Cinema Paradiso
A much loved Wānaka cinema where you watch films from couches, armchairs and a converted Morris Minor.
Cinema Paradiso is on Brownston Street in the middle of town and has three screens. Instead of standard cinema rows the seating is couches, lazy-boys and an old Morris Minor. Every film has an intermission, and the freshly baked cookies served during the break are the part people talk about afterwards. The programme mixes new releases with art house and foreign films.
Highlights
- Three screens with couches, lazy-boys and a Morris Minor
- Famous intermission cookies partway through the film
- Licensed cafe with pizza, local beer and wine, and real fruit ice cream
- New releases alongside art house and foreign films
Good to know
- Location
- Cinema Paradiso
- Start point
- 72 Brownston Street, Wānaka 9305
- Season
- Open Monday to Sunday, 12pm to 10pm
- Cost
- See venue for current pricing
- Family-friendly
- Yes
Sessions and tickets are on paradiso.nz. Booking ahead is worthwhile for popular sessions.
Visiting from Sundale
Cinema Paradiso is at 72 Brownston Street, right in the middle of town, about ten minutes from the park. It runs from midday to 10pm every day, so it works as an afternoon plan when the weather closes in or as the thing you do after dinner in town.
Sessions and tickets are on paradiso.nz, and booking ahead is worthwhile for the popular ones. There are three screens, and the seating is couches, lazy-boys and an old Morris Minor rather than rows. Every film has an intermission, and the cookies baked for it are the bit people remember.
The cafe is licensed and does pizza, local beer and wine, and real fruit ice cream, so you can make a whole evening of it. Check-out at the park is 10am, so a late film is easier on a night in the middle of your stay.
Stay nearby
Questions
Should we book tickets?
Booking ahead is worthwhile for popular sessions. Sessions and tickets are listed on paradiso.nz. The cinema runs from midday to 10pm, Monday to Sunday.
Is it suitable for children?
The programme mixes new releases with art house and foreign films, so it depends on what is screening. The couches and the intermission cookies go down well with children when the film suits them.
Can we eat there?
Yes. The cafe is licensed and serves pizza, local beer and wine, and real fruit ice cream. Freshly baked cookies come out at the intermission partway through every film.
Sources
- Address 72 Brownston Street, hours 12pm to 10pm, average ticket three screens with couches, lazy-boys and a Morris Minor, intermission cookies, licensed cafe, mix of new release and art house films — source
Nearby
More things to do.
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.
Blue Pools Track
An easy forest walk over two swing bridges to river pools that run an extraordinary blue.
30 minutes one wayEasy walking track
Your Wānaka basecamp
Make Sundale your base.
Cabins, studios, motels and soft-grass camping, five minutes from the water and close to everything above.