Waiheke Island

PHOTO: Waiheke Island offers an escape from Auckland. daneady/Getty Images

New York City might have the Hamptons, but Auckland has Waiheke Island.

The New Zealand island, about half an hour away from the urban city, offers a laidback, yet high-end escape for the wealthy. Many own multimillion-dollar vacation homes there, where they can enjoy the island’s stunning landscape.

But Waiheke isn’t just popular among New Zealanders. Wealthy Americans, too, have an affinity for the island’s rolling hills and lengthy beaches, as well as the country it’s a part of.

Olympia Valance

Neighbours star Olympia Valance puts her one-bedroom apartment on the market

Superrich Silicon Valley moguls in particular have made New Zealand a popular doomsday backup plan. Now, some are putting those plans in action and heading to New Zealand to wait out the coronavirus pandemic. Sixteen private jets have arrived in New Zealand from the US since February, according to Business Insider’s Becky Peterson and Angela Wang.

And some are taking up shelter in Waiheke, reported Olivia Carville for Bloomberg. Here’s a look at the island and its appeal to the wealthy seeking a safe haven from the world’s events.

READ MORE VIA BUSINESS INSIDER

TOP VIEWED STORIES & PAGES