Wānaka: The Complete Guide

Wānaka is Queenstown's chilled-out little brother: a charming mountain town of around 8,000 people on the shore of one of the most beautiful lakes in the country, with all of the adventure and none of the queues. Summer means lake days and big hikes; winter turns it into the gateway to Treble Cone and Mt Aspiring National Park.

It's also home to the most photographed tree in New Zealand, a maze that's been confusing people since 1973, and a skydive with Mt Cook on the horizon. Here's the full guide.

Wānaka at a glance

Lake Wānaka is the third largest of the Southern Lakes, 45 kilometres long and up to 312 metres deep, fed by the Makarora and Matukituki Rivers and the source of the mighty Clutha. Over the hill, Lake Hāwea runs 35 kilometres and plunges to 410 metres. Between the two lakes, the mountains and the stable weather, Wānaka packs a serious outdoor CV: hiking, biking, skydiving, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, parasailing, jet boating and, in winter, some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the country.

Before anything else, take the mandatory photo of That Wānaka Tree, the lone willow standing in the lake shallows that has become the most photographed tree in New Zealand.

The walks

Roy's Peak

The famous one. A 16km return hike (5 to 6 hours) climbing to the 1,578-metre summit, with breathtaking views over Lake Wānaka, its islands and the surrounding ranges the whole way up. The viewpoint photo is all over social media, which means the track gets busy: go early on a weekday to beat the crowds, and in summer consider walking or cycling to the trailhead via the Waterfall Creek Track, as car parking is limited.

• Where: Roys Peak Track car park, Mount Aspiring Road
• Cost: free
• Good to know: hop off in Wānaka and arrange transport to the trailhead; the bus doesn't stop at the track

Mount Iron

The short, sharp local favourite: a 4.5km loop just 2km from the town centre, up the western ridge and down the eastern side, rewarding you with 360-degree views of the Upper Clutha Basin, the Pisa Range, Lake Wānaka and the Southern Alps.

• Where: Mount Iron Track car park, just off the main road into town
• Cost: free

The Blue Pools

Half an hour up the road at Makarora, on the way to Haast Pass, an easy 1.5km forest walk and a swing bridge deliver you to pools so blue and so clear they don't look real. Watch for rainbow and brown trout hanging in the current. Freezing, beautiful, and free.

• Where: Blue Pools car park, Haast Highway (SH6), 8km past Makarora township
• Cost: free

Big air over the Southern Lakes

Skydive Wānaka

A spectacular, multi-award-winning high-altitude tandem skydive over what might be New Zealand's best drop-zone scenery: 360-degree views of Mt Cook, Mt Aspiring, glaciers, lakes and rivers across Central Otago. Jump from 12,000 or 15,000 feet for 45 to 60 seconds of freefall at 200km/h, with HD photo and video packages, briefings in English or Mandarin, and spectators welcome at the drop zone.

• Where: Wānaka Airport, Mustang Lane
• Good to know: book in your Seymour app for a special discount

Learn to Fly

The bucket-list item you didn't know you had: take off, fly and land a real plane yourself, under the watchful eye of a qualified instructor, on a 20-minute flight lesson over Lake Wānaka or Lake Hāwea. Wānaka's stable weather and spectacular terrain make it one of the best places in the country to try it, and you can bring a friend along in the back at no extra charge.

• Where: Spitfire Lane, Wānaka Airport
• Good to know: book in your Seymour app for a special discount

On two wheels: Wānaka Bike Tours

Riding is a way of life here, and Wānaka Bike Tours has locations exclusive to them and well off the beaten track. Options run from an easy 15km cruise on wide trails and a 30km intermediate mix of single track and trail, up to the showstoppers: a heli bike trip with a 10-minute flight to 1,000 metres on a high country farm, and the Scenic Helicopter Flight and Alpine Landing, which drops you at 2,200 metres onto New Zealand's highest mountain bike trail and finishes at a historic pub.

• Good to know: book through your Stray driver

Puzzling World

A world-unique attraction that has been fascinating (and mildly infuriating) visitors since 1973. Get lost in the Great Maze, the world's first 3D maze with its over-bridges and underpasses, then bend your brain in the Illusion Rooms: famous faces that follow you around the room, chambers where you shrink and grow, water that appears to flow uphill and a hologram gallery. The Puzzle Centre cafe is there for regrouping, and even the toilets are a photo op.

• Where: 188 Wānaka-Luggate Highway, 5 minutes from town
• Good to know: Stray combo pass discount available; book in your Seymour app

On the water and on the snow

In summer the lake is the playground: stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, parasailing, jet boating and cruises all run from the waterfront. In winter Wānaka becomes a ski town, with Treble Cone's big terrain and Cardrona both close by, and Mt Aspiring National Park on the doorstep year-round.

Eating and drinking

Big Fig near the lakefront does hearty pitas, salads and baked treats ("slow food, served fast"), Red Star flips some of the region's best burgers, and the Wānaka Farmers Market runs Thursdays 3pm to 6pm for local produce. For a great craft beer and social vibe, head to the Rhyme and Reason boutique brewery or grab a lakeside table at Watering Hole to finish your day.

Where to stay

Haka House Wānaka

A comfortable, social base on Brownston Street: log fire lounge, reading nook, fully equipped kitchen, screening room, outdoor terrace with lake views, backyard BBQ, foosball, secure ski and snowboard storage, laundry, free WiFi and 24-hour access.

• Where: 94 Brownston Street, Wānaka

Getting there with Stray

Wānaka is a favourite stop on Stray's southern routes, with free time built in for the big hikes and lake days. Your driver can book the skydive, bike tours, flight lessons and Puzzling World as you go, with Seymour app discounts across most of them.

FAQs

How long does Roy's Peak take?

16km return, around 5 to 6 hours, climbing to the 1,578-metre summit. Go early on a weekday to beat the crowds, and note the track's limited car parking in summer.

Where are the Blue Pools?

Off the Haast Highway (SH6), 8km past Makarora, about 30 minutes from Wānaka. The walk is an easy 1.5km through forest and across a swing bridge, and it's free.

What is That Wānaka Tree?

A lone willow growing in the shallows of Lake Wānaka, widely called the most photographed tree in New Zealand. It's a short stroll along the waterfront from town.

Can you really fly a plane in Wānaka?

Yes. Learn to Fly at Wānaka Airport runs 20-minute flight lessons where you take off, fly and land under a qualified instructor's supervision, and a friend rides along free.

What is Puzzling World?

A Wānaka institution since 1973, home to the world's first 3D maze and a set of illusion rooms with holograms, tilted spaces and perspective tricks.

How high is the Wānaka skydive?

Tandem jumps from 12,000 or 15,000 feet, with 45 to 60 seconds of freefall at around 200km/h and views of Mt Cook and Mt Aspiring.