Ferry to Waiheke Island - everything there is to know (especially for residents).
This is everything you wanted to know about tickets as a resident of Waiheke Island. Updated 5 Sept
If you are a visitor see our other posts: Ferry and travel information to Waiheke and getting around when you are here, & How to Get to The Heke. One dedicated person went down to the Matiatia ferry terminal and asked every question possible about Fullers Ferry.
The basics - start with the HOP card and standard fares from Auckland to Waiheke return:
HOP Card Fare:
It costs ADULT $29.50 one-way using your HOP card to come and go. A CHILD on HOP card is $13 one way.
Visitor Fare from Auckland-Waiheke-Auckland:
The casual Fullers price is now: $59.00 for an open return ($29.50 single). If you buy it online it's $55.
Child is $26 return ($13 single).
Off Peak Visitor ‘special’ Fare from Auckland-Waiheke-Auckland:
There is a ‘visitor’ off-peak return, only available for travel starting in Auckland:
$29.50 return. Depart Auckland from 1pm (inclusive), Mon – Sun, Depart Waiheke from 7pm (inclusive), Mon – Sun. Scanning will be available 15 minutes prior to departure. TRAVELING OUTSIDE OF THESE TIMES REQUIRES A STANDARD RETURN TICKET.
There is also the Captain's Club adult return/single: $50.15/$25.08
The child's Captains Club return/single:$22.10/$11.05
(NB I’m not sure what this is!)
Multi-Trip Passes (following prices are listed in order of Adult/Tertiary/Child):
Flexi-Pass 10 Trip : $166 / $97.50 / $77 ($33.20 per return trip)
*(This can be used by 4 people per trip - see notes below).
Fullers Monthly Pass $403 / $293 / $177 includes unlimited ferry trips, bus trips on Waiheke and ferry to Devonport.
AT monthly: $355. (Unlimited travel for one calendar month (for example January 12 for one month to February 11) on Waiheke services, and on all buses and trains that are in the same zone as the start or end of the ferry trip (including Waiheke Bus services).
Adult 40 trip pass $574.50 ($28.72 per return trip)
*(This can be used by 2 people per trip - plus see notes below)
Child 40 trip pass $262.50
Special passes that can only be bought from a ticket office:
Co-parent return: $20.50
Special (Mobility) return: $23
Caregiver with mobility person: $0
Resident return for same-day travel Waiheke-Auckland-Waiheke: $33.50 adult / $16 for child.
Sealink Ferries:
Sealink ferry goes from Kennedy Point to Auckland - either Half Moon Bay or Wynyard Quarter in the city.
Sealink Residents passenger + vehicle ferries fares are available to card holding members. CLICK TO READ
Residents fares can now be booked as ONEWAY travel, not just return.
New for Summer Timetable 02 Oct until 30 Nov 2023:
New! travel from Half Moon Bay to Hamer St in downtown Auckland at 7.30 am and 8.30 am, and back at 6 pm and 6.30 pm. Faster trip too with it just at 60 - 70 mins.
In summary:
If you do 20 return journeys in a year and can afford it, the 40 trip is the best value, with a 12 month expiry, and you can travel with another person on the same card so you’ll use it up twice as fast. *(You can also screen shot your pass and let more people use it and split the cost of the ticket).
A 10-trip Flexi-pass can be used by up to 4 people per trip. *(If four people are travelling together then it would be $41.50 per person return - with 2 trips still left over to use within 12 months - for ‘free’ - compare this to standard $59 pp fare!)
If you're travelling for the month, the AT monthly is the best as it allows you to use all buses in zone one on the Auckland side as well as Waiheke, but you can't stop off in Devonport using the same ticket.
If you use your HOP card to get around, that is $29.50 off your card... best to get a flexi 10 trip ticket.
If you're travelling for the day, off island, the residents return ticket is affordable, it comes out as the same price as a Flexi 10 ticket.
Disclaimer: the info was published on the Waiheke Community Facebook Page but there might be changes or things missing. Credit: Shirin Brown - thank you for this research.
