Things to do in Wānaka
Cycling
Wānaka mountain biking centres on Deans Bank Track, an 11 km loop graded intermediate with some technical obstacles. It takes about an hour, which makes it a ride you can fit in before or after everything else in the day rather than one that eats the whole afternoon.
The Glendhu Bay Track over in the walks section carries an intermediate grade for mountain bikers too, with a few steep gradients across its 12.5 km. Between the two you have a short technical loop and a longer lakeside run without driving far from the park.
The park is ten minutes from town and five minutes' walk from the Lake Wānaka foreshore, so bikes come off the rack and go. Hot showers and the guest laundry deal with the mud afterwards, and the communal kitchen handles dinner. Camp sites suit riders travelling with their own gear.
Questions
Before you head out.
How long is the Deans Bank loop?
It is an 11 km loop and takes about an hour. The grade is intermediate, with some technical obstacles, so it is not the place for a first ride on a mountain bike.
Is there a longer ride nearby?
The Glendhu Bay Track runs 12.5 km and carries an intermediate grade for mountain bikers, with a few steep gradients. It is listed under walks but rides as a lakeside route.
Where do we clean up afterwards?
Hot showers and a guest laundry are on site at the park, along with the communal kitchen. That covers the mud and dinner without a trip back into town.
Stay at Sundale
A base five minutes from the water.
Your Wānaka basecamp
Make Sundale your base.
Cabins, studios, motels and soft-grass camping, five minutes from the water and close to everything above.