LAKE WANAKA

Lake Wanaka is a place to take a deep breath and relax. Protected from the outside world by the grandeur of the mountains, you’re enclosed in a hidden paradise. 

Lake Wanaka lies at the heart of the Southern Lakes, New Zealand’s alpine wonderland, in the southwest of the South Island. Wanaka Township is situated at the gateway to the Mt Aspiring National Park – a world heritage area.

Crystal clear lake waters lap the shores of Wanaka town and the feet of the Southern Alps, which are home to winter ski fields and the dramatically alpine Mount Aspiring National Park.

Lake Wanaka is New Zealand's fourth largest; its clean, blue waters are an inland sea for sailors and jetboaters to explore. Walking tracks and bridle trails wander the flats and foothills. In all seasons, outdoor adventures beckon.

The region’s fortunes have changed over the years. The discovery of gold in the 1870s inspired a rush of interest in the area. As the gold faded away, high country farming became the main source of employment. Today, tourism is the new gold – an endeavour that requires the environment to stay picture perfect.

TRANSPORT

Drive:     
Wanaka is easily accessible by road with national highways dissecting the town either from the West or East Coast (see maps).  For car hire information, view the Transport Directory.

Fly:          
International flights from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne and domestic flights from Auckland and Christchurch arrive in Queenstown. A daily bus service then takes in the spectacular one-hour journey over the Crown Range Road to Lake Wanaka. A new domestic Air New Zealand flight from Christchurch arrives daily at Wanaka Airport. www.airnz.co.nz  Lake Wanaka has its own airport for local flights.

Bus:        
Daily coach services link Wanaka with neighbouring Queenstown and Christchurch. 
Coach services from all other major centres in New Zealand service Wanaka regularly.

    -  Wanaka Connexions www.time2.co.nz
    - Atomic Shuttles www.atomictravel.co.nz
    - Intercity www.intercitycoach.co.nz

For more information on how to get here contact our Information office – This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Wanaka is a 1-hour drive from Queenstown airport. All of our hiking and heli-hiking guided walks includes includes pick up and drop off from your accommodation in Wanaka or Hawea.

ACCOMMODATION IN WANAKA

There is a generous selection, depending on the budget, for the visitor to choose from with around 2700 beds available ranging from backpackers to B&Bs, motels, internationally ranked hotels and lodges. Seven motor camps also offer an extensive number and range of tent and motor home sites.

A family motel unit that sleeps four will cost around $NZ120 per night; a hotel room for two around $NZ150; a private apartment around $NZ250 and a backpacker’s bed from as low as $NZ16.
We recommend booking accommodation well in advance to avoid disappointment.

SHOPPING

There are a good selection of shopping stores in Wanaka from fashion clothing and art galleries to sporting goods and hire equipment to outfit you for all your adventures.

WANAKA RESTAURANTS

Wanaka has over 30 different food outlets and restaurants, from streetside gourmet cafes and pizza joints to delicious indian food resturants. Make sure you check out the famous Luxury Burgers at the Red Star Burger Bar!

LAKE WANAKA AREA

Options for activities around Wanaka abound! There are many hikes, sightseeing, and adventure activities to choose from. For the more adventurous there is mountain biking, canyoning, and kayaking, but also many lower impact ones, such as a vineyard lunch after a round on our beautiful golf course.
If you have any queries on activities available, feel free to enquire through our enquiries page