12 of the best things to do in Wānaka for adventure lovers
Wānaka is an epic adventure hub with plenty of outdoorsy activities nearby. This is my travel guide to the little lakeside town, with my favourite things to do, places to eat, and dreamy places to stay.
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Which is better, Queenstown or Wanaka? There’s no straightforward answer to the question most travellers to the South Island find themselves asking at some point.
Both towns have lake and mountain landscapes, with easy access to hiking, skiing, wineries, and restaurants.
Granted, Queenstown is a little more dramatic in terms of scenery, but key differences lie in size and the sheer number of activities on offer. While you could spend weeks on end in Queenstown, Wanaka is smaller, with a more laid-back atmosphere and a shorter list of adventure activities on offer.
Therein lies the appeal for people who fall for Wanaka’s charms – although no sleepy small town, Wanaka is more down to earth than Queenstown. It’s also cheaper.
Wanaka is an excellent place to stop on your way to or from either the West Coast of the South Island, or Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. If you plan on staying for a few days, Wanaka is the ideal jumping off point for Mount Aspiring National Park.
Hiking is the main thing to do in these parts, but there are other adventure activities as well. And at the end of the day, the restaurants in Wanaka are as good as any you’ll find elsewhere in the South Island.
In this guide, I’ve pulled together my favourite ways to spend time in Wanaka. I love the outdoors and getting into the mountains, so if you’re also game for sunrise missions, plunging into icy lake water, and maybe even romantic sojourns, you might also find some things here to enjoy.
Sunset from Isthmus Peak
Wanaka at a glance
THE HIGHLIGHTS:
Visit Mount Aspiring National Park with the Siberia Experience
Hike!
HOW LONG TO STAY:
If you’re a keen hiker, I would recommend staying for at least two nights to give yourself time to explore the region. That’s enough time to pick one of the longer walks in the area.
Stay for three nights and you’ll have more time for day trips near Wānaka, such as visiting the Blue Pools or Lake Hawea.
Where to stay in Wanaka
Waiorau Homestead
A 20 minute drive from Wanaka, in the scenic mountain setting of Cardrona, is Waiorau Homestead. The house has only four rooms, which makes the guest lounge and garden feel spacious.
The mountain views, hot tub, and pool combine to make this a very comfortable stay. The breakfast was fine, but nothing particularly memorable, and the bathroom felt a touch dated (the spa bath seemed a little retro, but didn’t work in any case).
Staying outside of Wanaka does mean limited places to eat, but the Cardrona Hotel is right next door for dinner.
Haka House Hostel
I stayed in the Haka House Hostel close to the lakefront. It’s perfectly convenient for a budget stay, with a good kitchen and clean dorm rooms.
Albert Town Campground
I parked up in the Albert Town Campground for $10 a night and loved it — spacious, right by the river, and pretty quiet.
What to do in Wanaka
Hike to viewpoints of mountains, lakes, and glaciers
The sunrise view from Rocky Mountain
In my mind, Wanaka is first and foremost a hiking destination. Mount Aspiring National Park is less than an hour’s drive from Wanaka, with trails ranging from short walks to multi-day treks. Closer by are various peaks offering views of the lakes and mountains.
Roy’s Peak
Roy's Peak is easily the most iconic hiking trail near Wanaka. From the summit of Roy's Peak, which stands at an elevation of 1,578 meters (5,177 feet), you’re rewarded with views of Lake Wanaka and the peaks of Mount Aspiring National Park.
Most people, however, aren’t aiming for the summit but the viewpoint a little below the highest point.
The photogenic viewpoint is famous online, but so too is the line of people waiting to have a snapshot taken – usually of a lone person looking out towards the view, not at the snaking queue.
Starting the track before dawn can help to beat some of the crowds. You won’t miss much along the first portion of the trail, which is a wide track through a sheep farm. Walking before the sun is up also comes with a few other benefits. You’ll avoid spending the better part of the day in the glaring sun; the track is exposed the entire way. And finding a parking space is much easier than during the day – although a decent size, the car park often fills up before 9am.
Given the exposure and the elevation gained along the way, Roy’s Peak requires fitness and preparation. Take plenty of water, warm layers to put on at the summit, and enough snacks to fuel you for the 6 hour hike.
If you’d prefer to avoid the crowds altogether, opt for a walk up Isthmus Peak. While a shade less high, the views from Isthmus are spectacular.
Isthmus Peak
At 1385 metres, Isthmus Peak offers a spectacular vantage point to view the Wanaka region.
The track is a long, steady climb up the mountain that sits between Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea. It’s mostly through sheep and deer grazing land, so the trail isn’t necessarily scenic, but is well-maintained, marked with poles, and mostly wide and gravel. Although fairly long (16 kilometres, or 5-7 hours) the clear trail makes this a manageable hike for intermediate hikers.
From the top, you can see across both Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka.
Rocky Mountain
Providing something of a scaled down version of Roy’s Peak – with a viewpoint looking out across the lake – Rocky Mountain is one of best walks near Wanaka. Unlike Roy’s Peak, Rocky Mountain is a relatively quiet spot. At 3-4 hours, it’s also much shorter and a better option for less experienced hikers.
If you’re game for an early start, Rocky Mountain is an excellent sunrise spot.
I hiked to the summit just before the sun came up, and loved the views of Lake Wanaka, the Matukituki Valley, and the surrounding peaks bathed in a pink glow.
Rob Roy Glacier
The walk to Rob Roy glacier is billed as one of the best half day walks in New Zealand.
It’s a lovely hike through beech forest, with views across the blue, braided river that flows through the Matukituki Valley.
The path climbs to a spectacular amphitheatre in the mountains, from where you can see a waterfalls crashing off cliffs, and the Rob Roy glacier slowly inching its way down off the mountain tops.
The drive to the trailhead at Raspberry Creek Carpark is fantastically scenic but quite long, taking around two hours from Wanaka. The road is narrow, unsealed, and features a number of small fords. It also crosses farmland, so you may see cattle wandering across the road.
Check the terms and conditions of your rental vehicle before heading out there, as not all rental companies allow their vehicles on that road.
The Blue Pools
One hour north of Wanaka, on the road to Haast Pass and the West Coast, are the Blue Pools.
The walk takes you through native beech forest, providing a pleasant and shaded pathway as you make your way to the Blue Pools.
The striking colour is a result of the water's purity and the way light reflects off the fine glacial sediment at the bottom.
The crystal-clear water of the Blue Pools is so inviting you might feel compelled to take a swim — just beware that the water is icy cold, even in the heat of summer
Visit Lake Hawea
A windy day at Lake Hawea
A 15 minute drive north of Wanaka, Lake Hawea is a long and deep blue body of water. The town of Hawea is little more than a hamlet, smaller and less developed than Wanaka, which makes the beachfront there an excellent place for swimming.
On the way to Hawea, stop by Pembroke Patisserie for picnic treats to devour by the lakeside.
A cabinet full of treats at Pembroke Patisserie
Located on the shores of Lake Hawea is the Secret Sauna, one of the best little hidden gems near Wanaka.
It’s a little woodfired barrel sauna right by the lake. A pretty perfect way to appreciate the lake and the mountains, especially after a day of hiking.
See the highlights of Mount Aspiring National Park on the Siberia Experience
Mount Aspiring is my favourite national park in New Zealand. There’s something about the beech forests and bright blue rivers that make the park feel surreal — truly Middle Earth type of beauty.
If you want to see the best of the park in a short amount of time, I highly recommend the Siberia Experience.
A 25 minute scenic flight will carry you across glacier-studded mountains, giving you a superb view of the landscapes.
After landing in a field of golden grass by Siberia Hut, you’ll follow a wilderness track through the remote Siberia Valley. The hike takes around three hours, and the trail is well formed and mostly downhill.
I loved doing this walk; on the way I spotted native birds like kakariki and riflemans, tomtits and South Island robins.
Once you reach the river in the Wilkin Valley, you’ll get picked up in a jet boat. The last 30 minutes of your trip will be an exhilerating ride as you’re whisked across the clear waters of the Wilkin and Makarora Rivers.
I explored the Siberia Valley on a four day hike, but the Siberia Experience is a great way of packing it all into one day.
Go on a boat cruise to Mou Waho Island and see a lake within a lake
One of the most unique features of Wanaka is the island in the lake, which itself has a lake, and another island within that lake.
Go there, and you can say you’ve visited an island in a lake, on an island in a lake, in a lake on an island in the ocean.
‘Mou Waho’ translates to ‘outer island’ and is the largest of the four islands in Lake Wanaka.
There are daily trips to Mou Waho, with both morning and afternoon options.
Wine tasting with a lake view
A sliver of a lake view at Maude Winery
The wider Central Otago wine region around Wanaka produces stellar Pinot Noirs (although my favourite varietal from the area has to be the Rieslings).
You don’t need to wander far from the centre of Wanaka to sample South Island wine; wineries on the fringe of town provide the perfect setting for tastings.
Rippon
Rippon has what must be one of the best views of any New Zealand vineyard, overlooking Lake Wanaka. And it has wines to match. Tastings are free, but you’ll need to book well in advance via Rippon’s website, as spaces are limited and in high demand.
Family-owned Maude Wines has a tasting room close to the centre of Wanaka town – from the right seat, you’ll have views of the lake. You can stop in for a tasting, or for wine by the glass. The sunny outdoor area is the ideal place to kick back with a glass or two.
Take a wine tour with Living the Dream
To explore the wider wine region, join a tour with Living the Dream. Run by Michelle (who puts an emphasis on fun) these wine tours will introduce you to vineyards around Cromwell as well as Wanaka.
Explore Cardrona
The Crown Range road between Queenstown and Wanaka is the highest main road in New Zealand. Reaching an altitude of 1121 metres, the road passes through beautiful alpine scenery. However, it’s also narrow, winding, and in winter can be covered with snow – you may need snow chains if the road is open at all.
In summer, the drive over the Crown Range is gorgeous. It’s worth stopping blink-and-you-miss it Cardrona to make the most of the mountain scenery and golden tussock-covered hills.
The Cardrona Hotel
The main draw is the Cardrona Hotel, an iconic southern pub that first opened
its doors in 1863. The quaint charm of the gold-rush-era building entices many tourists to stop and snap photos of the exterior, but it’s well worth staying for longer to enjoy the restaurant and garden bar. The garden setting is idyllic, while the interior of the pub has plenty of rustic charm, including roaring fireplaces and tables topped with vases of fresh flowers.
The hotel also has country-style rooms for an atmospheric stay.
The Cardrona Distillery
The Cardrona Distillery is a small, craft distillery located on the golden hills of the Crown Range a 20 minute drive from Wanaka.
The location alone is stunning — it makes a great excuse to stop in Cardrona on the drive from Queenstown to Wanaka. But stepping into the glass and stone building for a distillery tour is a fascinating way to learn more about the craft of making artisan spirits.
Barley grown on the Canterbury plains is milled on site, before being fermented and the liquid held in Cardrona’s stunning copper stills.
Tours are popular though, and take 75 minutes. If you’re short on time, you can just enjoy a cocktail.
Climb the world’s highest waterfall cable climb with Wild Wire Wanaka
If you can climb a ladder, you can tackle the highest waterfall climb in the world.
Wildwire Wanaka is a very cool, very adventurous enterprise that will test your limits and give you a completely unique way of experiencing the landscapes around Wanaka.
Lord of the Rungs is a via ferrate cable climb — the highest in the world, according to Wildwire. It’s a 450 metre climb, but you can choose levels based on your experience and thirst for adrenaline.
the world’s highest waterfall cable climb. Reaching the top will take you through 450m of vertical terraine.
Steel rungs and cables will lead you to exceptional mountain views. If you want a thrilling adventure activity in Wanaka, this is it.
Where to eat in Wanaka
For a small town, Wanaka punches above its weight with restaurants. Eating out in Wanaka is a fun way of exploring Central Otago’s finest produce and ingredients, from creative local chefs.
Muttonbird is one of Wanaka’s best restaurants. The funky, laid-back restaurant features retro decor with old-school snow skis and fly fishing rods tacked to the wall, and through the windows you have a spectacular view of the mountains.
Muttonbird highlights seasonal fare from farmers and producers across Otago and New Zealand. Sharing plates focus on simple food done well. The menu changes often, but you can expect to find a lot of lamb — tongue, neck and ribs — beef carpaccio, and chicken liver parfait.
Paloma is located in The Precinct, Wānaka’s sleek laneway. Colourful and friendly, Paloma serves Mexican food with New Zealand ingredients. Tortillas are made using whole corn kernels sourced from a farmer in Napier, and the tacos are topped with things like beef cheeks and forest mushrooms.
Another cosy spot is Francesca's Italian Kitchen, which unsurprisingly serves delicious Italian dishes, including wood-fired pizzas, homemade pasta, and an excellent wine selection.
In the morning, head to Pembroke Patisserie, an artisanal French bakery in Albert town. This is a great spot for morning pastries and coffee, or to grab a pie or other flaky, buttery snack.
On a sunny afternoon, Rhyme and Reason Brewery is a popular place to enjoy a wide selection of craft beers, including pale ales, IPAs, stouts, and more.
Ground Up Brewing is another awesome brewery to check out — it’s a family-owned and operated craft brewery with a focus on creating high-quality, small-batch beers, including a variety of pale ales and experimental brews.
Wanaka itineraries
You can easily add Wanaka into these itineraries:
If you like my recommendations, you might also want to check out these posts:
AUTHOR BIO
I’m a freelance travel writer from New Zealand with bylines in National Geographic Travel, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and more.
I’ve travelled up and down beautiful Aotearoa and I love sharing my recommendations for the best places to visit in New Zealand.
