One of Earth's great playgrounds, on the doorstep.
Alpine summits, a mirror-still lake, world-class skiing and cellar doors, all within easy reach of the park gate. Here is how to spend your days in Wānaka.
Walks & hikes
Ridgelines, lakeside strolls and the alpine tracks that made Wānaka famous.
Blue Pools Track
An easy forest walk over two swing bridges to river pools that run an extraordinary blue.
30 minutes one way Easy walking track
Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountain
A stack of walks off one car park, from a 45 minute lake circuit up to a 775 metre summit above Glendhu Bay.
Diamond Lake Circuit Track return: 45 min. Diamond Lake lookout return: 1 hr. Lake Wānaka lookout return: 2 hr. Rocky Mountain Summit Track return: 3 hr. Sections of this track are steep, with significant fall hazard, and the track is often slippery even in summer
Eely Point Walk
A 20 minute lakeshore walk from Wānaka town to a sheltered picnic and boating spot.
20 min
Glendhu Bay Track
A lakeside track from the edge of town along the western shore of Lake Wānaka to Glendhu Bay.
3-4 hr Intermediate grade for mountain bikers, with a few steep gradients
Hāwea River Track
An easy riverside track linking Lake Hāwea township to Wānaka via Albert Town.
Albert Town to Hāwea dam: 3-4 hr Suitable for all ages and experience, over easy country
Isthmus Peak Track
A steep climb on the neck of land between Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea, with both lakes in view from the top.
30 minutes drive from Wanaka Over 4 hours Advanced. Steep and challenging, with 1000 m of elevation gain over 8 km
Mount Iron Track
A short loop climb to a rocky summit with 360 degree views over both lakes and the Upper Clutha basin.
1 hr 30 min loop
Rob Roy Track
A valley walk into Mount Aspiring National Park that ends beneath a hanging glacier, waterfalls and sheer rock walls.
about 1 hour 20 minutes 4-5 hours return to the bush line / glacier viewpoint Well formed track, moderate - good fitness levels required
Roys Peak Track
A long, steep climb to one of New Zealand's most photographed viewpoints, high above Lake Wānaka.
5-6 hr return Challenging full-day hike, high fitness needed, over 1,200 m elevation gain
Waterfall Creek Track
A flat, easy lakeside stroll from the Wānaka waterfront past Rippon Vineyard to Waterfall Creek.
30-60 min
Lake & water
Swimming, paddling, boating and the shoreline five minutes from the gate.
Lake Hāwea
A quieter lake 15 minutes from Wānaka, on the road north towards Makarora and the West Coast.
An easy scenic 15-minute drive from Wānaka as stated by Lake Wānaka Tourism
Mou Waho Island Nature Tour (Eco Wānaka Adventures)
A boat cruise across Lake Wānaka to a predator-free island reserve with a lake of its own on top.
3.5 to 4 hours All ages and fitness levels
Paddle Wānaka
Kayak and stand-up paddleboard hire straight off the beach at Roys Bay on the Wānaka lakefront.
1, 2 or 3 hour hire
The Wānaka Tree
The lone willow standing in the shallows of Lake Wānaka, and the most photographed tree in the country.
Easy
Adventure
Skydiving, canyoning, jetboats and the rest of the adrenaline menu.
Lakeland Wānaka
Jet boat rides, self-drive boat hire and jet skis leaving from the Wānaka lakefront.
Jet boat ride 60 minutes; boat hire 1, 2 or 4 hours
Skydive Wānaka
Tandem skydiving from up to 15,000 feet over the lakes and the Southern Alps.
About 25 seconds freefall at 9,000ft, 45 seconds at 12,000ft, 60 seconds at 15,000ft
Southern Alps Air
Fixed-wing scenic flights from Wānaka over Mount Aspiring, the glaciers and Milford Sound.
Mount Aspiring and glaciers 1 hour; Milford Sound flight with landing and glaciers 2.5 hours; Milford Sound fly cruise fly with glaciers 4 hours
Wānaka River Journeys
A half day jet boat run up the Matukituki River paired with a guided walk in native forest.
Half day, allow 4 hours
Snow
Ski fields, Nordic trails and winter days out within an hour of the park.
Cardrona Alpine Resort
The region's biggest and most family-friendly ski area, about 35 km from Wānaka up the Cardrona Valley.
Suits beginners through to advanced, with a dedicated beginners' area and challenging terrain in Arcadia
Snow Farm NZ
New Zealand's only dedicated cross-country ski area, high on the Pisa Range above the Cardrona Valley.
Trails for all levels; described by the operator as a sport for everybody
Treble Cone
Steep, uncrowded terrain and the South Island's biggest vertical, about 30 minutes from Wānaka.
About 30 minutes' drive from Wānaka as stated by the resort and by Lake Wānaka Tourism Suits experienced off-piste skiers, with a learner's area and private lessons available
Cycling
Lakeside cruising, the Upper Clutha trails and serious backcountry riding.
Food & wine
Cellar doors, breweries and the places locals actually eat.
Cardrona Distillery
A single malt distillery in the Cardrona Valley with free tastings, guided tours and a restaurant.
Less than 20 minutes from Wānaka; 45 minutes from Queenstown Airport Classic Tour 75 minutes
Maude Wines Tasting Room
A small cellar door on Golf Course Road pouring Maude wines by the glass, the bottle or as a guided tasting.
Tasting Bench approximately 45 minutes
Rippon Vineyard
A biodynamic vineyard on the western shore of Lake Wānaka, with lake and mountain views from the tasting room.
Cellar door tasting approximately 30 minutes; private tasting approximately 1 hour
Town
Galleries, the cinema, markets and everything in the town centre.
Cinema Paradiso
A much loved Wānaka cinema where you watch films from couches, armchairs and a converted Morris Minor.
Wānaka Artisan Market
A year round Thursday afternoon market of local growers, bakers and makers, held beside Bullock Creek.
Wānaka Golf Club
An 18 hole course established in 1922, looking out over Lake Wānaka and the mountains, open to green fee players.
Family
Playgrounds, easy outings and rainy-day answers for younger travellers.
National Transport and Toy Museum
One of the largest private collections in the world, with hundreds of vehicles, aircraft and over 100,000 toys.
Stuart Landsborough's Puzzling World
A maze and illusion attraction on the edge of Wānaka that has been entertaining families since 1973.
About 90 minutes for the combo; visits from 30 minutes to all day
Wānaka Lavender Farm
Twenty acres of lavender gardens with alpacas, farm animals, giant lawn games and a tearoom.
Events
The festivals, races and seasonal fixtures worth planning a stay around.
Your Wānaka basecamp
Make Sundale your base.
Cabins, studios, motels and soft-grass camping, five minutes from the water and close to everything above.