Auckland is just a four-hour flight from Adelaide and Waiheke Island is the standout attraction
New direct flights from Adelaide to Auckland unlock a world of award-winning wineries, adventure activities and cultural experiences just four hours away.
Auckland, New Zealand is a feast for the senses: see, feel, taste, hear.
There are rolling green hills from every aspect that cover the country’s (dormant) volcanoes, delightful mild temperatures, award-winning wines and spirits, and the never-ending sounds of birds, particularly ground-dwelling species that aren’t at threat from predators like snakes.
That’s right, there’s not a snake to be seen in New Zealand because of its geographical isolation that has blocked any means for the reptiles to make their way over the ditch.
The city of Auckland is home to about 1.5 million people but its true treasure is Waiheke Island, just a 40-minute ferry ride from the mainland.
The island that measures 25km long and 15km wide may only be a hop, skip and a jump from the mainland but it has the feel of a regional town.
It’s surrounded by breathtaking beaches and it’s where you’ll find some of those award-winning wines and spirits.
The Heke – home to Waiheke Whisky Distillery and Craft Beer Brewery – won gongs at the 2025 World Whisky Awards and 2024 NZ Spirit Awards.
The passion behind the brand is obvious as soon as you walk beyond the front door of the sprawling venue that brews and distils its products on site and also has a restaurant and function space.
The Heke was founded by two families – the Izzards and Hindmarshes.
Their children work at the venue and the staff have become like family.
There’s nothing like learning about a brewing story or being talked through a whisky tasting by the most passionate and energetic employee who lives and breathes the product.
Waiheke Island is also the perfect spot for adventurers with EcoZip Adventures providing three zip lines over vineyards and rainforest.
Each zip line gets longer and higher, providing uninterrupted views of the stunning coastline. Tour groups all vary in age with one grandma and granddaughter duo zipping down together, no doubt creating special memories, ahead of us.
The downside to zip lining is walking back up the mountain but when you’re zigzagging through serene rainforest learning about some of the oldest trees on the island, it’s a pleasant trek that adds to the day’s step count.
Another local producer on the island is Allpress Olive Groves, who offered us a sneak peak of their new facility that has several tasting areas, a restaurant and a conference space.
Allpress Olive Groves reserves its product for locals, though it can be ordered online and shipped.
The tour starts with the host walking us through the delicate process of harvesting their small field of olive trees.
The process from tree to olive oil all happens on site. And then it’s down to the tasting with fruity, nutty and peppery olive oil among the favourites.
Back on the mainland, the key to learning about the culture and being immersed into the local vibe is to find the perfect tour guide.
Ceillhe Sperath, co-founder of TIME Unlimited Tours is that person. Yet another family business in Auckland with her husband Neill a co-founder and their teenage daughter Danica working behind the scenes.
Ceillhe greeted us with local language; her passion and knowledge of her culture and what New Zealand has to offer is contagious. On the way to the Matakana Village Farmers’ Market – about a 50-minute drive from Auckland – we pulled over at scenic viewing spots and heard about why the Sperath family have been taking tour groups around New Zealand for the past 20 years.
The farmers’ market is unique in that every stallholder is exclusively local.
From whisky and gin to turmeric shots, delicious doughnuts, coffee, candles and local art, homewares and fashion, there’s absolutely nothing you can’t get at this market located along a creek.
There’s even live music.
And to top it off, Honest Chocolate does tastings of its goodies finished off with a hot chocolate.
Next stop on our tour with Ceillhe was Brick Bay Wines, another award-winning winery, set among an eclectic sculpture park. The best place to sample the fine wines and farm to plate menu is under the first pinot grigio grapes planted in NZ.
Back in the city centre, a range of modern restaurants is giving Auckland a name on the food scene.
TV chef Josh Emett, who gained international fame working with Gordon Ramsay, opened Gilt at Chancery Chambers with his wife Helen in October 2023.
The pair offers a modern European menu in the original Chancery Chambers that was built in 1924.
It served the legal community for decades before the Emetts wrote a new chapter for the building by transforming it into a restaurant with several private dining rooms.
The wine list includes plenty of local drops, including The Landing Chardonnay, complementing the raw Sicilian crudo, tuna, salmon and kingfish, Wagyu beef and mouth-watering desserts.
The Landing Wines received some free PR in April this year when English singer songwriter and model Dua Lipa took her family and friends to the venue during her tour in Auckland, posting on Instagram about “wine tasting on the edge of the world” to her 88.1 million followers.
Auckland isn’t just about the food, wine and culture though, it is home to some incredible film talent that is on show at Weta Workshop Unleashed in the Sky City tower.
Tours of the workshop are interactive andattract young fans as well as the older sci-fi nerds.
Weta is focused on the worlds of horror, fantasy and sci-fi taking film fans from room to room of prosthetics, special effects and real sets for real films.
Auckland is now easier to access from South Australia with Qantas launching direct flights between Adelaide and Auckland in October. The flights are seasonal, operating four times a week from October to May each year.
It marks the first Qantas international service to South Australia in more than a decade and provides a gateway to the US with Qantas offering a direct flight from Auckland to New York.
Each year, about 43,000 people from New Zealand and 56,000 from North America visit South Australia, contributing a combined $211m to the local economy.
Tourism expenditure from New Zealand increased by 42 per cent in the past year, to $93m to June 2025. This is up from $65m the previous year.
Crossing the ditch from Australia to New Zealand has to be added to every holiday wish list.
It’s less than four hours from Adelaide and will capture all the senses.
There’s adventures to be had, local produce to sample and scenery that has to be seen to be appreciated.
The writer was a guest of Qantas
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