Guidebook for Wanaka
Food Scene
Excellent woodfired pizza and relaxed but refined italian dining
81 locals recommend
Francesca's Italian Kitchen
93 Ardmore StExcellent woodfired pizza and relaxed but refined italian dining
Bistro Gentil
76A Golf Course RdFine French dining with a modern Wanaka twist. Superb wines!
Our favourite place for breakfast/lunch. Excellent organic eggs. Great coffee.
80 locals recommend
Federal Diner
47 Helwick StOur favourite place for breakfast/lunch. Excellent organic eggs. Great coffee.
Best coffee in town - they roast their own beans on site. Sublime hot chocolate. Very, very nice ice cream.
15 locals recommend
Patagonia Chocolates
155 Ardmore StBest coffee in town - they roast their own beans on site. Sublime hot chocolate. Very, very nice ice cream.
arc
74 Ardmore StreetDelicious breakfasts (with cocktails) and evening tapas.
A petite taste of France in Wanaka. If you don't fancy sweet, try the savoury crepe with goats cheese - delicious!
Charlie Brown Crêpes
79 Brownston StA petite taste of France in Wanaka. If you don't fancy sweet, try the savoury crepe with goats cheese - delicious!
Historic gold mining pub/hotel, rustic, family friendly and good food plus toasted marshmallows in winter on an open fire!
91 locals recommend
Cardrona Hotel
Cardrona Valley RoadHistoric gold mining pub/hotel, rustic, family friendly and good food plus toasted marshmallows in winter on an open fire!
Best spot for grabbing picnic food on the way to the lake - and they go great coffee.
17 locals recommend
Fedeli Cafe
47 Helwick StBest spot for grabbing picnic food on the way to the lake - and they go great coffee.
You won't find a better patiserrie in New Zealand. Fresh and decadent and always a long queue snaking out the door, once you try their lemon meringue tart you will understand why.
53 locals recommend
Pembroke Patisserie
20 Alison AveYou won't find a better patiserrie in New Zealand. Fresh and decadent and always a long queue snaking out the door, once you try their lemon meringue tart you will understand why.
Hearty sharing plates. Outstanding quality. Don't miss the slow roasted lamb shoulder.
116 locals recommend
Kika
2 Dunmore StHearty sharing plates. Outstanding quality. Don't miss the slow roasted lamb shoulder.
Muttonbird
New on the scene, rave reviews for the seasonal, local menu.
Essentials
A compact supermarket with everything you need in the centre of town.
119 locals recommend
New World Wanaka
20 Dunmore StA compact supermarket with everything you need in the centre of town.
New World Three Parks
83 Sir Tim Wallis DrMuch larger supermarket on the edge of town.
Shopping
Best milkshakes in town. Oh and very, very nice icecream too. Just across the road from the lake front.
17 locals recommend
Black Peak Gelato
123 Ardmore StBest milkshakes in town. Oh and very, very nice icecream too. Just across the road from the lake front.
Sightseeing
This is the iconic peak that our farm is named after. You are looking at it when you sit in the spa and look back at the house. It is a steep, hard 1000 metre climb to the top. Honestly there are better walks around the place, but when you get the top the views make it all worthwhile. Stunning views of the entire Wanaka basin and Tititea/Mt Aspiring.
64 locals recommend
Roys Peak
This is the iconic peak that our farm is named after. You are looking at it when you sit in the spa and look back at the house. It is a steep, hard 1000 metre climb to the top. Honestly there are better walks around the place, but when you get the top the views make it all worthwhile. Stunning views of the entire Wanaka basin and Tititea/Mt Aspiring.
Lovely view from the top of this iconic Wanaka mountain. Fairly steep climb, but it is also pretty short. Takes about 20 minutes up and the views of Lake Wanaka the upper Clutha and Hawea are magic.
53 locals recommend
Mount Iron
52 Riverbank RdLovely view from the top of this iconic Wanaka mountain. Fairly steep climb, but it is also pretty short. Takes about 20 minutes up and the views of Lake Wanaka the upper Clutha and Hawea are magic.
Rippon
246 Wanaka Mount Aspiring RdBiodynamic vineyard with cellar door tastings.
My favourite half day walk in the region. Steep in parts, but absolutely stunning scenery, and so worth it! It is ocassionally closed due to slips, so check Doc website to make sure it is open.
6 locals recommend
Rob Roy Glacier Track
My favourite half day walk in the region. Steep in parts, but absolutely stunning scenery, and so worth it! It is ocassionally closed due to slips, so check Doc website to make sure it is open.
Big one day walk (uphill) for the fit and adventurous. Jaw dropping views, easily eclipses Roys Peak walk in my opinion.
Isthmus Peak, The Neck 9382, New Zealand
Big one day walk (uphill) for the fit and adventurous. Jaw dropping views, easily eclipses Roys Peak walk in my opinion.
An hour drive in the direction of the Makarora, will bring you to these glacial fed pools. Easy walk through the west coast rainforest for a real gem.
Blue Pools
An hour drive in the direction of the Makarora, will bring you to these glacial fed pools. Easy walk through the west coast rainforest for a real gem.
Visit the island in a lake, in an island in a lake, on an island in the South Pacific. You will need a boat, check out Wanaka Cruises or Adventure Wanaka for a price and a tour.
Mou Waho, Otago 9382, New Zealand
Visit the island in a lake, in an island in a lake, on an island in the South Pacific. You will need a boat, check out Wanaka Cruises or Adventure Wanaka for a price and a tour.
Dual Image Charters Wanaka
100 Ardmore StRegular tours around the lake.
Inland water Lake Hawea
Only 15 mins from Wanaka, another stunning alpine lake worth a visit.
Historic Arrowtown, less than an hour from Wanaka. Beautiful old gold mining town.
Arrowtown Information Center
49 Buckingham StHistoric Arrowtown, less than an hour from Wanaka. Beautiful old gold mining town.
Entertainment & Activities
Totally bizarre, yet compelling and fun way to spend a couple of hours with the family.
128 locals recommend
Puzzling World
188 Wanaka-Luggate HwyTotally bizarre, yet compelling and fun way to spend a couple of hours with the family.
Amazing mountain biking on dedicate single track - hire an e-bike and have the best day ever.
17 locals recommend
Bike Glendhu
42 Motatapu RdAmazing mountain biking on dedicate single track - hire an e-bike and have the best day ever.
Fun skiing for the whole family. Also superb park facilities for the tricksters in the family.
71 locals recommend
Cardrona Alpine Resort
Cardrona Valley RdFun skiing for the whole family. Also superb park facilities for the tricksters in the family.
Best skiing in New Zealand. No other skiing comes close actually. Biggest verticals. Most fun. Don't bother with anything else.
57 locals recommend
Treble Cone Ski Area
Mt Aspiring RoadBest skiing in New Zealand. No other skiing comes close actually. Biggest verticals. Most fun. Don't bother with anything else.
Awesome adventurous family fun on the only via ferratta in the area.
7 locals recommend
Wildwire Wanaka
Wanaka Mount Aspiring RoadAwesome adventurous family fun on the only via ferratta in the area.
The best day trip I've ever had with my teenagers. Leaping off waterfalls, sliding down rock chutes, all through glacial fed water. It doesn't get more adventurous than this!
9 locals recommend
Deep Canyon
99 Ardmore StThe best day trip I've ever had with my teenagers. Leaping off waterfalls, sliding down rock chutes, all through glacial fed water. It doesn't get more adventurous than this!
Hook Wanaka - Lake to Plate
49 Monteith RdGuaranteed to catch a salmon here!
Cinema Paradiso
72 Brownston StOrder your warm choc chip cookie for intermission.
Southern Rivers Fly Fishing
Guided fly fishing in our pristine mountain rivers and lakes
Racers Edge Bike
Hire bikes from here for tours around the lake
Looking for bike tours further afield, check out the options with Wanaka Bike.
7 locals recommend
Wanaka Bike Guides
2 Ardmore StLooking for bike tours further afield, check out the options with Wanaka Bike.
Paddle Wanaka
151-153 Ardmore StPaddle or Sup around the lake front
Surfing in the mountains? Why not? Depending on the flow you can surf, paddle or body board in the Hawea wave. Wetsuit essential :)
Hawea Flat Whitewater Park ( The Wave)
Camp Hill RoadSurfing in the mountains? Why not? Depending on the flow you can surf, paddle or body board in the Hawea wave. Wetsuit essential :)
Farm animals, beautiful gardens and honey - what more could you want. Relaxing time for the whole family just outside of Wanaka town.
44 locals recommend
Wanaka Lavender Farm
36 Morris RdFarm animals, beautiful gardens and honey - what more could you want. Relaxing time for the whole family just outside of Wanaka town.