Things to Do in Wanaka

Things to Do in Wanaka: Lake Wanaka offers a choice between snow-clad mountains and clear water that invites you to take a dip. In summer, Wanaka is all about water sports, fishing and beaches. In winter, the town becomes a base for skiers and snowboarders, and after dark the bars and restaurants are the place to share the day’s stories. The lake is also the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park, part of the Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area.

Experience the Wanaka Region

• Mount Aspiring National Park, a World Heritage landscape of rainforest, glaciers and waterfalls
• Lake Wanaka and Lake Hāwea
• Unique museums in Wanaka
• Mountain biking, with over 750 kilometres of tracks and trails
• Skiing and snowboarding in winter

You´ll ❤️ these great things to see & do…

• Hike in Mount Aspiring National Park and spend a night (or several) under the Southern stars
• Take a half-day walk on the Rob Roy Glacier Track

Where to Experience It in Wanaka

Wanaka is a relaxed lakeside town with big scenery on every side, so the easiest way to plan your things to do in Wanaka is by theme. Where we have a matching activity, the name links to it.

• Lake Wanaka and Lake Hāwea: swim, kayak, fish or cruise. See Boat Cruises & Water Activities.
• Mountains and national park: Mount Aspiring National Park and the Rob Roy Glacier Track. See Walking & Hiking.
• Back-country views: the Wanaka Highlights Safari, the Wild Hills Safari and the Wanaka Nature Encounter. See Off-road Driving.
• From the air: Skydive Wanaka, the U-FLY scenic trial flight and the Milford Sound Overfly. See Scenic Flights.
• Snow: Cardrona and Treble Cone for downhill skiing, heli-skiing on Harris Mountain and Nordic skiing at the Snow Farm. See Skiing & Snowboarding.
• Biking: trails around the lakes and the Cardrona valley. See Cycling & Mountain Biking.
• Food and heritage: the Taste of Wanaka tour and the Goldfields Experience in the Kawarau Gorge. See Food & Wine.

Events in Wanaka

Wanaka hosts events all year, with the busiest calendar in summer. We could not read a full 2027 event calendar from the official sources, so the dates below are a planning guide. Please confirm each date with the organiser before you plan around it.

Summer 2027 (January–March)

• Gallagher Insurance Challenge Wānaka 100, 20 February. New Zealand’s largest triathlon festival moves to a new 100 km format for 2027, with events for children and adaptive athletes as well.
• Summer favourites. The Queenstown Lakes District Council’s 2025–26 summer listing included the Wānaka Summer Concert and The Ruby Swim in late January, the Lake Hāwea Family Fishing Classic in early February and the Wānaka A&P Show in March. Check the 2027 dates before you book. Council events page

Other annual events

• The council’s 2026–27 events fund also supports Motatapu, the Wānaka Festival of Colour and RIPE, the Wānaka Wine & Food Festival.
• Wanaka’s New Year’s Eve celebration takes place on the lakefront each year. Confirm the programme closer to the date.

Wanaka After Dark

Wanaka is quieter than Queenstown at night, but there is still plenty to enjoy. Hours and seasons change, so confirm with each operator.

• Bars and restaurants: the town’s bars and restaurants are where visitors share the day’s stories after a day on the lake or the slopes.
• Sunset over the lake: in spring, the official Wānaka guide points to longer days and stunning sunsets over Lake Wānaka.
• Food trucks: stop by the Brownston Street food trucks market or the Three Parks food truck hot spot for a casual evening meal.

Free Things to Do in Wanaka

Plenty of Wanaka’s best experiences cost nothing, which makes them good fillers between tours. Some tracks close seasonally, for example during spring lambing, so check Department of Conservation and local track notices before you go.

• The lakefront: stroll or cycle along the lake, and look for the famous willow tree in the shallows.
• Mount Iron Track: a short climb with 360-degree views over the lake and town.
• Roys Peak Track: a long, steep walk to one of the region’s best-known viewpoints.
• Rob Roy Glacier Track: a half-day walk in Mount Aspiring National Park.
• Beaches: swim or picnic at the lakefront beach or at Glendhu Bay.
• Cardrona Bra Fence: a quirky roadside stop on the way between Queenstown and Wanaka.

Eat & Drink in Wanaka

Wanaka’s food scene has grown from a handful of food trucks into a staple of the town’s restaurant scene, with flavours from South-east Asia to Mexico, Italy and France alongside Kiwi classics.

• Browse the Brownston Street food trucks market and the new Three Parks food truck hot spot, as featured in the official Wānaka guide.
• Book the Taste of Wanaka tour for a mix of local flavours and scenery.
• Browse more at Food & Wine or our wine tours.

Wanaka by Season

Here are the best things to do in Wanaka in each season, based on the official Wānaka site and our own regional knowledge.

• Summer (Dec–Feb): water sports, fishing and beach days on Lake Wanaka and Lake Hāwea, plus Challenge Wānaka in February.
• Autumn (Mar–May): golden colour around the lakes, quieter trails and the Wānaka A&P Show in March.
• Winter (Jun–Aug): sunny, crisp days and sub-zero nights, with skiing at Cardrona and Treble Cone, heli-skiing and Nordic skiing.
• Spring (Sep–Nov): longer days, warmer temperatures and mountains that are still open, so you can ski in the morning and bike in the afternoon.

Good to Know Before You Go

• Flying in: scenic flights and skydiving operate from Wanaka Airport.
• By road: most visitors arrive by road from Queenstown, either over the Cardrona valley road or the Kawarau Gorge. Allow extra time in winter.
• Lakes nearby: Lake Hāwea is a quieter lake a short drive from Wanaka town.

Approximate drive times from Wanaka

• Queenstown: about 1 hour
• Aoraki / Mt Cook: about 3 hours
• Dunedin: about 3 hours 30 minutes
• Franz Josef (West Coast): about 4 hours 30 minutes
• Christchurch: about 5 hours 30 minutes

Combine Wanaka With

Wanaka sits in the Central Otago lakes district, so it pairs well with these nearby regions:

• Queenstown – about an hour south-west, for adventure and day trips to Milford Sound
• Mt Cook & Mackenzie – New Zealand’s highest peak
• West Coast – glaciers and rainforest over the Haast Pass
• Dunedin & Otago – wildlife and heritage on the coast
• Fiordland – Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound

Popular themes in Wanaka

Active & Adventure · Walking & Hiking · Skiing & Snowboarding · Scenic Flights · Off-road Driving

Tours that include Wanaka

The tour below stops in Wanaka, according to the route shown on its tour listing.

• 19 Day New Zealand Winter Tour: Auckland to Christchurch: 19 days, escorted coach tour. Waitomo, Rotorua and Wellington, then Queenstown, Wanaka and Franz Josef.

More tours: South Island Tours · North & South Island Tours · Self Drive Tours · Hiking Tours

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