Listen up, my outdoorsy and budget-conscious little internet friends. I’ve found the best place to stay on Auckland’s stunning Waiheke Island, and it doesn’t cost a fortune. Usually I feel like anything that’s labelled “glamping” comes with a $200+ price tag, but I snagged this adorable Lotus Belle tent for just $115 at the Fossil Bay Lodge. Here’s everything you need to know about this hidden and beautiful Waiheke glamping spot.
I’m not receiving a free stay or any compensation for writing about this. That said, this post contains affiliate links for activities in the area. Booking through these links generates a small commission for me at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
The budget-friendly Waiheke glamping tent
Here’s what makes this Waiheke glamping tent at Fossil Bay Lodge such a great find: It’s affordable, walkable to both the ferry terminal and Oneroa, and it’s a nice outdoorsy getaway — without you needing to lug your camping equipment over from the mainland.
The tent
It has all the basics from bedding to Wi-Fi and even a little space heater if it’s cold at night.
Bugs? Never heard of ’em. (Ok, that’s not true, there were a few sneaky little guys in there. But it was really clean. And in New Zealand, no bugs can kill you, so you can rest easy.)
It kinda looks like a little garlic clove.
The kitchen
It has everything you need to cook yourself a nice meal while you watch the pūkekos and ducks run around. There’s a fridge, kettle, hot plate, pots, pans, plates, cutlery, etc. They even provide a mini fridge with a little bit of milk, and tea and coffee with a French press.
We didn’t actually plan to cook here because it’s so close to Oneroa. But we ended up grabbing something from the grocery store to whip up instead. It was such a nice vibe and we wanted to spend as much time at this cute Waiheke glamping tent as possible!
Maybe you want to cook something more elaborate, or it starts chucking down rain and the wind is blowing it sideways into your little cooking station. Then you can walk a few steps to the shared kitchen/living room area with a full kitchen and cozy seating.
Private kitchen set up next to the tent | Main lodge shared kitchen
The bathroom
There’s a private bathroom right next to your tent, complete with a normal flushing toilet, sink, and hot shower. I have no problem with the little composting toilets that I often find in eco-friendly glamping spots. But a flushing toilet is luxe lol.
Is this Waiheke glamping tent really that affordable?
For Waiheke? OMG yes. A decent Airbnb for two people over here is around $200, and there are more than a few luxury mansions for well over $2,000/night. So this $115 glamping tent at the Fossil Bay Lodge is a steal no matter how you look at it.
Also, that price seems to be the standard year-round rate. It’s printed clearly on their website.
They also have a couple more expensive options ($140 and $165) that are still within the budget range. These tents are bigger and have space for a fold-out bed if you’re traveling as a group of 3, but that costs extra.
SO, at a destination where you can’t buy a house for under a mil and literally nothing on Airbnb is under $100 (even a single room in a house!) this might very well be the most affordable place to stay on Waiheke.
“The days of being able to buy a “hippy” starter home on Waiheke Island for under $1 million are over, with even modest properties away from the beach fetching close to $2m.” – OneRoof NZ
The Lotus Belle tent at night.
How this Waiheke glamping option compares to other island accom
As I said, this may be the cheapest place to stay on Waiheke — excluding the campgrounds, of course. Especially if you take into consideration that you don’t need a car to get here from the ferry terminal.
3 of the cheapest Airbnbs on Waiheke
Other low-range options on Booking.com for comparison
Things to do on Waiheke near Fossil Bay Lodge
Within walking distance of Fossil Bay Lodge, you have Big Oneroa Beach just 5 minutes away. We walked down for sunset and had a very quiet corner of the long beach all to ourselves. You can do a little stargazing from the beach or just outside your tent.
If you bring your walking shoes and don’t mind a bit of a trek, you could get to Cable Bay and Mudbrick Vineyards in 30 minutes. (Though it is uphill!)
If you’re visiting on a Friday or Saturday, the Owhanake Bay Estate’s cellar door is a short 10-minute walk from your glamping tent.
You can also walk to the community art gallery and the main part of Oneroa full of shops, galleries, and restaurants in under 20 minutes. From here, the world is your oyster, because the bus will connect you to other parts of the island. You can do the hop-on-hop-off winery tour bus, or just take regular public transit. Your AT Hop card will work on the island’s public bus network.