Overview
The Wanaka area can offer a huge array of activities. Around the town and close by there are excellent wineries, fishing rivers and lakes, boating, excellent walking tracks, cafes and shopping, and a very picturesque golf course or two. For the adventurous there is rock climbing, kayaking, skiing and snowboarding, bungy jumping, mountain climbing, tramping, skydiving, white water rafting, jet boating, water skiing, windsurfing and mountain biking. For those with an interest in gold mining history, horses and landscapes there is horse trekking nearby, and for those with a love of movies there are "Lord of the Rings" tours.
Arts and Culture
Wanaka has long been known as, and host to, a very rich cultural background, and this is reflected in a very dynamic purchasing culture in the local library. Of special note is the long established annual Autumn Art School and the more recent bi-annual Autumn Festival of Colour
Skiing
- Snow Park [terrain park]
- Cardrona Ski Area [downhill]
- Treble Cone Ski Area [downhill]
- Snow Farm (cross-country)
- Heliskiing
Tramping and climbing
- Dept. of Conservation tracks and alpine areas
- Mt. Aspiring National Park
- Hospital Flat [natural routes] and the new Base Camp indoor rock climbing area.
Golf
- Wanaka Golf Club - 18 holes
- Hawea Golf Course - 9 holes
- Cromwell Golf Course - 18 holes
- Tarras - 9 holes
Rivers
- Eco rafting
- Kayaking
- Jet Boating
- Fishing
Lakes
- Lake cruises and fishing
- Water skiing
- Yachting
- Windsurfing
- Swimming
Biking
- Dept. of Conservation tracks and town walking tracks
- Sticky Forest [Wanaka]
- Dirt Park [summer only at Snow Park]
- Treble Cone [summer only]
- Rail Trail [east of Wanaka]
About town
- Superb cafes
- Art Galleries
- Puzzling World
- Wine Tours
- Swimming pool
- Base Camp
Local Activities...
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| Wanaka is an ideal base for the greater Central Otago and South Island area and there is a photo album ...more>> |
recommends...
Wanaka Helicopters [see images top left and center] is Lake Wanaka’s premier helicopter operator offering scenic flights, tours and charters in and around the Southern Lakes district inc. Milford Sound [ph 03 443 1085]... more >>
Aspiring Air specialise in providing a friendly and personalised scenic fixed wing experience to independent travelers and tour groups [ph 03 443 7943]....more>>
Wanaka River Journeys is a 3 hr. commercial jet boating operation with a focus on a deep sense of history, and with many opportunities for photography [ph 03 443 4416]... more>>
Lake Wanaka Cruises - Dual Image a 52ft. catamaran family based yacht charter is available with an experienced skipper for personalised luxury, stylish, yet affordable scenic cruising [ph 03 443 1230]...more>>
Drift Fishing - a unique fishing experience for all anglers is offered by Alpine Fishing Guides. The drift boats allow the angler to float fish where shore based fishermen can only dream of [ph 03 443 1023]...more>>
Funny French Cars - Vineyard Tours, Wine Tasting, Local Produce, Sightseeing, Off Roading and Garden Visits.
A Fun, Quirky, Personally Guided Tour in a Classic French Open Top Citroen 2CV Car [ph 027 386 6932]... more>>
Deep Canyon - Descend the spectacular canyons of the Matukituki valley. Explore your way through crystal pools and native forest. Plunge down water polished chutes, abseil down waterfalls. Climb, swim and float [ph 03 443 7922]... more>>
Siberia Experience - leaves from Makarora at the head of Lake Wanaka (just 1hrs drive from Wanaka) and allows you to enjoy some of New Zealand's untouched scenery from the air, on land and from the water. [ph 03 443 8666]... more>>
Alpine Kayak Guides - offer fun, scenic and safe kayaking trips on local Wanaka Rivers from October to April. Experience first hand the thrill of kayaking from a relaxed introduction to a
full-on day of paddling [ph 03 443 9023]... more>>
Alpinism & Ski - Alpinism and Ski Wanaka offer guided trekking, hiking and walks. This is an exclusive and customized guiding service visiting Mount Aspiring, Mount Cook and Westland National Parks and the stunning Wanaka area [ph 03 443 6593]... more>>
Puzzling World - Stuart Landsborough’s Puzzling World is a world unique attraction specialising in puzzling eccentricity. For over 30 years this remarkable business has entertained and amazed visitors of all ages [ph 03 443 7489]... more>>