Boatshed

This was the fourth stop on our long awaited round the world trip which was organised with help from Turquoise who put together an amazing itinerary. We arrived around 8.30am after a long and very turbulent flight from Perth followed by a very cold, wet and bumpy ferry from Auckland. We were picked up at the ferry terminal by Jonathan who whisked us away to Boatshed and offered us breakfast. We really appreciated a hot drink and some delicious buffet items and enjoyed the fabulous view from the breakfast room. Of course it was way too early for our room to be ready so we left our luggage and walked down to Oneroa (about 10 minutes walk) to check out the facilities. It's a lovely small town with some great restaurants and two beaches (one directly below the Boatshed). We managed to walk back down to the ferry terminal (it's a steady downhill walk - about half an hour) and bought tickets for the hop on - hop off bus. There are 2 of these - one covers the west side of the island, the other the east side. We enjoyed the western tour past various wineries and stopped off at Onetangi bay for a coffee to help with the jet lag. The bus then dropped us back at Oneroa but it was pouring with rain. As we walked up the hill to the Boatshed one of the team spotted us and gave us a lift back up. This was very much appreciated as we were soaked by then! We were then able to check in to our lovely "Boatshed suite" and dry off. There was a lovely walk in shower room, a cosy seating area, an outer porch with sun loungers and stunning views across the bay. There were also some biscuit and sweet treats and some port to enjoy. This was topped up every day and made a perfect nightcap! We had dinner at Boatshed one evening which was a delicious three course meal prepared by the in house chef and served on the covered dining terrace with views across the bay. On subsequent evenings the team recommended restaurants in Oneroa that we tried. Because the Boatshed is a 10 min walk from Oneroa, and the bus stop for both the east and west island bus tours, we made the most of this and visited several wineries. and the Stony Batter tunnels - very interesting. We were also able to walk to a couple of wineries about half an hour away (Mudbrick and Cable Bay) The beaches on the bay are stunning but unfortunately the weather wasn't on our side so we couldn't enjoy them as much as we would have liked - beach gear is provided in your room. On our last morning the sun finally came out and after a wonderful breakfast we were taken back down to the ferry terminal for the next part of our adventure. Everyone at the Boatshed was so welcoming and made our stay relaxing and comfortable, the facilities are fantastic and the location perfect for making the most of everything Waiheke Island has to offer.

We chose The Boatshed as the starting point of our New Zealand adventure and WOW what a high standard it has set. Our choice of accommodation was a Bungalow, it was very large and extremely comfortable. Jonathan and his team are all about making your stay special, the room is constantly stocked with water and fresh towels. The breakfast is excellent with great fresh fruit and a surprise main dish every day. Highly recommend you book dinner, it is a gourmet delight. Everything about this place is quality and would highly recommend it if you want to be spoilt.

The Boatshed is relaxed luxury at its finest. We stayed three nights as part of an Australian/New Zealand bucket list trip and our time there was a highlight of our journey. Jonathan and his team ensure that every detail is well-considered. We found the location an easy point from which to navigate what we wanted to see and do around the island. We stayed in the Water Tower room and enjoyed the second level views and outdoor tub. We wish we had planned dinner in house for more than the one night that we did. In comparison to the two restaurants we visited on the island, The Boatshed chef and staff were significantly superior (see separate review about which one to avoid!) We highly recommend the Boatshed if you're seeking tranquil luxury on Waiheke Island.