was a five star luxury tour

We went on a Private Waiheke Island tour with Maria as our guide. She was knowledgeable, friendly, and made us feel right at home. We can't recommend Terra and Tide enough and can't wait to return to NZ.

My partner and I had a personalized walking tour of Waiheke Island with Dell. We had a wonderful day hiking the island trails with Dell, who was exceptionally knowledgeable and personable. At the end of the day, Dell also showed us around some of the art studios on the island. We had a great time and would book a tour again in a minute with Terra & Tide (particularly if we could have Dell as the guide). Great job!!

Had a great time with Justine. She was very knowledgeable about the island and its history. She picked a wonderful winery for lunch. Got to understand what the word "Batch" meant. It is a vacation home.

The hiking tour we took of Waiheke Island was one of our highlights to the Auckland NZ area. Tyler, our guide was knowledgeable, energetic and FUN! I highly recommend using Terra and Tide and ask for Tyler.

We had most of a day to devote to touring Waiheke island and Gabrielle was an EXCELLENT guide! Very accommodating to our schedule, very knowledgeable about the island, a good driver in a new car...took us to spectacular views. A terrific day!