KIA ORA AND WELCOME TO WANAKA

It begins with the landscape...it breathes, there’s an energy, a feeling, that sets Wanaka apart

Located in the stunning alps of the South Island in New Zealand, visitors from around the world are drawn to the Wanaka region by its outstanding natural beauty. Wanaka’s lakes and mountains and proximity to Mt Aspiring National Park, makes it the ultimate base for outdoor activities.

But it’s not just the outdoor enthusiasts who have plenty to do, stroll the streets and be inspired by galleries, stylish shops and be spoilt for choice with a great selection of cool cafes and restaurants.

Things to Do 

Discover all the things to do in Wanaka including the Top 10 Must Do's! 

Endless Thrills

Natural Beauty

Epic Hiking

Local Cuisine

Fresh Powder

Revealing Wanaka

Discover what’s happening in Wanaka – through photos, videos and stories from locals and travellers, as well as expert advice on hand to help

#lovewanaka | Webcam & Weather

Events & Festivals

Wanaka stages more than its fair share of world class events throughout the year. Arts and music festivals, international sporting and aviation events, each as unique as the season it is staged

Explore our events calendar and find out what’s on and when including our Annual Events

Spring Events

September to November

Summer Events

December to February

Autumn Events

March to May

Winter Events

June to August

PLAN YOUR TRIP

Getting to Wanaka is easy

By air, bus or self-drive, getting here is stress free.

The maps below will help you plan your travel to Wanaka, and make the most of your time exploring this region.

Drag the map to show more of the surrounding areas.

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Click on your location below to see how close you are to Wanaka

Driving to Wanaka Explore the Region

Driving to Wanaka

Driving on the South Island roads of New Zealand is a great way to experience the region, with relatively quiet roads and some of the most amazing scenery right outside the window.

Major car and campervan hire companies are all located at Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown airports. There are also a number of rental car companies based in Wanaka.

How to get to Wanaka

Explore the Region

Wanaka is unique and captivating; it inspires you to discover, and gives you the freedom to explore.

Located in the stunning alps of the South Island, New Zealand, visitors from around the world are drawn to the Wanaka region by its outstanding beauty.

Explore Wanaka

  1. Mount Aspiring
    National Park     54 min
  2. Christchurch 5 h 14 min
  3. Ashburton 3 h 56 min
  4. Geraldine 3 h 19 min
  5. Tekapo 2 h 17 min
  6. Mt Cook 2 h 6 min
  7. Twizel 1 h 39 min
  8. Omarama 1 h 21 min
  9. Franz Josef 3 h 32 min
  10. Fox Glacier 3 h 6 min
  11. Haast 1 h 43 min
  13. Cromwell 39 min
  14. Queenstown 1 h 4 min
  15. Milford Sound 4 h 34 min
  16. Te Anau 2 h 52 min
  17. Dunedin 2 h 52 min
  1. Mount Aspiring
    National Park     54 min
  2. Coronet Peak
  3. The Remarkables
  4. Cardrona
  5. Treble Cone
  6. Snow Farm
  7. Heli Skiing
  8. Heli Skiing
  9. Makarora 50 min
  10. Lake Hawea 1 h 7 min
  12. Wanaka Airport 11 min
  13. Luggate 13 min
  14. Tarras 27 min
  15. Cromwell 39 min
  16. Arrowtown 53 min
  17. Queenstown 1 h 4 min
  18. Queenstown Airport 59 min
  19. Matukituki Valley 51 min
  20. Raspberry Creek 1 h 6 min

Flights to Wanaka

Getting to Wanaka is easy - click on your city to see how close you are to Wanaka. It’s a short, scenic 60-minute drive to Wanaka from the closest international airport, where you will find all major rental car companies and scheduled bus services that provide transport to Wanaka throughout the day.

Queenstown Airport is serviced daily from all major New Zealand airports as well as over 40 flights a week direct from Australia.

How to get to Wanaka

#LOVEWANAKA

Tag us by using @lakewanakanz #lovewanaka.

Explore a sampling of #lovewanaka photos below, see lots more here, then share your Wanaka experiences on Instagram and Twitter.