FAQ Waiheke

Our new Waiheke Island rental car branch is conveniently located inside the Matiatia ferry terminal. Simply look out for the big pink sign when you get off the ferry and we will get you on your way in no time.

Our branch hours at our Waiheke branch are:
8am - 5pm Monday to Sunday

If you need to pick up or drop off your vehicle outside these hours, there is an after-hours service which will allow you to do so! Our branch team will be in contact on the day with instructions on how to collect and return your vehicle.

You will need to check in online or with the GO Rentals app for those bookings that require an after-hours pick up or drop off.

When you come to collect your hire car at our Waiheke branch, you’ll need a valid driver’s licence and a credit or debit card for security. A credit card is mandatory if you have selected our Basic insurance option or, in some instances, our Assured insurance option. It must have your name printed on it for verification and the card must be valid until the drop-off date.

Waiheke Island is just a short 40-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland. There is also a car ferry that operates from Wynyard Quarter or Half Moon Bay to Kennedy Point that takes between 45-60 minutes.

If you are tagging Waiheke onto your existing itinerary, you can bring a rental car across to the Island that you have picked up from one of our other branches or you can choose to pick up a new rental car from our Waiheke Island branch located inside the Matiatia Ferry Terminal.

Looking for rental car deals on Waiheke Island? Make sure you have a look at our deals page. It’s home to our latest discounts and offers and can help you save on your next hire.

Downloading our app is another great way of having everything you need at your fingertips.

For the latest car rental deals straight to your inbox, make sure you sign up for our newsletter and never miss a deal! It’s the perfect way to secure affordable rental cars on Waiheke Island.

The cost of hiring a car in Waiheke varies greatly on a number of factors. This includes the chosen vehicle, availability and rental period, as lower rates are available for longer hire periods.

Input your travel dates and other booking information on our Waiheke branch page to get an accurate daily figure.

Yes, you can take your GO Rentals vehicle on the Auckland to Waiheke Island car ferry. This ferry picks cars up at Wynyard Quarter or Half Moon Bay in Auckland and drops them off Kennedy Point in Waiheke Island.

You can also choose to rent a vehicle from our Waiheke branch.

Yes, ferry companies such as Fullers360, Sealink, and Island Direct offer customers the opportunity to pre-book their trips. The easiest way to do so is via these company’s websites. Please note that if you are travelling with Sealink then you need to catch a bus or taxi from Kennedy Point to our GO Rentals Waiheke branch located inside the Matiatia Ferry Terminal to collect your car hire.

Yes, you use an AT HOP card on all Auckland Transport ferry services including the Fullers360. The only exception is Island Direct.

The car ferry from Auckland to Waiheke takes around 45-60 minutes. Times can vary due to conditions and ferry availability.

Waiheke Island is small but mighty, and a round trip should only take around 2.5-4 hours depending on traffic and congestion. With stops along the way at beaches, wineries and adventuring experiences, you can take your time and enjoy the island!

If you’re looking to extend your hire, we strongly recommend that you contact us as soon as you can. Due to low availability in high season, we can’t guarantee any extension but we’ll do our best to accommodate your request

If you let us know that you need to cancel your booking with more than 24 hours notice from the scheduled pick-up time, you will be charged a 10% cancellation fee. All cancellations within 24 hours of the scheduled pick-up time will incur 100% cancellation fee.

If you have already made any payment towards the booking there will be a refund administration fee of 10% or $20; whichever is higher.

No. You can use a debit card to book your GO Rentals vehicle, no problem. There are 2 things to note when you use a debit card rather than a credit card to book with GO Rentals:

• If you pay for your hire online, your debit card will be subject to a non-refundable payment processing fee.
• You will need to reduce your insurance liability to an Assured or Peace of Mind insurance option that does not require a bond deposit. Your card must have the cardholder's name embossed on the front for verification and the cardholder must be the main hirer.

At GO Rentals, we require a bond to be paid on rentals of particular vehicles. The bond is dependent on the vehicle you wish to hire and the insurance option you choose.

At pick-up, we hold a pre-authorised bond amount from your credit card. We cannot accept debit cards or cash for this purpose.

After the vehicle is returned, or 45 days from the bond’s authorisation on your card (whichever comes first), the bond amount is released. It generally takes between 5 - 10 business days for the amount to appear in your card again.

If there’s any damage to the vehicle during your rental period, or if we find damage during the check-in process, we will need to deduct the applicable excess payment from the pre-authorised bond and will refund any differences if applicable.

Yes, there are plenty of petrol stations on Waiheke Island. This includes a BP petrol station at 2/4 Tui Street, Oneroa, less than 2 km away from our Waiheke branch.

All GO Rentals vehicles must be refuelled before being returned.

You can have multiple drivers on your GO Rentals booking. All drivers must be added to the Rental Agreement upon collection.

All drivers must also have their licences physically sighted in our branch. A charge also applies for additional drivers.

Having a car on Waiheke Island can help make your journey more enjoyable. Waiheke Island is not very walkable, as walking from the ferry terminal to the main town of Oneroa takes almost 30 minutes. The island’s other attractions, such as its famous wineries, are even more distant.

Having your own car enables you to explore more far-flung regions of the island which are not part of the public transport network.

It also means you can explore the island at your own pace. Lining up buses or taxis with the ferry timetable can add unnecessary stress to your time in Waiheke.

Apart from renting a vehicle, your other main options for exploring Waiheke Island are via bus, taxi, walking or bicycling.

No, ride share services such as Uber and Ola do not operate on Waiheke Island.

Like ferries and other transport in Auckland, buses on Waiheke Island are paid for with AT Hop cards.

Oneroa Village is the main town on Waiheke Island. Located on the west side of the island, Oneroa Village is home to most of the island's locals and great community experiences as well!

The most popular beach on Waiheke Island is the beautiful and conveniently-located Oneroa Beach, which is just a short walk from the main township of Waiheke. It adjoins the equally-stunning Little Oneroa Beach. Onetangi Beach is the island’s largest beach, stretching for nearly two kilometers. The beach is known for its clear blue waters and golden sand, making it a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, surfing, and water sports.

Some of the most well-regarded wineries on Waiheke Island are:

• Mudbrick Vineyard: Mudbrick Vineyard offers award-winning wines as well as an acclaimed restaurant and accommodation.
• Man O’ War Vineyards: Located in the serene surrounds of the far side of Waiheke Island, these vineyards are the perfect place to visit on your self-driving holiday. You can reach Man O’ War Vineyards when you take Waiheke Road and Man O War Bay Road from the town of Onetangi.
• Stonyridge Vineyard: Specialising in red wines, Stonyridge Vineyard offers incredible views and better drinks.

Many of Waiheke’s popular wineries also feature restaurants of their own, with menus designed around their wines.

Other choices for lunch on Waiheke Island include:

• The Oyster Inn: This stunning venue offers a calm ambience and fresh delicacies to please the fussiest eater.
• Mint As Waiheke Island, Burgers & Shakes: Loved by locals and tourists alike, Mint As is the perfect place for a relaxed meal on Waiheke Island.
• Arcadia: After swimming in the idyllic Palm Beach, head up to this stunning nearby restaurant for a fresh bite to eat.

In order to rent and drive most GO Rentals cars, you must be at least 21 years of age. However, you must be 25 to rent cars like the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y.

We have no upper age limit to rent a car at our Waiheke branch. As long as you hold a valid and unrestricted driver licence.

For New Zealand residents, provisional drivers licence holders are not allowed to rent vehicles from GO Rentals.

It is legally allowed for holders of provisional driver’s licences from several countries to rent cars in New Zealand. However, GO Rentals does not allow such travellers to rent vehicles. Almost all other rental companies apply this same policy.

Only New Zealand holders of temporary licences are permitted to hire a vehicle with GO Rentals. Photo identification is required if hiring a vehicle with a New Zealand temporary licence.

You can drive on most full international driver's licences without an international driver's permit. Your foreign licence allows you to drive in New Zealand for 1 year from the date you enter the country, provided you have no suspensions or disqualifications. If your licence is not in English, you must obtain an official NZTA approved English translation and carry both copies with you at all times. For more information, check out our complete guides to driving with licences from the following countries:

• Australia
• Canada
• China
• Germany
• Japan
• Singapore
• United States
• United Kingdom

You can hire a car on Waiheke from GO Rentals with a restricted New Zealand licence. For insurance purposes, you are subject to the conditions of your licence. You may be liable for any insurance claim resulting from driving outside of these conditions.

Some vehicles require the hirer and driver to be at least 25 years of age and have a clean, full licence.

Unfortunately, holders of restricted international driving licences cannot rent a car with us.

Generally, New Zealand car rental companies are required to offer basic insurance within their car rental fees. The good news is that GO Basic Insurance – included at no extra cost in all our rentals – includes all the coverage you need to drive in New Zealand.

If you’d like even more coverage, we also offer GO Assured and GO Peace of Mind Cover. GO Assured starts at $500 excess, and GO Peace of Mind starts at $0 excess.

All GO Rentals insurance also includes coverage for third-party damage and injuries.

We sure do! With the GO Rentals app, you can access your account and booking information any time you like. It also means you get to skip the queue and enjoy a breezy check-in process.

A comprehensive $3 per day fee ensures your journey is simple and stress-free, we include the following services:

• AA Roadside Assistance
  Complimentary callout service for ALL types of breakdowns.
• Government Road Taxes
  Covers registration costs, safety inspections and road user charges.
• Toll Road Freedom
  Enjoy free passage on all toll roads, we cover all costs including admin fees.