February 28, 2020

New Zealand – Outdoorsy Things to do in Wanaka

With iconic Instagram sights like Roy’s Peak and #ThatWanakaTree, you might be surprised to find out that Wanaka is NOT an over-run tourist stop. Sure, there will be a line of photographers with tripods during each sunset to capture the #ThatWanaka tree, but the small town of Wanaka is a lovely base for outdoorsy activities like hiking, biking, swimming, and sailing. On the South Island of New Zealand, Wanaka has snow-capped peaks in the distance and a glacial-fed lake, so pretty much anything you do will be scenic. This post covers the outdoorsy and semi-outdoorsy activities we did with extra ideas from what I researched before the trip.

(Hanna Note: We visited Wanaka on February 26 – 29, 2020, but I wrote this post in May 2022. Due to the pandemic, I froze and didn’t think it was a good idea to share a destination that was closed off to most of the world for what ended up being years. Now that New Zealand has opened up again, I am excited to relive our trip. Information is updated with current information as of 2022.)

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view of the mountains and ocean from Roy’s Peak

Hiking near Wanaka – Roy’s Peak

Let’s start with a hike to kick off the outdoorsy things to do in Wanaka! Roy’s Peak features a lookout that is Instagram-famous, and for a good reason – it showcases Wanaka’s dramatic landscape in the best way possible. With little shade, it’s a tough four-mile climb to get to the lookout. However, as you climb, the views get better and better. There are also cute sheep, quail, and bunnies along the well-distinguished trail to distract you from the climb.

With such phenomenal views, don’t expect to be alone on the trail. We encountered a nearly-full parking area at 4 pm and a couple taking over the viewpoint with a tripod. Hike this famous track for sunrise or sunset for cooler temps and fewer people on the trail, and be sure to read the full details in my blog post.

With variable weather and a couple of road closures, we didn’t get to hike as much as I hoped (I’ll have to go back!!), but here are a few others that seem amazing. Let me know if you have done any of the following and if they are worthwhile:

Alternative Nearby: Isthmus Peak (16km – long!)
Alternative: Breast Hill (8km+)
Alternative Short: Sawyer Burn (5km return)

Visit the Famous #ThatWanakaTree

If you’re doing research for a trip; to New Zealand, you’ve definitely come across a picture of the famous Wanaka tree! It’s a curved tree that grows directly out of Wanaka Lake, with scenic snow-capped mountains in the distance. No other trees are growing out of Wanaka Lake nearby, so the solitary nature of the tree paired with the curved branches and background make it a well-known destination in its own right. And that means that there might be a bit of a small crowd of people grouped on the shore when you visit!

On Google Maps, it comes up as “#ThatWanakaTree,” and we stopped by a couple of different times, which was fun to see it under other circumstances. It is genuinely as scenic and inspiring as all the photos. There is a parking area on the southwest side of the lake where it is only a short unpaved walk down to the tree. Absolutely stop to get a photo of the tree, even if you’re just passing through Wanaka!

Mountain Bike Wanaka Lake

One of the times we saw the Famous Wanaka Tree was during a mountain bike ride around Wanaka Lake. The city of Wanaka maintains a ton of walking and biking paths, some of which follow the lakeshore and provide an incredibly scenic ride! Check out this website for a map of all the trails around Wanaka with difficulty ratings included (green is the easiest, blue is intermediate, and black is challenging).

We primarily did the Millennium Track (I also saw it listed as “Glendhu Bay Track” and “Waterfall Creek Track” on Google Maps). From the Edgewater Hotel, it started off relatively easy. We rented bikes from the Edgewater Hotel because it was near our rented apartment, but they were not particularly good bikes – I recommend finding a bike shop in town! But the further we went toward Glendhu Bay, we began hitting more hills. The views over Wanaka Lake are absolutely gorgeous, but there was a point when I decided to turn around while my experienced mountain biking partner continued on and had a blast.

We reconvened in a large open area and headed in the opposite direction toward That Wanaka Tree, and it was fun to stop by the tree at a random time of day! The trails in this direction and beyond the town are flatter and easier. I enjoy an easy, scenic, protected bike path, and this fits the bill! Be sure to explore the map on the Bike Wanaka website for more mountain biking routes. Or check out this article for some road riding ideas.

Wanaka Lavender Farm

For a more relaxed and adorable activity, meander over to the Wanaka Lavender Farm. The Lavender Farm is expansive with fields of lavender, alpacas and other farm animals, gorgeous gardens, and a gift shop where you can try lavender tea and ice cream. We visited on a day that started out sprinkling in Wanaka. By the time we got there, the rain had stopped and left raindrops on all of the roses. After wearing ourselves out on Roy’s Peak the day before, we were happy to simply walk around the property, smell the flowers, and watch the animals.

There are mountains surrounding the lavender farm, so each photo is even more picturesque. The famous purple door is in the middle of one field, which I recommend checking out and getting a picture. The lavender was trimmed and not at its full capacity in late February, and I think we just missed the blooming season from November to January. We found a few fields next to the highland cows and alpacas that were not trimmed.

The lavender farm was not a high priority for my travel partner, but we both genuinely enjoyed ourselves on a somewhat rainy day. I picked up some souvenirs in the gift shop and was very glad to stop by. For full details and prices for visiting the Lavender Farm, head to their website.

Swimming in Wanaka Lake

After doing a tough, dusty climb like Roy’s Peak, cool off by taking a dip in Wanaka Lake! That’s what we did, and it absolutely refreshed my tired limbs. It’s definitely chilly, and it’s not easy to ease into with a rocky bottom, but the view of the mountains in the background is lovely. Consider wearing water sandals to make it easier on your feet, and bring a towel to warm up after!

Other water activities:

Kayaking or paddle boarding on Lake Wanaka
Take the Lake Wanaka water taxi
Take an islands tour or scenic cruise
Take a sailing course or privately chart a sailboat

Scenic Drives

There is a gorgeous scenic drive to enjoy in almost every direction from Wanaka. To the south, there is Queenstown, and if you take the scenic route through Cardrona, you can see idyllic farms and rolling hills. You can take a short scenic drive toward Mount Aspiring to the west. First, stop at Glendhu Bay and try to spot Roy’s Peak from below before heading onward. Unfortunately, the road to Mount Aspiring was closed, and it was a ridiculously windy day, but some of the sights we saw until the turn-around were gorgeous. And finally, to the northeast, you can visit Mt. Cook, which I cover in the next section (and in this blog post).

While in town, I recommend heading north on Highway 6 to see Lake Hawea and to “the Neck,” a thin strip of land that separates Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka. Lake Hawea is a vibrant turquoise color from the glacial melt. Because it was so incredibly windy on the day we were driving around, we actually saw someone surf the wind swell on the far side of Lake Hawea – how crazy is that??

Day Trip to Mt. Cook

And for places you simply cannot miss on the South Island of New Zealand, Mount Cook is definitely one of them! It’s only about 2.5 hours away from Wanaka, and I absolutely recommend going early. Although not the most convenient route, we went out of our way to visit on our drive from Wanaka to our next destination. We left our apartment rental while it was still pitch black out (I think it was at 4 in the morning) and watched the sunrise on the road. We hiked the Hooker Valley Track to the lake at the base of Mount Cook and the entire track has jaw-dropping views. Such a good hike!!

As we walked back, we noticed the crowds growing and growing. By the time we got back to our car, it was insanely busy. We could have sold our parking space! It’s so busy because it’s so gorgeous, so plan accordingly by reading my full blog post about the experience.

Vegan Delights

We did a fair amount of cooking at our accommodations, but were able to find a couple of great vegan food options in Wanaka. A lot has changed since I was in Wanaka in 2020, but I double-checked that these restaurants are still up and operating:

Kai Whakapai Cafe and Bar: The vegan pizza was so delicious, we had it twice!! From the outside, it seems like an established bar that wouldn’t know what “vegan” meant, but to our wonderful surprise they could make any pizza vegan and had a specialty vegan pizza.
Soul Food: Looks like it moved to Queenstown area! This little grocery store had delicious items to eat immediately in their bakery case or to make, like fresh salads, sandwiches, and cheesecake!
We ended up grocery shopping at two different New World grocery stores. One was right downtown and had an okay selection of items. However, there is a larger location that was new construction outside town and it had a much larger selection with more vegan options. It also looks like there is a little bulk store called Organic Wholefoods Wanaka, which seems like a great way to get 1 or 2 cups of rice instead of having to buy an entire bag.

I found both Kai Whakapai and Soul Food on Happy Cow, which allows you to search for vegan and vegetarian restaurants. During the pre-research phase I use the regular website, but then switch to the handy dandy app when traveling.

Other things to do on the South Island of New Zealand

There was so much to explore on this first trip to the South Island! I cannot wait to go back to explore more, but in the meantime, here’s what I got up to on this trip:

Overall Thoughts: Outdoorsy Things to do in Wanaka, New Zealand

Wanaka was such a pleasant surprise when I visited the South Island. The town was small enough to feel slow-paced and relaxed while still large enough to have some great vegan treats and many activities available. We had some variable weather and road closures in late February, so we didn’t get to do everything I had hoped. But when I think back to this part of our trip, I remember feeling very relaxed with time to settle into the South Island. Roy’s Peak, the Lavender Farm, and finally seeing #ThatWanakaTree with my own eyes were highlights for me. Whereas my travel partner might say that swimming in the lake and mountain-biking the path were his favorites. Either way, I hope you get to experience the magic of Wanaka.

Other things I did on the South Island of New Zealand:

Roy’s Peak In-depth Hike Description
Mount Cook Day Trip with Hooker Valley Track
Milford Sound Day Cruise
Te Anu Helicopter Ride
Bungee Jumping in Queenstown
Outdoorsy Things to do in Queenstown

Being such a small town, Wanaka has quite a variety of outdoor activities. If you’ve been there before (or when you come back), please tell me – what was your favorite outdoorsy activity? Let me and other travelers know in the comments what I should look forward to in the future!

Happy Travels,

Hanna