23+ Things to Do in Wanaka, New Zealand

Wanaka is a resort town on New Zealand’s South Island most famous for the stunning views from Roy’s Peak and #ThatWanakaTree (yes, that is the tree’s real name). But if you’re not up for a challenging 10 mile hike and you’ve already snapped a photo of the tree, are there any other things to do in Wanaka? 

As the title of this post suggests, yes! There are more things to do in Wanaka, 23 of them, in fact.

When we visited Wanaka on our April 2023 trip to Aotearoa (the Māori word for New Zealand), it definitely wasn’t the most fast paced part of our itinerary. Wanaka isn’t a huge city or a giant national park. But this small town punches above its weight class!

A lot of people just stop in Wanaka to see the famous tree on a day trip from Queenstown and then carry on. But I think that’s a mistake. Sure, the tree is great. But in my opinion, the charm of Wanaka can only be felt when you’re not rushing through. 

Below I’m sharing 23 things to do in Wanaka – 14 activities in Wanaka town and 9 within a short drive of Wanaka. I’ll also let you know how to get to Wanaka, where to stay and whether or not I think Wanaka is worth adding to your New Zealand itinerary.

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Map of 23+ things to do in Wanaka

14 things to do in Wanaka town

There are lots of things to do in Wanaka no matter your interests or budget; family-friendly activities for kids, boutique stores for shoppers and free natural sights near town. It’s a great place to take a quick break from a fast-paced New Zealand trip, chill out and remember why you’re visiting this country in the first place.

1) See the most famous tree in Wanaka #ThatWanakaTree

If you’ve ever seen a photo of Wanaka, it was probably a photo of #ThatWanakaTree. This famous Wanaka landmark is a willow tree out in the middle of Lake Wanaka.

A photo of the tree won Dennis Radermacher New Zealand Geographic’s Photo of the Year in 2014, and the tree has had celebrity status ever since. As New Zealand’s most famous tree, you can’t come to Wanaka and not see it!

When we saw it on our April 2023 trip, we walked along the shore of Lake Wanaka from the far end of town, allowing the tree to get larger as we approached. When we finally got to the tree it was pretty, but I’m not sure any tree can ever live up to this much hype.

After snapping the requisite photos, Colin and I sat on a nearby log to enjoy the scenery. That actually ended up being the most fun part! We watched as two middle aged men both tried to take forced perspective photos where it looked like they were holding the tree.

But neither could get the angle just right nor did they want to help each other. So for a solid 20 minutes, we watched (and quietly laughed!) as these guys kept trying to take selfies of themselves holding their hands and phones in various positions. I hope they eventually got the shot!

2) See another cool tree in Wanaka

Right nearby That Wanaka Tree is another very cool tree in Wanaka, a giant redwood. After checking out the famous tree in the lake, we turned to walk up through Wanaka Station Park. This is a really cool park that has huge sequoia, fir and cedar trees, as well as a nice garden and playground.

If #ThatWanakaTree gets too crowded for you, I highly recommend turning around and visiting the park right behind you for some more natural beauty off the beaten path.

3) Check out the National Transport & Toy Museum

Sadly, I didn’t hear about the National Transport & Toy Museum in Wanaka until after we got back from our trip. But it looks super cool! According to Wikipedia, the museum’s collection includes “over 650 vehicles, 20 aircraft and 60,000 toys plus thousands of miscellaneous items.”

It would be wild to see that many things in one huge space! I think this makes a great Wanaka activity for families – I’m sure kids could spend hours in the toy shop attached to the museum – but even those without kids would have a great time. It’s also a perfect thing to do when the weather is bad since it’s all indoors.

4) Eat at Bombay Palace Wanaka

We stumbled into Bombay Palace Wanaka for dinner one night and it was such a great find! The restaurant offers a really nice view over the lake and outdoor seating, when the weather is nice.

Because we’re pretty basic with our Indian food, we ordered veggie samosas, lamb kebabs, butter chicken, naan and a mango lassi for me. Everything was delicious! I was also impressed with the portion sizes and thought the pricing was decent.

5) Get Lost at Puzzling World

This is another amazing thing to do in Wanaka for families and probably one of the most well known attractions in town. Puzzling World promises a “world of weirdness” where you’ll find a giant 3D maze, optical illusions and plenty of photo opportunities.

They also boast the most incredible public toilets in New Zealand, which is saying something because we experienced some very cool, clean and futuristic restrooms during our time in Aotearoa!

Puzzling World seems like a fun time for the whole family. I did read some reviews that said the illusions feel dated but the majority of reviews are very positive.

6) Enjoy Wanaka activities on the water

Honestly one of my favourite Wanaka activities was just enjoying the small town vibes on the water. I curled up on the chair above with a cup of ice cream and just soaked it all in!

Of course, if you want to actually get on the water, there are lots of opportunities for that. You can take a boat to explore islands on the lake, such as Mou Waho Island by water taxi or Stevensons Island by cruise and nature walk.

For something more adventurous, you can take a jet boat ride down New Zealand’s fastest river, Clutha River. Or if you’d prefer to relax, you can sit back with a glass of wine on a happy hour cruise of Lake Wanaka.

7) Wine taste at Rippon

Rippon is a family-run winery in Wanaka with beautiful views over the lake. They offer free wine tastings at their cellar door – all you need to do is book in advance. Even if you’re not a huge wine person, this is a great excuse to try a bit of the local produce and get another stunning view of Lake Wanaka!

8) Hang at one of the cute cafes in Wanaka

There are tons of cute bakeries and cafes in Wanaka for you to visit. We enjoyed Doughbin Bakery and Cafe, which is right on the water. As you can see from the sign above, they have award winning pies! I tried the pork belly and spiced plum pie which was tasty, followed by an even yummier brownie.

Another cafe I was recommended to try in Wanaka is Scroggin Coffee and Eatery. Apparently it’s a great option for breakfast!

9) Bike the trails around Wanaka

Confession: I don’t know how to ride a bike. I did get one for Christmas as a kid and just about mastered it before Toronto winter hit and I forgot about it by the next summer. My aunt tried to teach me again when I was 13 but I don’t think I ever got the hang of it.

If you had a more successful bike-riding childhood than I did, then you should definitely check out some of the bike trails around Wanaka! Here’s a list of tracks in town or you can join a guided tour such as this family-friendly bike or e-bike tour down Hawea and Clutha river trails or this self-guided ride from Lake Hawea to Lake Wanaka. The great thing about the tours is bike and helmet rental is included, so you don’t have to figure any of that out on your own.

10) Eat at some of the best restaurants in Wanaka (or get take out!)

We had some delicious meals during our time in Wanaka. My list of best restaurants in Wanaka would include Bombay Palace, which I shared about above, Red Star, for their delicious burgers and kumara fries, and Black Peak, for amazing ice cream. At Black Peak I went with two typical Kiwi flavours – pavlova and black doris plum, which is a local Otago fruit.

A few other restaurants we didn’t get to try but have heard great things about include Big Fig Wanaka (we tried to eat there but it was packed), Francesca’s Italian Kitchen for pizza, Kika for Italian-style tapas, and Firebird for fried chicken.

11) See a movie at Cinema Paradiso

I wouldn’t usually put a movie theatre on my list of things to do in a place, but Cinema Paradiso is kind of an institution in Wanaka. Instead of stiff rows of seats, picture comfortable and kitschy couches, plus an old-timey car. And instead of typical movie theatre popcorn and soda, you can enjoy homemade ice cream and warm chocolate chip cookies.

Sadly, the movie times did not line up for when Colin and I were in town. But rumour has it they actually pause their movies halfway through for an intermission, which is when their cafe serves their “world-famous hot cookies.” Sounds like the best way to see a film!

12) Go shopping in Wanaka

Like all the best small towns, Wanaka has a few streets full of cute, independent shops. These are the kind of stores I love to go in when I’m travelling. It’s so fun to look through the local ware and pick up something special to take home.

I particularly enjoyed Wools of Wanaka, where I wanted to buy every soft wool sweater, and Thieving Kea, that had the cutest jewelry and home decor pieces. Most of it was out of my price range, but it was still fun to browse!

13) Walk through the Wanaka Lavender Farm

One of the most popular things to do in Wanaka is visit the Wanaka Lavender Farm. Not only can you take beautiful pictures in the 20 acres of lavender fields, but you can also meet the farm animals, sample local honey, check out art displays, buy lavender products and try their famous lavender ice cream.

We decided to give the farm a skip on our visit to Wanaka as we had missed peak bloom, which happens in the summer. We had also tried local honey at Huka Honey Hive in Taupo, so didn’t feel the need to sample it again. However, having now read about the different seasons at the farm, it seems that the fall foliage would have been beautiful to see in April. So learn from our mistakes and check out the farm no matter what time of year!

14) Go on a hike near Wanaka

Just because you’re not hiking up Roy’s Peak doesn’t mean you can’t go on another hike or walk around Wanaka. As a non-hiker myself, I researched lots of less challenging tracks in the area. Best of all, even the flattest and shortest track seems to still offer amazing views!

Mount Iron Track is an easy grade walking track with views of Lake Wanaka and the Southern Alps from the top. The walk is a 4.5km loop and should take about 90 minutes. A slightly more challenging route is Glendhu Bay Track. This 10-15km track starts off a bit hilly but then flattens out and offers views of Mount Aspiring. I found this write up of the track quite helpful.

You could also check out Diamond Lake for hiking in the Wanaka area. There are a couple of different easy and intermediate routes you can take such as the Diamond Lake Circuit Track (2.5km, 45 minutes return), Diamond Lake Lookout (2km, 1 hour return, includes stairs) or Lake Wanaka Lookout (5km, 2 hours return).

Just be careful not to keep going on the Rocky Mountain Summit Track, which is a longer and more challenging route, if you’re not experienced. As with all hikes, come prepared (bring water, wear appropriate footwear, pack a hat, etc.) and listen to your body for when it’s time to take a break or turn around.

PS: Despite the title of this post, if you do want to hike Roy’s Peak, more power to you! Here’s some info about the popular hike in Wanaka. It’s a challenging trek but the views do look incredible.

9 things to do in Wanaka (near town)

Now that we’ve covered the things to do in Wanaka that are right in town, I wanted to share a few more things we enjoyed doing just outside of Wanaka. We visited all of these places either on a day trip from Wanaka or on our way into or leaving town.

All of the spots mentioned below are within a 15-90 minute drive of Wanaka, so very do-able to visit with Wanaka as your base.

1) Trek to the Blue Pools Wanaka

1 hour drive from Wanaka

One of the most popular day trips from Wanaka is to the Blue Pools. Expect to see quite a few other cars in the parking lot unless you get there early. Despite its popularity, I still think the Blue Pools Wanaka are worth the trip.

It took us about an hour return to walk the Blue Pools Track, including time spent by the water at the end. The track was mostly flat with a few ups and downs, but nothing severe. You’re walking through a forest but there’s a clear, marked path the entire time.

The track ends at a large bridge over the namesake Blue Pools. As you can see from the photo above, the water really is very blue! It’s also super clear; we could see all of the rocks below.

After snapping some photos from the bridge, you can go down to the beach-like area below, walk along the rocks and get in the water if it’s not too cold. We visited in April and while it wasn’t freezing, it certainly wasn’t swimming weather for me!

But a brave (or foolish?) person who was there at the same time as us decided to jump off the bridge and into the water. I’d recommend just getting in from the rocky beach if you really want to swim!

2) See the views from Lake Hawea

15 minute drive from Wanaka (on the way to the Blue Pools)

Lake Hawea is a beautiful blue lake just a quick drive from Lake Wanaka. If you’re headed to the Blue Pools, you’ll actually drive along Lake Hawea the whole time. There are a few viewpoints where you can pull over and enjoy the scenery. I highly recommend this quick and stunning stop!

3) Visit waterfalls near Wanaka

70 minute drive from Wanaka (10 minutes from the Blue Pools)

If you’re already at the Blue Pools, I recommend adding another 10 minutes to your drive and seeing two epic waterfalls that are just around the corner.

The first is Fantail Falls, named after the fantail bird (also known as a piwakawaka), that the falls are supposed to resemble. I didn’t see the resemblance, but the falls were cool! It was a quick walk from the parking lot along a paved path to get to the falls, and then you could walk out on the rocks to get closer.

Just a few minutes from Fantail Falls is Thunder Creek Falls. Funny enough, we actually saw a fantail at these falls instead of the other ones! Thunder Creek Falls are even easier to reach as it’s only a minute or two from the parking lot to the viewing platform. They’re a pretty impressive sight for next to no effort to get to!

4) Day trip from Wanaka to Queenstown

70 minute drive from Wanaka

A lot of people suggest doing a day trip from Queenstown to Wanaka but I say, why not do the reverse? Queenstown is a bigger, busier city where accommodation is notoriously expensive. If a laid back town like Wanaka is more your vibe, I suggest staying in Wanaka and just doing a day trip into Queenstown.

At just over an hour away, Queenstown is an easy day or half day trip from Wanaka. You can walk along the shore of Lake Wakatipu, head up to Skyline Queenstown to ride the luge, and eat at the famous Fergburger all before driving back to your accommodation in Wanaka.

5) Snap a photo of the Cardrona Hotel

20 minute drive from Wanaka (on the way to Queenstown) 

They say the Cardrona Hotel is the most photographed building in all of New Zealand. True? I have no idea! But I added to that number when I snapped this photo of the famous hotel from our car window. And can we take a moment to appreciate how impressive this photo is considering Colin didn’t pull over? I got the whole name in the shot from a moving car!

Besides my photography skills, the Cardrona Hotel is one of the oldest and most well-known hotels in Aotearoa. Established in 1863, the hotel still welcomes guests to this day and also has a restaurant and beer garden on site. The rooms look really nice so if you’re into iconic, historic places, I’d definitely encourage you to book a stay. If not, you could pop in for a meal or just snap a pic like I did as you drive by!

6) Give it up for the girls at Bradrona

20 minute drive from Wanaka (right by the Cardrona Hotel)

Just a minute from the famous Cardrona Hotel is another famous sight in Cardrona, the Cardrona Bra Fence, also known as Bradrona! As you can see or as you likely guessed from the name, the Cardrona Bra Fence is a fence lined with thousands of bras!

No one knows why the fence was started but sometime in the late 90’s, a few bras appeared on the fence. Over the years, the fence proved controversial with bras being mysteriously removed and then replenished ten-fold and some locals finding it offensive or a road hazard. In 2014, the bra fence was moved 100 metres from its original location to a private driveway, where a local couple now serve as its volunteer guardians.

Besides being a fun photo spot, the fence also does some good. A pink box was installed to collect donations for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation and it’s estimated that over $500 is collected every week. So whether you want to stop to take a photo, leave a donation or contribute to the bra collection, I say Bradona is definitely worth the trip!

7) Take in the view from the Crown Range Summit

35 minute drive from Wanaka (on the way to Queenstown)

Probably one of my favourite views from our time in New Zealand was looking out over the Crown Range Summit. This windy bit of road between Wanaka and Queenstown offers some of the most majestic lookouts at the valley below and mountains in the distance.

There are a couple of different spots to pull over and small parking lots where you can safely park to enjoy the views. We got out and walked around a bit but it was a windy day, so we didn’t last long. Still – it was so worth it!

8) Visit Arrowtown

55 minute drive from Wanaka (slight detour on the way to Queenstown)

Arrowtown is a historic gold mining town just outside of Queenstown. If you’re headed to Queenstown from Wanaka, this is definitely worth the small detour. However, it’s a popular stop, so expect the streets to be fairly full of tourists.

Arrowtown had big Stars Hollow vibes to me, which my fellow Gilmore Girls fans will get. In layman’s terms it’s just a very cute small town with lots of history, independent shops and charming restaurants. Visiting during peak fall foliage was perfect!

We started our time in Arrowtown at Provisions, an adorable coffee shop with a cute garden out back. Next we walked down the main drag of streets and over to the Historic Chinese Settlement.

Arrowtown’s Chinese Settlement marks where a community of Chinese gold miners lived in the 1800s. These miners came over from China during the Otago gold rush and, to probably nobody’s surprise, faced very racist attitudes and discriminatory laws. Despite that, the community grew and you can now walk through some of the old shops and homes.

We didn’t have time to see all of the structures but we did step into an old Chinese general store above and read up on the area. It’s not a part of Aotearoa history you hear about very often, and as the daughter of a Chinese immigrant, it was super impactful for me to visit this part of Arrowtown.

9) See the Clay Cliffs of Omarama

90 minute drive from Wanaka

The Clay Cliffs are the farthest destination from Wanaka and unfortunately not in the same direction as Queenstown (south) or the Blue Pools (northwest). However, if you’re heading to Aoraki Mount Cook or Christchurch after Wanaka, then definitely make a stop to see the cliffs in Omarama.

The Clay Cliffs are located on private land but open to the public. There’s a cost of $5 NZD ($3 USD) per car that you put into a box as you drive through the gate. It’s an honesty box, so no one is checking to see if you’ve paid (but you still should!), and there’s also no way to get change or pay by card, so try to have exactly $5 cash on you.

Once you’ve paid and passed through the gate, you’ll drive on a gravel path towards the cliffs. It’s a little bumpy, but not too far to get to the parking lot. After you’ve parked, there’s a short walk to the cliffs. The walk is slightly uphill but I found it very manageable.

I loved that as we drove and then walked closer, we got to see different views of the cliffs that were carved by glaciers over a million years ago. However, the best part is when you finally arrive at the cliffs and walk through a small crevice. Suddenly you’re in the middle of a valley surrounded by the impressive gravel and silt cliffs on all sides.

It was awesome to see the cliffs up close and be able to walk around the little valley. The area is a bit rocky, so I’d recommend wearing good shoes if you want to get as close as possible to the cliffs.

How do I spend a day in Wanaka? Riana’s suggested 1 day Wanaka itinerary

If you only have one day in Wanaka, here’s how I suggest you spend it:

Start your day early by picking up some local pies for breakfast and walking over to That Wanaka Tree. Enjoy breakfast with a beautiful view of the lake and snap all of the photos of the tree you want before the rest of the day trippers arrive.

After breakfast, walk along the waterfront into town where you can check out the local shops or take a boat tour. If shopping or boating aren’t your thing, spend your morning at the Wanaka Lavender Farm or Puzzling World. For lunch, check out Red Star for burgers or Big Fig for “slow food served fast.”

In the afternoon, it’s time to take a little trip north or south of Wanaka. If you head north, stop at Lake Hawea on your way to the Blue Pools, and then carry onto Fantail and Thunder Creek Falls. If you head south, stop at the view points in Cardrona, do a quick visit in Arrowtown and maybe squeeze in Queenstown (or stay there if it’s your next destination).

If you’re heading back to Wanaka for dinner, I definitely recommend a hearty meal at Bombay Palace Wanaka.

How long do you need in Wanaka?

I think two days in Wanaka would be a good amount of time. It’s nice to spend longer than a day here so you’re not coming in with all of the day trippers. By staying a night or two, you can get up early to see the tree and enjoy the quieter side of Wanaka.

Two days also gives you enough time to explore the area around Wanaka. As you can see from my list above, there are a lot of things to do within a short drive of Wanaka that I definitely think are worth adding to an Aotearoa itinerary.

I found Wanaka to be a really good place to relax. We had three nights there on our trip and it was nice to be able to take our time and just chill. When I’m on a longer trip, I find having slower parts of the itinerary really helps me to not burn out before the trip is over.

How to get there: Queenstown to Wanaka

A lot of people visit Wanaka from Queenstown, as it’s nearby. So let me breakdown how to get from Queenstown to Wanaka!

Queenstown to Wanaka by car

It’s an easy 70 minute drive from Queenstown to Wanaka. Along the way you can see the views in Cardrona and the Crown Range Summit, or make a quick detour to Arrowtown.

If you are planning to drive to Wanaka or around the South Island, I highly recommend booking your car through Discover Cars. We used them for our trip and saved hundreds of dollars compared to booking directly with a big name company. Our rate included full insurance and service was very smooth.

Queenstown to Wanaka by bus

Ritchies is the bus company that serves the Queenstown to Wanaka route, running buses four times per day in both directions. The route has four different pick up locations in Queenstown, including downtown and the airport, and also stops in Cardrona and Cromwell.

The Ritchies Queenstown to Wanaka bus ride takes apx 90 minutes and currently costs $40 NZD ($24 USD) per adult per way. Click here for the most up to date info.

Queenstown to Wanaka by tour

If you don’t want to drive or figure out the bus, you can always hop on a day tour! You can do a full day tour from Queenstown visiting both Arrowtown and Wanaka or a half day tour from Queenstown seeing the highlights of Arrowtown and Wanaka if you’re short on time.

Where to stay: Accommodation in Wanaka

I highly recommend our accommodation in Wanaka, Archway Motels & Chalets. It combines the best part of a hotel and Airbnb in Wanaka with self-catering studios and a lovely host, Jacqui, who we met when we checked in.

I really liked the studio-style apartment we stayed in. It was incredibly modern and stylish, fully equipped and very spacious for just us two. As you can see from the photo above, we had a full mini kitchen, dining table, couch, two beds and a full bathroom. The property also has free parking, paid laundry, a BBQ area, a playground and a cedar hot tub you can book.

The location was also great! We could easily walk into town and along the lake but it wasn’t right on the main drag. We paid $170 NZD ($103 USD) per night for a Twin Studio room in April 2023. They also offer chalets, family suites and two or three bedroom apartments that can sleep up to six adults.

All in all, Archway Motels & Chalets gets my vote for excellent accommodation in Wanaka!

Wrapping up: Is Wanaka NZ worth visiting?

I will admit that I actually found Wanaka a bit sleepy when we were there. I remember sitting by the lake with Colin, eating our ice cream and thinking there was nothing else we absolutely had to do in Wanaka.

But honestly? That was kind of the best part. Yes, there are lots of things to do in Wanaka – if you want to do them. But it’s also the kind of place where you could just sit by the lake with ice cream and a view of #ThatWanakaTree and be perfectly happy.

When you’re visiting a country as epic and adventurous as New Zealand, sometimes it can be nice to have a few chill days on the itinerary.

Overall, I do think Wanaka is worth visiting. It’s a convenient stop on the way from Queenstown to Aoraki Mount Cook, it has enough to do in the town and surrounding area to keep you busy, and it’s a great spot to relax. Plus, could you really drive past a tree this famous and not check it out?

I’d love to know: Do you think Wanaka is worth the stop? Would you add Wanaka to your New Zealand bucket list? 

Check out more places to visit on New Zealand’s South Island