Driving to Wānaka
Views around every corner
Driving to Wānaka, as part of your South Island holiday, is a great way to see some of the most spectacular scenery in New Zealand. Wānaka sits in the centre of the lower South Island and is on a number of touring routes which pass such iconic places as Aoraki Mt Cook, Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers and Queenstown.
Even if you're an experienced driver, it's worth checking out our Driving in New Zealand page to find out more about what it's like to drive on New Zealand roads.
And remember to always drive on the left-hand side.
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 Wānaka.
Drag the map to show more of the surrounding areas.
Driving to Wānaka
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 Wānaka.
Explore the Region
Wānaka 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 Wānaka region by its outstanding beauty.
- Mount Aspiring
National Park 54 min - Christchurch 5 h 14 min
- Ashburton 3 h 56 min
- Geraldine 3 h 19 min
- Tekapo 2 h 17 min
- Mt Cook 2 h 6 min
- Twizel 1 h 39 min
- Omarama 1 h 21 min
- Franz Josef 3 h 32 min
- Fox Glacier 3 h 6 min
- Haast 1 h 43 min
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- Cromwell 39 min
- Queenstown 1 h 4 min
- Milford Sound 4 h 34 min
- Te Anau 2 h 52 min
- Dunedin 2 h 52 min
- Mount Aspiring
National Park 54 min - Coronet Peak
- The Remarkables
- Cardrona
- Treble Cone
- Snow Farm
- Heli Skiing
- Heli Skiing
- Makarora 50 min
- Lake Hawea 1 h 7 min
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- Wanaka Airport 11 min
- Luggate 13 min
- Tarras 27 min
- Cromwell 39 min
- Arrowtown 53 min
- Queenstown 1 h 4 min
- Queenstown Airport 59 min
- Matukituki Valley 51 min
- Raspberry Creek 1 h 6 min
Flights to Wānaka
Getting to Wānaka is easy - click on your city to see how close you are to Wānaka. It’s a short, scenic 60-minute drive to Wānaka from the closest international airport, where you will find all major rental car companies and scheduled bus services that provide transport to Wānaka throughout the day.
