Paddle Wānaka
Kayak and stand-up paddleboard hire straight off the beach at Roys Bay on the Wānaka lakefront.
Paddle Wānaka runs casual hire from the Wānaka lakefront on Ardmore Street, with sea kayaks, sit-on-tops and paddleboards. Hire is by the hour, so it suits a spare morning as easily as a full day. Anyone paddling on their own needs to be over 16, and younger paddlers need a caregiver with them or watching from shore. The operation runs through the warmer months and closes over winter.
Highlights
- Hire straight off the beach at Roys Bay
- Sea kayaks, sit-on-tops and paddleboards
- Short one to three hour hires
- Guided trips and a water taxi service also offered
Good to know
- Location
- Roys Bay, Wānaka lakefront
- Start point
- 151-153 Ardmore Street, Wānaka 9305
- Duration
- 1, 2 or 3 hour hire
- Season
- Summer (October to March) 9am to 5pm daily; off-season (April and September) 10am to 4pm daily; closed May to August
- Cost
- See venue for current pricing
- Family-friendly
- Yes
Paddlers under 16 need a caregiver present or supervising from shore. Solo hire requires being over 16. No swimming ability required but you must be comfortable floating in the water.
Visiting from Sundale
Paddle Wānaka hires straight off the beach at 151-153 Ardmore Street on the town lakefront, a short drive from the park. Hires run one, two or three hours, so a paddle fits easily around the rest of a day. Book ahead through the busy summer weeks if you want a particular time on the water.
Take sunscreen, a hat and something to keep your phone dry, because there is no shade out there. Anyone paddling alone needs to be over 16, and under-16s need a caregiver present or watching from shore. Hire runs October to March, with shorter hours in April and September and a winter closure.
Wet gear dries quickly in the guest laundry when you get back, and the seasonal swimming pool is open through the same warm months. If you would rather someone else cook, Wānaka town and its cafes are ten minutes from the park.
Stay nearby
Questions
When can I hire a kayak or paddleboard?
Summer hours are 9am to 5pm daily from October to March, and 10am to 4pm daily in April and September. The operator closes from May to August.
Can my teenager take a kayak out alone?
Only if they are over 16. Paddlers under 16 need a caregiver present or supervising from shore.
Do I need to be able to swim?
The operator does not require swimming ability, but you do need to be comfortable floating in the water.
Sources
- Location 151-153 Ardmore Street; 1/2/3 hour hire at //; seasonal hours and May to August closure; over 16 to paddle solo, under 16 needs a caregiver; kayak weight limits — source
Nearby
More things to do.
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 hoursAll ages and fitness levels
The Wānaka Tree
The lone willow standing in the shallows of Lake Wānaka, and the most photographed tree in the country.
Easy
Your Wānaka basecamp
Make Sundale your base.
Cabins, studios, motels and soft-grass camping, five minutes from the water and close to everything above.