Motuihe Island
Motuihe Island might be my new favorite day trip from Auckland. It is a small island located between Motutapu and Waiheke, accessibly by boat and supposedly by ferry (though when I checked the ferry timetables, I couldn’t find an exact time for the 35 minute trip.) This place is magical, and it is hard to believe it is so close to the city.
It’s important to pack anything you might need for a hot beach day if travelling to Motuihe. There isn’t a general store or cafe on the island. Lots of sun screen and hats, towels, plenty of water, food, and beach toys. For the kids, we brought sand castle building equipment, life jackets, and paddle boards. We didn’t bring any type of beach shade or chairs with us, though I could see these being useful if you wanted more of a relaxing day than a play day.
There are five - yes FIVE - beaches to choose from. Most people stick with Wharf Bay on the south side of the island because it is closest to Auckland, but the slightly-less-busy and much more scenic Ocean Beach on the north side feels like you’ve escaped to some exotic tropical location and is my recommendation. Plus, the sand is some of the best I’ve ever felt between my toes! (There’s also Snapper Bay and Calypso Bay to choose from.) If you’re travelling by boat, double check the tide tables because you can anchor quite close to the beach if you gage the depth properly. But never fear, Motihue isn’t large, so it is possible to check out several locations before committing to anyone - assuming you don’t bring too much stuff with you because the terrain isn’t stroller or cart friendly. There are a number of easy tracks to hike and even camping sites available if you want to spend more than a day here.
If you’re on the north side, make sure to explore the east side of the beach. Hidden among old trees you’ll find a number of swings to enjoy. Discovering the swing grove was one of the best moments for the kids, and they immediately started playing on them. This is a little spot where I would love to bring my beach chair, a good book, and a frosty beverage. I could spend hours here. Unfortunately (though not really unfortunately as it was an amazing day trip…) between the swings, the trees to climb, the sandstone cliffs to explore, and the beach itself, there was plenty to keep us busy.
On the top of the hill at the narrow part of the island between Ocean Beach and Wharf Bay close to the toilet and changing rooms, there is the most important thing on Motuihe Island: the Motuihe Trust Kiosk. On weekends and public holidays, this little hut is the source of ice cream and ice blocks. There is something incredibly satisfying about a cold ice cream on the beach in the afternoon. They have EFTPOS and accept cash, though they have a limited supply of ice cream. If the Tip Top flag is flying, they are open for business.
If you perused my Hauraki Gulf trip post, you’ll know that we’re starting to explore more and more of the islands nearby. Each time I think I’ve found the best one, another one comes along that I think is the best one yet. I can’t wait to see what island comes next!
