LAKE HĀWEA
3.27pm Lake Hāwea
A place of vivid beauty, mountainous extremes and legendary fishing spots, Lake Hāwea is an outdoor adventurers’ paradise
Located an easy scenic 15-minute drive from Wānaka and on the road to Makarora and the West Coast, Lake Hāwea is an ideal self-drive day trip or place to stay on your South Island journey.
Grab a road bike and do the Lake Hāwea loop. You can even walk or mountain bike off road to Lake Hāwea from Wānaka!
The track to Isthmus Peak will reward you with views to rival the more popular Roys Peak track but without the crowds. Or try the gentle lakefront walk to Johns Creek.
The mountains that hug the east, west and northern shores are cragged, rugged and jaggedly weathered, and hold secret pockets of some of the country’s finest fly fishing.
Lake Hāwea is a favoured spot for wind surfing, paragliding and kite surfing. Also, boating, fishing, swimming, kayaking, and generally lazing about on the beach.
And don’t fret about food and somewhere to stay! There are several places where you can stay for the night and dine out.
Discover the best of our region by following the scenic highlights photo tour.
Drag the map to show more of the surrounding areas.
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.
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.
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.