I’m blissed out after spending the weekend on Waiheke. I love that a short ferry ride sits between the stress of everyday life and pure relaxation. With its wineries, beaches and that specific kind of quiet you don’t get on my side of the Hauraki Gulf, the island still feels a bit like a secret, even though everyone knows about it!
And that’s why I worry that we’re going to ruin it. Aucklanders, I mean. As I get off the ferry with an overnight bag and a bottle of rosé in hand, I’ve had thoughts along the lines of, “I hope it doesn’t get too popular,” and, “I hope it doesn’t lose its charm.”
A palace of our own
What a hypocrite! Minou and I stayed in a very big house. It had a pool, a sea view and enough beds to sleep 12 people. The person who loaned it to us referred to us as the “Dodi and Diana of New Zealand” and said, “You deserve a palace!”
I had to laugh. Minou has no idea who Diana and Dodi were, so he doesn’t get the joke.
Given we had this enormous house to ourselves, I did what any person concerned about too many people visiting Waiheke would do – I invited more people.
My mate Annie and her husband Proppy stayed over, and my ex-husband Dom and his partner Ash came for the day.
The magic of doing nothing
We spent two days doing nothing productive – working our way through a ridiculous amount of wine and cheese, watching the light shift over the vines and even singing karaoke. It was the kind of do-nothing weekend you don’t get much of in real life, which is why I keep coming back.
And while I want Waiheke to stay the same – unspoiled, sleepy, full of good sauvignon blanc – I still want to invite all my friends!
I’ve realised it’s the same logic as complaining about traffic while sitting in your car or being outraged about how busy your favourite café’s gotten while ordering your usual. We’re never the crowd. We’re just there.
That’s why, Waiheke, I’ll keep coming back – because you’re too good not to share.
