Credit: Miles Holden

Whether you’re here for heart-pumping adventure, stunning hikes, world-class food and wine, or just some lakeside chill time, this South Island gem delivers on every front. Hike to epic viewpoints, shred the slopes at Cardrona, bike world-class trails, or take it slow with a glass of pinot noir overlooking the lake. With an endless lineup of activities, Wānaka is the kind of place where you can push your limits one day and completely unwind the next. Whatever your style, here’s your ultimate list of things to do in Wānaka.

  1. Adrenaline Activities
  2. Family Activities
  3. Winter Activities
  4. Wine & Food
  5. Hiking & Walking in Wānaka
  6. Cycling & Mountain Biking
  7. Romantic Activities

Adrenaline Seeker? Wānaka can match Queenstown thrill for thrill!

If high speeds, big drops, and heart-racing thrills are your thing, Wānaka is your ultimate adventure base. Known for its jaw-dropping scenery, this town also delivers serious adrenaline, from mountain biking to skydiving and beyond. Here’s your hit list of must-do adventure activities:

Mountain Madness

  • Cardrona Alpine Resort: In winter, carve up pristine slopes or hit the terrain parks. In summer, swap the snow for downhill mountain biking, luging, and stargazing from the mountain top.
  • Bike Glendhu: A dreamland for mountain bikers, with trails for all levels, flowy single tracks, and gnarly downhill runs – all with insane views.
  • Wildwire Via Ferrata: Scale Wānaka’s highest waterfall using iron rungs and suspension bridges. No experience needed – just a head for heights.

Sky-High Thrills

  • Skydive Wānaka: Freefall from 15,000ft over snow-capped peaks and crystal-clear lakes. Ultimate adrenaline rush? Tick.
  • Wānaka Parasailing: Get a bird’s-eye view of Lake Wānaka while soaring behind a boat. A mix of thrill and scenery in one epic experience.
  • U-Fly Wānaka: Ever wanted to fly your own plane? Take a scenic flight over Wānaka and you’ll get the take the control (plane has dual command).

Water Action

  • Jet Boating on the Matukituki River: Tight turns, high speeds, and plenty of splash. This isn’t just a boat ride – it’s a white-knuckle thrill.
  • Canyoning: Abseil down waterfalls, slide through rock chutes, and plunge into deep pools for an adventure-packed day.

Credit: Miles Holden

 

Things to Do With Kids in Wānaka

Keeping the kids entertained (while sneaking in some fun for yourself) is easy in Wānaka. From biking and swimming to mind-bending mazes, here’s the ultimate family-friendly hit list:

Outdoor Adventures

  • Bike Glendhu: Family-friendly trails, an easy kids’ loop, and a cafe for post-ride treats.
  • Puzzling World: A giant maze, illusion rooms, and tilted walls to challenge the whole family’s sense of reality.
  • Bike the Millennium Track: A scenic lakeside ride with plenty of spots to stop and explore. Ideal for little legs or e-bike-assisted cruising.
  • Lake Wānaka Swimming or Cruise: Cool off in crystal-clear waters or rent a kayak and paddle out to That Wānaka Tree.
  • Snow Farm (winter & summer fun): Tubing, cross-country skiing, and epic snowball fights in winter. Swap it for hiking and hut stays in summer.

Animal Encounters

  • Wānaka Lavender Farm: Run wild through lavender fields, feed friendly farm animals, and try lavender ice cream.
  • Criffel Station Farm Tours: Meet deer, sheep, and alpacas up close with a tractor ride through the high country.

Rainy-Day Fun

  • Ruby’s Cinema: Cosy seats, gourmet snacks, and movies for the whole family.
  • Wānaka Recreation Centre: Pools, waterslides, and space for the kids to burn off energy.
  • Basecamp Climbing Centre: Let them climb the walls – literally – in a fun, safe indoor climbing gym.
  • Puzzling World: A giant maze, illusion rooms, and tilted walls to challenge the whole family’s sense of reality.

By the end of the day, if the kids aren’t grinning, exhausted, and covered in adventure dust, you’re doing Wānaka wrong.

Credit: Miles Holden

Snow Fun & Winter Activities

When the snow falls, Wānaka turns into a winter wonderland. Whether you’re hitting the slopes, chasing adrenaline, or cosying up fireside, here’s your winter to-do list:

Hit the Slopes

  • Cardrona Alpine Resort: Wide-open runs, world-class terrain parks, and legendary night skiing.
  • Treble Cone: The biggest ski area on the South Island, with steep terrain and breathtaking lake views.
  • Snow Farm NZ: Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and backcountry hut adventures.

Adrenaline & Adventure

  • Heli-Skiing in the Southern Alps: No lift lines, no crowds – just untouched powder.
  • Ice Driving at the Snow Farm: Take a high-performance car for a spin on an ice-covered track.
  • Skydive Wānaka: Skydiving in summer is epic, but freefalling over snow-covered mountains? Next level.

Credit: Miles Holden

Wine & Food – Because You’ve Earned It

Wānaka doesn’t just serve up epic views – it knows how to treat your taste buds, too. Whether it’s fine dining, craft brews, or a damn good steak, here’s where to indulge:

Where to Wine & Dine

  • The Stoker Room: Slow-cooked meats, smoky flavours, and wine-barrel cooking. Pair with a local pinot noir.
  • Kika: Seasonal small plates packed with bold flavors. Ideal for sharing (or not).
  • Bistro Gentil: French-inspired, locally sourced, and perfectly paired with an extensive wine list.

Wineries Worth the Sip

  • Rippon Vineyard: Insane lake views, biodynamic wines, and a legendary pinot noir.
  • Maude Wines: Boutique wines with a tasting room conveniently in town.
  • Aitken’s Folly: A small, husband-and-wife-run vineyard producing handcrafted Central Otago vino.

Brews & Cocktails

  • Rhyme X Reason Brewery: Funky craft brews and good vibes.
  • Ground Up Brewing: Bold, adventurous flavors for hardcore beer lovers.
  • B.effect Brewing Co: Smooth, sessionable beers to enjoy after a long day on the trails.

Hiking & Walks – Work Off That Wine

Wānaka’s trails serve up everything from gentle lakeside strolls to brutal alpine climbs. Earn those post-hike beers with these top treks:

Day Hikes

  • Roy’s Peak Track: The classic. A brutal climb, but the sunrise views over Lake Wānaka? Unreal.
  • Isthmus Peak: Like Roy’s Peak, but with fewer people and just as much jaw-dropping scenery.
  • Diamond Lake & Rocky Mountain Track: A shorter, less punishing option with insane views and solid Instagram potential.
  • Rob Roy Glacier Track: A mix of lush forest, swinging bridges, and a glacier that looks straight out of a postcard.
  • Mount Iron Track: The best bang-for-your-buck hike – short, sweet, and still delivers killer 360° views.

Overnight hikes

  • Brewster Hut: A steep, relentless climb through the bush that spits you out into alpine paradise. Bonus: sunrise views that make the pain worth it.
  • French Ridge Hut: For those who like their hikes served with a side of suffering. A serious uphill grind, but the views over the Matukituki Valley are next level.
  • Liverpool Hut: Short but steep, this one gets straight to the point. A bright red hut perched on a ridge with insane views? Yes, please.
  • Aspiring Hut: The perfect intro to overnight hiking. A cruisy walk through the valley with stunning mountain backdrops and a hut that feels like a high-country dream.

Credit: Miles Holden

Cycling & Mountain Biking – Two Wheels, Endless Thrills

Wānaka is stacked with everything from scenic lake rides to hardcore downhill tracks. Whether you're in it for the views or the adrenaline, here’s where to ride:

  • Bike Glendhu: Wānaka’s mountain biking mecca, with trails for every level, flowy single tracks, and epic downhill runs.
  • Millennium Track: A lakeside cruise with plenty of stop-and-soak-it-in spots.
  • Sticky Forest: A hidden gem packed with technical descents and tight berms for those who like their rides fast and furious.
  • Hāwea to Wānaka Trail: A smooth, scenic road ride through some of the South Island’s best landscapes.

Credit: Jay French

Romantic Things to Do in Wānaka – Love, Lakes & Luxury

If your idea of romance involves dreamy landscapes, cosy hideaways, and unforgettable experiences, Wānaka is the perfect place to dial up the romance. Start with a sunrise hike to Roy’s Peak or Isthmus Peak, where the early morning light paints the lake and mountains in shades of pink and gold. For a more relaxed (but equally breathtaking) experience, take a private wine tasting at Rippon Vineyard, where you can sip world-class pinot noir with one of the best views in the region. If unwinding is the goal, book a session at the Secret Sauna in Lake Hāwea, a secluded, wood-fired sauna sitting right on the lake’s edge. Warm up inside, then take a refreshing plunge into the crystal-clear water – an experience that’s both exhilarating and intimate. For a cosy evening, settle in for a private dining experience at Bistro Gentil, where candlelit tables, French-inspired cuisine, and the perfect wine pairing set the mood. If you love star-gazing and glamping, book a night at Cross Hill Domes in Lake Hāwea. Basically, if you’re not stealing kisses under the stars, soaking in a secret sauna, or sipping wine with a lakefront view, you’re doing romance in Wānaka wrong.

Credit: Miles Holden

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