Best Things to Do in Wanaka, New Zealand in 2023 - Trusted Traveler (2023)

FAQs

Best Things to Do in Wanaka, New Zealand in 2023 - Trusted Traveler? ›

2 days is a good amount of time to spend in Wanaka. Here is what your days will look like in Wanaka: Day 1: Spend the entire day hiking Roys Peak. Day 2: Spend the morning walking along Lake Wanaka, visit the lone tree, kayak to Ruby Island, visit Lavender Farm, Puzzling World, and hike Mt.

2 days is a good amount of time to spend in Wanaka. Here is what your days will look like in Wanaka: Day 1: Spend the entire day hiking Roys Peak. Day 2: Spend the morning walking along Lake Wanaka, visit the lone tree, kayak to Ruby Island, visit Lavender Farm, Puzzling World, and hike Mt.

Wanaka is one of the most visited and favoured towns in New Zealand for some good reasons. Every winter, ski lovers and tourist flock into this small lovely town to enjoy the nearby ski fields along with the amazing winter vibe going on throughout the town.

For some people this choice is very easy, the hustle and bustle of Queenstown may be your cup of tea or for some, a little overwhelming. Wanaka might be your perfect spot for chill out time and getting to know the locals, on the other hand some may find it a little bit too small.

Most travelers spend about 2 days in Wanaka, and if you plan carefully, you can easily hit most of the top activities and attractions in the area in this timeframe!

Wanaka is located in the southern region of New Zealand's South Island and is best accessed by flying into Queenstown Airport, just one hour away from Wanaka. To make your way to Wanaka we recommend hiring a car to give you the most flexibility, however you can also get there on a shuttle bus.

Driving yourself to Wanaka is the easiest way of getting there from Queenstown. There are a couple of possible routes, one via Arrowtown, and the other straight to Arrow Junction. The road to Wanaka converges after Arrow Junction. The route via Arrowtown is very slightly slower.

Wanaka is generally safe for solo female travellers. The town is small and friendly, and the locals are welcoming and helpful. The crime rate is low, and the police are always available to help if needed. There are plenty of activities to do during the day, and the nightlife is vibrant and safe.

Yes, you can swim at the Blue Pools, however, the water is very cold as it is glacier-fed. For your safety, only swim in the pools, not where there is a rushing river. Where are the Blue Pools in New Zealand? The Blue Pools are located 72.6 kilometers north of Wanaka on the west coast of New Zealand's South Island.

How is the road from Queenstown to Wanaka? ›

It is New Zealand's highest main road at 1121 meters above sea level and it is steep with hairpin turns – an exciting and scenic drive! What is the fastest way to get from Queenstown to Wanaka? Although longer in distance, taking State Highway 6 through Cromwell is the fastest way to get from Queenstown to Wanaka.

The scenic drive from Wanaka to Mount Cook Village is a 206-kilometer (128-mile) journey that without stopping takes 2.5 hours. With that said, there are so many amazing attractions along the way you should allow 5 to 8 hours to truly enjoy the drive.

Wānaka has the buzz of a genuine alpine town and is the ultimate hub for outdoor adventures, and with Mount Aspiring National Park located close by it's the perfect destination for exploring the Southern Alps.

Mount Gold Place in Wanaka in the Queenstown Lakes District is the country's third most expensive street with a median value of $6.22m across 15 properties.

Wānaka is the gateway to the Southern Alps and Mt. Aspiring National Park, where the mountains, lakes and terrain make for some of the most incredible adventures and activities. Eat and play like a local.

For the best views, select a seat on the left-hand side of the plane. On a clear day you'll be able to take in Mount Taranaki, the incredible views across the Southern Alps, the glaciers along the South Island's west coast, and the magic of Queenstown as you make the descent.

The average taxi ride from Queenstown Airport to Wanaka costs €95.30 (NZD 162.74) and takes 60 minutes.

Each year around 300,000 people visit Wanaka, which has a resident population of around 7000.

Cardrona Hotel

During your trip from Queenstown to Wanaka, we recommend stopping off at the Cardrona Hotel! This iconic building is one of the most historic hotels in New Zealand and is quite the famous stop-off point.

Existing taxi services were surprised by Uber's decision to come to the area as demand was already low. Wana Taxi owner Mahmoud Khalil Jodeh had noticed a shift in the past two years. "Before Covid we had four cars running.

How to get from Queenstown to Wanaka without a car? ›

InterCity operates a regular bus from Queenstown to Wanaka. The InterCity bus leaves Queenstown at Athol Street and arrives in Wanaka at the Log Cabin on the Lakefront, 100 Ardmore Street. Your journey will take approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Treble Cone has great learner facilities for children and adults designed to ensure progression to more challenging terrain. The Nice and Easy Platter is perfect for beginner skiers and snowboarders.

State Highway 6 - 113km (1 hour 30 minutes)

Taking SH6 through Cromwell is the most reliable and fastest way to reach Wanaka. This route still has plenty of sightseeing options available but it's not quite as scenic.

Getting around Queenstown is easy, whether you use the $2 public bus network, explore the region by foot or by bike on the Queenstown Trail, or hire your own car. For an extra scenic option, hop on the Queenstown ferry network which operates scheduled daily services from Frankton to Queenstown.

7 days in Queenstown is a good amount of time to explore and really get to know this vibrant town and surrounding area. However, planning your Queenstown itinerary can be a challenge (especially if it's your first time visiting!)

Perhaps the most obvious place to swim is the lakefront beach. Stretching for over a kilometre along Ardmore Street, it's simply a matter of picking a spot and wading in. Towards the centre of town, you can jump off the wharf and swim out to the pontoon.

We feel Lake Wanaka's greatest asset is its purity. The fact you can dip a glass and drink it straight is to many visitors unthinkable. On a worldscale it's unusual. We want to help keep the water of Lake Wanaka clean and pure.

Water is generally safe for recreational activities in Lake Wanaka. However, bacterial contamination can occur, commonly after rainfall, as stormwater and rural run-off may contain human or animal effluent.

Wanaka experiences a continental climate, meaning the summers are nice (without being too hot) and the winters are cool but not too cold. The temperature during the winter months of June, July, and August are unlikely to reach freezing levels during the day but can get down to as low as -2°C overnight.

When we got back to the parking lot, I noticed that I had been bitten on my legs and ankles by sandflies. After Blue Pools, we continued to Wanaka. The scenery along the road was beautiful. The highway followed the eastern shore of Lake Wanaka for a while, then cut to the left to follow the western shore of Lake Hawea.

How far is Wanaka from the Blue Pools? ›

The Blue Pools are located approximately 72 km from the township of Wanaka on the South Island of New Zealand.

Queenstown, New Zealand is perhaps most famous for its natural beauty – built on Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by stunning mountain ranges such as The Remarkables, Cecil Peak, and Walter Peak.

That said, you can certainly walk around downtown Queenstown and get a feel for the city. If you stay in central Queenstown, you can likely get around without a rental car. To get into town from Queenstown Airport (ZQN), a distance of less than 5 miles, you can take a taxi, the No. 11 bus or your rental car.

The Crown Range lies between Queenstown and Wanaka. The road over the range, known as the Crown Range Road, is the highest main road in New Zealand. It reaches an altitude of 1121 metres, which does bring challenges. In winter, the road is often covered in snow and ice, making for very difficult driving conditions.

Is it Mount Cook worth visiting? Absolutely! Mount Cook is the tallest mountain in New Zealand, and as such, is seriously impressive. There are tons of beautiful walks and hikes to do in Mount Cook National Park that lead to stunning viewpoints of Mount Cook and nearby glaciers.

The perfect amount of time to spend on a road trip completely depends on where it is you're travelling to, but anywhere from one week to ten days is usually ideal for most destinations. If you're still unsure how long you should go on your road trip for, read on.

The top stops along the way from Wanaka to Te Anau (with short detours) are Queenstown Gardens, Te Anau Glowworm Caves - RealNZ, and Lake Wānaka. Other popular stops include Glenorchy-Queenstown Road, Kiwi Park Queenstown, and Cardrona Alpine Resort.

That Wanaka Tree, also known as the Wanaka Willow, is a willow tree located at the southern end of Lake Wānaka in the Otago region of New Zealand. The tree sits alone in the water and is a popular destination for tourists to take Instagram photos.

Although there were no witnesses to the crime, 1964 mountain culture / aotearoa and other publications received a letter from an 'Ed Abbey' taking credit for the horrendous act. It appears 'Ed' killed the Wanaka Tree to protest over tourism, social media and greed in New Zealand.

New World Three Parks in Wanaka is one of the South Islands' largest, most sustainable, efficient and modern supermarkets.

What is the richest street in New Zealand? ›

Paritai Drive in Orakei was home to New Zealand's top sale ever when a cliff-top mansion, developed by former Hanover Finance director Mark Hotchin, sold to China-born businessman Deyi Shi for $39 million in 2013.

Travelers are voting Queen Street, Great North Road and Dominion Road as the best of 5 famous streets in New Zealand. Also popular are Grafton Gully and Karangahape Road in Auckland. Want more? Check out our map of famous streets in New Zealand.

Auckland. The biggest city in New Zealand is also its most expensive. Auckland has some of the highest prices for goods, services, food, entertainment, and rent. While the city boasts some of the highest job opportunities, it's not proportional to its size of almost 1,630,000 residents.

Wānaka is believed to be named from the word Wānaka which is a South Island form of wānanga, meaning sacred knowledge or a place of learning.

It has a number of Islands with the three largest being Stevenson's, Mou Tapu, and Mou Waho. Along with numerous streams, the lake has two major rivers flowing into it: Matukituki and Makarora. The outflow of the lake is the Clutha River, the second-longest river in New Zealand running 338 km into the Pacific ocean.

If you can snag a seat forward of the wing, do it, as it will be a little quieter and offer a better view. It's also worth keeping an eye out for bulkhead seats. Bulkhead seats, those next to one of the vertical bulkhead walls that separate sections in the aircraft, can sometimes be great.

Exit rows, aisle or window seats, and anywhere close to the front are typically considered the best seats on a plane. On a short business trip, you might want an aisle seat near the front of the plane so you can debark as quickly as possible on arrival.

Travellers choose to sit on the right hand side of an aeroplane rather than the left, a new study has found. Edinburgh researchers found people's preference over which side they sit on was dictated by the "mind's rightward bias in representing the real world".

7 days in Queenstown is a good amount of time to explore and really get to know this vibrant town and surrounding area. However, planning your Queenstown itinerary can be a challenge (especially if it's your first time visiting!)

How many days is good for Queenstown? ›

New Zealand's Queenstown is quite the place and deserves at least five days of your time when planning a South Island itinerary.

New Zealand is a relatively compact country, so you can see most of the country's highlights in two weeks. To explore more of the regions and get off the beaten track, you could easily spend three weeks or more exploring.

If time and funds allow then we recommend three weeks for a more in-depth experience, you may be coming a long way to New Zealand so it's worth a proper look around. Backpackers might spend 1-2 months in the country but anyone that wants the best of New Zealand in a shorter time frame should aim for 2-3 weeks.

The best time to visit Queenstown is the summer (December through February), when the long, sunny days make outdoor excursions enjoyable. Because of the sheer number of outdoorsy activities offered in the summertime, you can expect some moderate crowds and busy hotels.

With warmer weather, summer is the most popular time to visit, especially for crazy adventure sports and activities.

A good way to prepare for this is to wear two or three thin layers of clothing, rather than one heavy layer. Fabrics such as merino wool are good insulators and great for layering and it's important to pack wet weather gear if you are heading into the outdoors.

The best time to visit New Zealand is during the summer months of December to March, which bring long, bright and sunny days and temperatures of 16°C to 24°C. They're ideal for visiting the lovely beaches or enjoying the many outdoor activities available, such as hiking and mountain biking.

Queenstown, New Zealand is perhaps most famous for its natural beauty – built on Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by stunning mountain ranges such as The Remarkables, Cecil Peak, and Walter Peak.