Wanaka Lake Hawea Cardrona

Wanaka & Lake Hawea New Zealand

Get a quote for Wanaka & Lake Hawea Accommodation
Get a quote for Wanaka & Lake Hawea Activities
Click here to create a NZ itinerary

Wanaka is a year round tourist destination and is the gateway to the Mt Aspiring National Park, one of New Zealand's largest national parks.

Wanaka Ski Areas

Wanaka is the perfect base for your New Zealand ski holiday, with four very unique ski areas Cardrona, Treble Cone, Snow Farm and Soho Basin all located within a 40-minute drive from the town centre. Giving you access to world-class facilities, terrain parks, wide open trails, spectacular views, plus the South Island’s largest ski area and the longest vertical runs. If that’s not enough - located just over an hour's drive away, are the Queenstown ski fields of Coronet Peak and The Remarkables.

The ski season runs from mid June to mid October in Wanaka each year (depending on snowfall)

Follow the links below for NZ Ski Itineraries which include Wanaka

Wanaka has the widest range of snow activity choices of any town in New Zealand. These include Treble Cone and Cardrona Valley Resort. Wanaka is the main accommodation provider for these resorts and is very busy in high season (June-October). The biennial Warbirds Over Wanaka, has become a major attraction for both national and international guests.

Wanaka boasts a growing number of excellent restaurants, cafes and a diverse nightlife. Other attractions in the town include Puzzling World and the Paradiso Cinema. Puzzling World contains a 3D maze, optical illusions and a leaning tower. The Paradiso is a classic old cinema, with seating consisting of old couches and a car.

Wanaka is host to some of New Zealand's best outdoor recreation and tourism activities with world-class hiking, mountain biking, mountaineering, fishing, paragliding, kayaking, rafting and jetboating. Activities of all kinds are available in Wanaka suitable for adventure seeking people and families. With one of New Zealand's sunniest climates, Wanaka is truly an adventure paradise.

Mt Aspiring National Park is very popular for mountaineering and hiking. Tourists enjoy day trips into the park and many tourists go hiking in the park for up to a week at a time. Parts of the Matukituki Valley on the road to the park are also very popular for rock climbing, and for day walks.

Lake Hawea is a popular resort, and is well used in the summer for fishing, boating and swimming. The nearby mountains and fast-flowing rivers allow for adventure tourism year round, with jetboating and skiing facilities located nearby.

Accommodation in this region includes luxury lakeside lodges, self contained motel units, holiday apartments, backpacker hostels, holiday parks and bed & breakfasts.