Great Things to do in Wanaka, New Zealand

Six Great Things to do in Wanaka, New Zealand

Oh wonderful Wanaka! This town quickly became one of our favorite places in the world during our visit to the South Island of New Zealand. With its stunning landscape set against the mountains and serene Lake Wanaka, this peaceful resort town is the perfect place to base for some of the South Island’s best adventures. We spent three days here and the only thing we regretted was not spending more time here! From an epic hike to wonderful wineries, Wanaka is the perfect blend of outdoor adventures and relaxation. In this guide we share our top things to do in Wanaka, New Zealand.

Take a Hike

One of the top things to do in Wanaka no doubt is to go hiking. There are many amazing hikes in the area with views over Wanaka. We hiked Roy’s Peak and the views that unfolded on the hike were just incredible.

Epic views from Roy’s Peak hike

Roy’s Peak is a tough hike, covering 10 miles round trip with 4,000 feet elevation gain. It is a massive climb that tested our endurance on the way up and our legs on the way down. The accomplishment of doing this hike as well as taking in the epic views made the hike absolutely worth it.

Roy’s Peak

Other popular hikes near Wanaka are Isthmus Peak and Rocky Mountain to name a few. You won’t run out of hikes to do in the area, that is for sure!

Roy’s Peak is one of the most popular hikes in Wanaka so an early start is a must. We arrived at 7:45 a.m. and already had to park in the overflow lot. Want more information on hiking Roy’s Peak? We share all about the hike with lots of photos in the article linked below

Read About Roy’s Peak – Hiking Roy’s Peak in Wanaka, New Zealand: A Photo Journey

Go Wine Tasting

The South Island of New Zealand is one of the world’s most renowned wine regions. Wanaka sits in the Otago region, known for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines.

There are several wineries in and around Wanaka. We visited Nanny Goat Vineyards just outside of town. Nanny Goat has a beautiful setting of vineyards stretching out just below the mountains. We enjoyed a lovely tasting outdoors and came away with a few bottles to enjoy back at our apartment.

Nanny Goat Vineyard

There are currently 8 wineries as well as 4 craft breweries in Wanaka alone!

Visit the Lavendar Farm

The Wanaka Lavendar Farm sits just on the outskirts of Wanaka off Morris Road. Fields of lavender fragrance the air while lavender-made products are for sale.

Wanaka Lavender Farm

Explore Lake Wanaka

Beautiful Lake Wanaka is massive, covering 74 square miles. The town of Wanaka is set on its shores and you have constant views from wherever you go, especially a hike high above Wanaka.

Views of Lake Wanaka from Roy’s Peak

The lake is great for a variety of water sports such as kayaking, sailing, and even a boat cruise.

Lake Wanaka

A lovely 1.5 mile walking trail takes you along Lake Wanaka’s western shores.

Walking path along Lake Wanaka

If you do this walk, you’ll come upon a famous Wanaka resident which we share next!

Check Out That Wanaka Tree

A tree worth a see! This willow tree has its own hashtag, thanks to its popularity on social media, # ThatWanakaTree!

Wanaka’s famous resident, # ThatWanakaTree

When we visited in the evening it was low tide so # ThatWanakaTree was on a small isthmus of land leading into the Lake Wanaka. It is worth a quick stop, but you will likely experience some crowds here.

Take in a Movie at Cinema Paradiso

Cinema Paradiso is a cute little cinema behind the New World grocery store. During our visit, A Complete Unknown was playing.

Cinema Paradiso

Cinema Paradiso serves typical concession snacks along with New Zealand wines. But the best part is that they stop the movie, call intermission, and you can retrieve your pre-ordered fresh baked cookie and head back to finish up the movie!

Concessions at Cinema Paradiso

Sipping delicious New Zealand wine and enjoying a fresh baked chocolate chip cookie while watching a movie was a great way to wind down after a long day of hiking.

Cinema Paradiso features a VW bug you can sit in, small sofas, and a variety of mish-mashed seats.

Fun seating at Cinema Paradiso

We were in a small theatre in the middle of New Zealand with locals, watching a movie about an American Icon. It was such a ordinary thing to do but in an extraordinary place and really memorable!