A LOCAL GUIDE to THE BEST THINGS IN WANAKA (NEW ZEALAND)

Matt Burns, a New Zealander, shares his top Wanaka activities. He shares his knowledge from two years living in Wanaka and gives us his top tips for what to do and see.

Wanaka, a tiny lakefront community, has been slumbering in the shadows of Queenstown for years. If you look beneath the fresh blue waters and snow-capped mountains, this place is not sleepy.

There is so much to see and so many things you want to do that it would take a lot of work for most locals to agree on the best places and activities to visit.

Wanaka: What to Do

It has managed to keep its small-town feel and character. Still, Wanaka is experiencing significant popularity spikes in recent years as more people in New Zealand travel to bucket list places. It’s easy to see why, to be honest.

Don’t worry if you are visiting Wanaka and need help knowing where to begin. We’ve got you covered. Let’s get started. These 14 Fun and Cool Facts about New Zealand are worth checking out.

Take a walk (or climb a mountain).

Wanaka’s first thing you will notice upon arrival is its almost complete surround by mountains.

The Department of Conservation owns and manages almost 1/3 of New Zealand, with a large portion being farmland. This means virtually all the land you see is accessible to the public.

Wanaka hiking

Wanaka’s first thing you should do is get up high to see the beautiful blues and tiny township along its southern shore.

Lucky for us, there’s a hike to match that.

Many hikes can be done for this purpose.

The view from Mt Roy is the most popular and likely the one you have seen in all the photos. It can be reached by a short drive from town, on the west side of Lake Ontario.

Insider Tip: Hiking in Wanaka

Continue driving farther past the Roys Peak track to enjoy an equally fantastic view.

Keep going for a while longer.

Ski area Past Treble Cone

You’ll eventually see a small gravel road to your right. This will lead you to a parking lot and the start of the Rocky Mountain and Diamond Lake tracks.

You can see the Southern Alps from the top, Lake Wanaka, and its many bays. The summit of Mt Aspiring is also visible.

There are plenty of options for those who prefer to hike less strenuously.

Other hikes around Wanaka

1. Take a stroll down the river to Albert Town
2. Take a walk past the tranquil waterfall creek to see Mt Aspiring.
3. A casual walk along the lakefront can give you a good idea of Wanaka’s essence and why it is so special.

Wanaka’s serene, unspoiled landscape is why so many people visit it. A few lucky ones choose to call it their “home.”

Drive to Raspberry Creek

For something extraordinary, drive to Raspberry Creek, in the nearby Mt Aspiring National Park.

It is hands-down one of my favorite little pieces of road. It’s a lie. It’s more like a gravel/dirt road that someone made alongside the river (and sometimes through it).

You’ll have to make the hard choice once you reach the parking lot at the end.

There are two options: you can hike the 5km trail through the forest to see the Rob Roy Glacier, or you can take the 9km path that follows the West Branch of Matukituki River to Aspiring Hut, which offers unbeatable views across the valley.

Get out on the water.

You can rent kayaks at the lakefront or join Eco Wanaka Cruises or Lake Wanaka Cruises for boat tours.

Lake Wanaka is not only breathtakingly beautiful but also enormous.

There’s so much to see and do.

There are three islands in the lake, including Ruby Island. This is a popular destination for kayakers with half an hour to spare.

An overnight camping trip on Stevenson Island is highly recommended for experienced or more adventurous kayakers. It is also a great way to spend the weekend.

Insider Tip

Pay attention to the weather. The wind can pick up quickly, and it is easy to get caught. Waves can rise over wide open water, and whitecaps have tipped over me more than once.

Watch for the latest forecast from your Met Service, and pay attention to the wind speeds.

Get a cup of coffee.

While there is much debate about who invented the flat white, I can tell that the Kiwis take coffee seriously.

Wanaka is not an exception.

Plenty of places to grab your caffeine fix if you’re looking to fill up.

Suggested cafes in Wanaka

If you want to enjoy your coffee with a view, head down to Kai Whakapai and Relishes.

You can also avoid the tourist crowds at Florences and Café Gusto, both great coffee spots.

It won’t take long to find a comfortable seat and sink your head into that new book for a few hours.

Get your Adrenaline Fix

Don’t be alarmed if the coffee and scenery need to increase your heart rate.

Wanaka still needs to be finished.

New Zealand – The Adventure Capital of the World

New Zealand is known for being an adrenaline junkie’s paradise.

It is the birthplace of bungy jumping, the world’s highest commercially-rafted waterfall, and Sir Edmund Hillary.

Wanaka Adrenaline Activities

1. Wanaka is home to some of the best rock-climbing terrain in New Zealand. Nearly 1000 routes are located within 15 minutes of the town.
2. You can experience a thrilling canyoning adventure in Aspiring National Park.
3. It would help if you also took the Southern Alps’ most beautiful flight in a vintage biplane.

Do you still need more?

Try New Zealand’s highest tandem paragliding at Treble Cone ski resort. You were parasailing from a speedboat high above the lake. You can also fly your two-person plane from Wanaka’s small regional airport.

Wanaka Skydiving

You can also try the ultimate adrenaline rush by “strapping yourself to a beautiful stranger” and jumping out of an excellent airplane.

Wanaka is home to one of the most high-altitude skydives in New Zealand. And if that’s not enough to make your heart pound, then the incredible views you’ll see might.

Insider Tip

BookMe.co.nz is an excellent resource for booking activities such as this.

It is New Zealand’s largest deal site. Most activity companies regularly offer a limited number of discounted tickets for those who can grab them quickly.

Snow!

This charming little mountain town truly comes to life in the winter, maybe even more than in the summer.

The town’s visitor numbers rocket during the southern hemisphere winter, even though you wouldn’t know it by a midday walk through the city.

Everybody is too busy having fun at the fantastic ski resorts just 20 minutes from the town center.

There are many options for the more adventurous and experienced skier.

Backcountry skiing in Wanaka

Do you remember the fantastic backcountry that you hiked through all summer? Get your skis on because everything looks better when covered in snow.

This is a popular spot for backcountry skiing.

These ski resorts are great for a jump-off point to the most unspoiled, unspoiled cross-country skiing. There are also numerous alpine huts available to accommodate multi-day expeditions.

Harris Mountain Heli Ski is a group that organizes powder sessions in the Mt Aspiring National Park. They are located in Wanaka. Alpine Heliski is another option based in Queenstown.

Enjoy the food

Wanaka is away from any fast food restaurants or mass-produced nonsense. Wanaka is a healthy, outdoor community that does not need fast food.

Only here can you find real, fresh food.

Wanaka’s small town isn’t overflowing with choices, but there are many great places to grab food.

Wanaka packs a good amount of culinary punch for its small size.

Enjoy a delicious Italian meal at The White House, unique Asian fusion food on Alivate’s balcony, or a Red Star gourmet burger after a hike.