Lake Wanaka Tourism

Family & Kids

Lake Wanaka is the ultimate family friendly resort and a great place for a family snow holiday, with laid-back cafes, a big variety of off-snow activities for children of all ages and a range of accommodation from motels to hotels and apartments. Above all, the mountains provide terrain to suit both parents and children alike, and offer some of New Zealand's best kids skiing. For these reasons, and more, Wanaka is a great place for a family winter holiday.

Cardrona is hugely family-focused and has superb beginner and intermediate slopes, a dedicated Kids Club centre for ski and boarding instruction, creche facilities, and qualified care and instruction for toddlers through to teenagers.

Treble Cone will take care of the kids while parents enjoy the slopes to themselves. Famous for its long groomed trails, congestion free slopes and friendly relaxed atmosphere - children facilities include a Childcare Centre and Kids/Teens Club which now include full day supervised programmes.

Snow Park Enjoy an afternoon tubing with the family, have your first skiing or boarding lesson in our new dedicated learners area, or stay later and enjoy night skiing. With our 22ft halfpipe, quarterpipe, boxes, rails, jumps and the dedicated learner’s area, there is something for everyone. All are complimented with the vibrant restaurant and on-snow accommodation facilities.

Snow Farm If you can walk you can cross country ski. You can go as fast or as slow as you wish. Whether you are the daring downhill daredevil or prefer a more gentle slope we have the terrain for you. Tubing is a great way for all members of the family to enjoy their time on the snow. Tubes and helmets are available for hire.

Wanaka is the perfect base for a family ski holiday, with four ski resorts close at hand and child friendly skiing at its best. Anything is possible, mix and match the mountains to your family’s individual requirements. Buy a OnePassNZ and the world of Wanaka snow is yours for the taking, ski all four Wanaka ski fields plus 4 others in the South Island.

Shuttle services provide daily transport to both mountains, although most people self-drive.

All the fields offer family equipment, lift pass and tuition packages as well as first timer packs and reduced multi-day passes. Tuition packages include single to four day ski and snowboard improvement courses specially designed for kids at different abilities and in different age groups.

The page links below will take you to the different ski field pricing options:

TC Cat Club	Snow Park
Cardrona Kids overview	Snow Farm information

Basics for beginners See First time skiing and snowboarding page.

Off the snow
Lake Wanaka has heaps of activities for kids and families including the Maze and Puzzling World, horse riding, 4WD ATV bike excursions and rally racing, cycling on the lakeside trails or visiting the transport and airmuseum at Wanaka Airport. For further information and to get some great holiday ideas see the acitivities page or cherck out the best of our family friendly activities and attractions.