Guidebook for Wanaka
Parks & Nature
Visit the famous Wanaka Tree, an easy 15-20 minute walk from the town along Wanaka's waterfront
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#ThatWanakaTree
59 Wanaka Mount Aspiring RdVisit the famous Wanaka Tree, an easy 15-20 minute walk from the town along Wanaka's waterfront
Wanaka's most well known mountain range - people have been known to queue at the top for a photo. This walk takes anywhere between 5-6 hours and is described as a moderate hike. Make sure that you take plenty of food and water (and sunscreen in Summer). If you're wanting to see the sunrise, you'll need to head off very very early in the morning. Parking can also get quite busy, so factor that in for your trip.
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Roys Peak
Wanaka's most well known mountain range - people have been known to queue at the top for a photo. This walk takes anywhere between 5-6 hours and is described as a moderate hike. Make sure that you take plenty of food and water (and sunscreen in Summer). If you're wanting to see the sunrise, you'll need to head off very very early in the morning. Parking can also get quite busy, so factor that in for your trip.
An easier and shorter hike than Roys Peak, walking the Mt Iron Loop Track can take anywhere from 40 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on whether you walk the full loop, or walk to the top and then back down again. It's a relatively easy walk, our 5 and 7 year old children do it. Great views of Lake Wanaka, Lake Hawea and up the Cardrona valley.
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Mount Iron Loop Track
Mount Iron TrackAn easier and shorter hike than Roys Peak, walking the Mt Iron Loop Track can take anywhere from 40 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on whether you walk the full loop, or walk to the top and then back down again. It's a relatively easy walk, our 5 and 7 year old children do it. Great views of Lake Wanaka, Lake Hawea and up the Cardrona valley.
Lake Hawea is an easy 15-20 minute drive from Wanaka's town centre. Less populated than Wanaka, it's quiet, slow and easy living lifestyle make this area popular with locals. Beautiful views of the beautiful lake are easily obtained from shore. For those wanting a bit more adventure, Lake Hawea is popular with fishermen and kite surfers.
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Lake Hawea
Lake Hawea is an easy 15-20 minute drive from Wanaka's town centre. Less populated than Wanaka, it's quiet, slow and easy living lifestyle make this area popular with locals. Beautiful views of the beautiful lake are easily obtained from shore. For those wanting a bit more adventure, Lake Hawea is popular with fishermen and kite surfers.
Very popular walking / hiking track. Far less busy than Roy's Peak. Takes 3-4 hours to reach the summit. Great views out over Lake Hawea.
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Isthmus Peak
Very popular walking / hiking track. Far less busy than Roy's Peak. Takes 3-4 hours to reach the summit. Great views out over Lake Hawea.
Essentials
Wanaka's central supermarket - you'll find everything you need here from food and beverages, to toiletries, wines and beers.
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New World Wanaka
20 Dunmore StWanaka's central supermarket - you'll find everything you need here from food and beverages, to toiletries, wines and beers.
Wanaka Medical
23 Cardrona Valley RdLocal doctors surgery with an onsite pharmacy.
Very large, new supermarket in Wanaka. Has a great international food section and plenty of parking. Great cafe onsite too.
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New World Three Parks
83 Sir Tim Wallis DrVery large, new supermarket in Wanaka. Has a great international food section and plenty of parking. Great cafe onsite too.
Entertainment & Activities
Our favourite ski field, especially for kids. Cardrona really understand what makes a great skiing experience for families. They have family friendly parking at the top of the mountain, free WIFI, good Allpress coffee and great food options. There is also a daycare and ski school onsite, making it the perfect place to spend the whole day as a family.
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Cardrona Alpine Resort
Cardrona Valley RdOur favourite ski field, especially for kids. Cardrona really understand what makes a great skiing experience for families. They have family friendly parking at the top of the mountain, free WIFI, good Allpress coffee and great food options. There is also a daycare and ski school onsite, making it the perfect place to spend the whole day as a family.
Treble Cone is another great ski field in Wanaka. It's definitely set up for the more advanced skier, with steeper runs, but if you're a confident skier then this is the ski field for you.
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Treble Cone Ski Area
Mt Aspiring RoadTreble Cone is another great ski field in Wanaka. It's definitely set up for the more advanced skier, with steeper runs, but if you're a confident skier then this is the ski field for you.
A great place to visit and challenge your mind. There are puzzles, optical illusions and a great outdoor maze. A good indoor option if the weather is bad too.
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Puzzling World
188 Wanaka-Luggate HwyA great place to visit and challenge your mind. There are puzzles, optical illusions and a great outdoor maze. A good indoor option if the weather is bad too.
An intimate movie theatre where you can relax and watch the best of new movies.
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Rubys Cinema and Bar
50 Cardrona Valley RdAn intimate movie theatre where you can relax and watch the best of new movies.
Wanaka's unique movie theatre, where you can sit on couches (and in an old car!) to watch the best of new movies. There is a half time intermission, where you can order freshly baked cookies, pizzas, coffee and wine.
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Cinema Paradiso
72 Brownston StWanaka's unique movie theatre, where you can sit on couches (and in an old car!) to watch the best of new movies. There is a half time intermission, where you can order freshly baked cookies, pizzas, coffee and wine.
A great place to spend the day. Catch your own salmon in their lake and they'll prepare and cook it for you then and there! Great family or group activity.
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Hook Wanaka - Lake to Plate
49 Monteith RdA great place to spend the day. Catch your own salmon in their lake and they'll prepare and cook it for you then and there! Great family or group activity.
Food scene
Fudog is a relatively new restaurant in Wanaka, serving delicious Asian fusion food. We recommend their dumplings, sharing plates and cocktails.
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Fudog
47 Helwick StFudog is a relatively new restaurant in Wanaka, serving delicious Asian fusion food. We recommend their dumplings, sharing plates and cocktails.
Florences is a hidden foodies gem in Wanaka. Stop in for morning tea and browse their deli and gourmet foodstore, which has a great selection of local and imported jams, chocolates, crackers, spices, pastas and more.
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Florences Foodstore & Cafe
71 Cardrona Valley RdFlorences is a hidden foodies gem in Wanaka. Stop in for morning tea and browse their deli and gourmet foodstore, which has a great selection of local and imported jams, chocolates, crackers, spices, pastas and more.
Big Fig offer great coffee and slow cooked food. A popular lake front cafe.
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Big Fig Wanaka
105 Ardmore StBig Fig offer great coffee and slow cooked food. A popular lake front cafe.
Delicious bakery which serves freshly made pies, pastries, doughnuts and coffees. We highly recommend their salted caramel doughnuts!
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Pembroke Patisserie
20 Alison AveDelicious bakery which serves freshly made pies, pastries, doughnuts and coffees. We highly recommend their salted caramel doughnuts!
Very popular local eatery which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Well known for their delicious pizzas.
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Urban Grind
72 Ardmore StVery popular local eatery which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Well known for their delicious pizzas.
Our favourite Wanaka restaurant. Kika serve incredible food (lots of sharing plates). If you only have time for one dinner in Wanaka, we'd recommend making it at Kika.
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Kika
2 Dunmore StOur favourite Wanaka restaurant. Kika serve incredible food (lots of sharing plates). If you only have time for one dinner in Wanaka, we'd recommend making it at Kika.
The best ice creams and locally made chocolates in town.
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Patagonia Chocolates
155 Ardmore StThe best ice creams and locally made chocolates in town.
Local bar with a great selection of spirits, local beers and wines. You'll often find live music at Cork too.
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Cork Bar
14 Helwick StLocal bar with a great selection of spirits, local beers and wines. You'll often find live music at Cork too.
Another one of our favourite cafes with a great selection of cabinet food including salads, pastries, fresh juices and great coffee.
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Fedeli Cafe
47 Helwick StAnother one of our favourite cafes with a great selection of cabinet food including salads, pastries, fresh juices and great coffee.
Great cabinet food. A hidden gem in Albert Town, popular with locals as they do great coffee. A great place to go for lunch when town is too busy. Great outdoor area for kids to play in too.
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Double Black Cafe
Great cabinet food. A hidden gem in Albert Town, popular with locals as they do great coffee. A great place to go for lunch when town is too busy. Great outdoor area for kids to play in too.
Great new cafe / eatery in Wanaka. Perfect for coffee and a doughnut in the morning, or enjoy a beer and fries up on the rooftop deck as the sun goes down. Spacious, light and airy. Great coffee too!
Wee Tart
28 Helwick StGreat new cafe / eatery in Wanaka. Perfect for coffee and a doughnut in the morning, or enjoy a beer and fries up on the rooftop deck as the sun goes down. Spacious, light and airy. Great coffee too!
Incredible new cafe in Wanaka. Great food options and great coffee. Stop in for breakfast or lunch. Scandinavian-inspired interior. Very spacious.
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Scroggin Coffee and Eatery
71 Ardmore StreetIncredible new cafe in Wanaka. Great food options and great coffee. Stop in for breakfast or lunch. Scandinavian-inspired interior. Very spacious.
Great bistro style dining, just a 3 minute drive out of Wanaka. Definitely worth a visit.
Lipsky & Sons - Raw Bar and Restaurant
3 Mountain View DrGreat bistro style dining, just a 3 minute drive out of Wanaka. Definitely worth a visit.