With its endless golden beaches and world-renowned vineyards, Waiheke is the ultimate island escape. Perched directly above the harbour, The Boatshed started life as a private holiday cottage and is now one of New Zealand's most celebrated small luxury hotels. Rooms are set in a series of timber-clad beach huts and bungalows, replete with whitewashed wooden furniture, louvered windows and wicker chairs positioned to watch the boats bobbing in the calm bay. The Lighthouse Suite, hidden away at the top of a spiral staircase, is popular with honeymooners, while the Watertower Suite comes with a double-ended zinc bath on its own private roof terrace.
Fresh, seasonal menus are served in the gardens or in the laid-back dining room, and roaring fires greet guests on cooler days. The pretty art gallery-filled village of Oneroa is a five-minute stroll away and there's a wealth of nearby beaches and wineries to explore on the doorstep.
