Things to do in Wanaka
The unmissables
Most booked
Wanaka: Highest Waterfall Cable Climb Level 2 (4 Hours)★ 4.99 (492) · 4h
Top rated
Jet Boat Adventure on Clutha River from Wanaka★ 4.99 (331) · 1h 15m
Best value
Wanaka & Hawea: E-Bike Trail Ride with Shuttle & Bakery Stop★ 4.92 (396) · 4h
Recommended (7)
Mt Aspiring Jet Boat & Wilderness Walk, Wanaka★ 4.89 (276) · 4hNZ$ 359View ›
Cardrona Valley: High Country Pub Horse Trek & Mountain Ride★ 4.98 (273) · 3h 30mNZ$ 699View ›
Lake Wanaka: Mou Waho Island Water Taxi & Freedom Walk★ 4.91 (270) · 3h 15mNZ$ 139View ›
Wanaka & Clutha River: Jet Boat Ride with Local Guide★ 4.94 (235) · 1h 30mNZ$ 135View ›
Lake Cruise & Mou Waho Island Nature Walk, Wanaka★ 4.96 (185) · 3h 30mNZ$ 285View ›
Wanaka: Highest Waterfall Cable Climb & Via Ferrata Level 1★ 5.00 (124) · 2hNZ$ 205View ›
Wanaka: Lake & mountain 4x4 tour with picnic★ 4.97 (103) · 4hNZ$ 329View ›Lowest price (10)
Wanaka & Queenstown: Māori Whakatau Welcome CeremonyYou’ll stand on the shores of Lake Wanaka or in Queenstown as Māori hosts greet you with ancient ritual—a challenge, stories about manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga, then sharing hongi together. With private transport included and time to ask questions after, you’ll leave feeling less like an outsider and more like family.
Lake Wanaka: Mou Waho Island Cruise & Nature Walk TourYou’ll board a small cruiser on Lake Wanaka, guided by locals who know every mountain and bird call along the way. Hike Mou Waho Island’s trails to reach a hidden glacial lake at its summit—watch for rare Buff Weka birds—and pause for some real silence above it all. It’s a day that lingers long after you’re back on shore.
Wine Tasting & Māori Culture in Wānaka: 2 WineriesA three-hour wine tasting in Wānaka that pairs sampling at two local wineries with Māori cultural perspectives on the region. A live guide leads the experience in an air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup included. Minimum age is 18.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a guided wine tasting that combines two wineries with Māori cultural history, and you prefer a shared vehicle experience over driving yourself.
E-bike wine tasting tour Wanaka: Lake Dunstan to BannockburnThis small-group e-bike tour departs Wanaka on the flat Lake Dunstan cycleway, riding 16 kilometers to Cromwell's heritage precinct, then seven kilometers to Bannockburn's vineyards and dining spots. You get a 20-minute orientation, private transport to and from the trailhead, use of an e-bike with a spare available, and the freedom to choose which of six wineries or food venues to visit at your own pace. The tour runs six hours total, with roughly two hours of actual riding on a beginner-friendly trail; a driver collects you when you're ready to return to town.Is it for me?The ride is easy—flat trail, e-bike motor, about two hours of actual pedaling—so it suits anyone who wants to taste wine without the drive or the fitness demand. If you're arriving in Wanaka with a free afternoon and no rental car, this removes the transport problem and lets you reach Bannockburn's wineries on your own terms.
Wanaka & Central Otago: Boutique Wine Tour with LunchYou’ll meet local winemakers in Wanaka & Central Otago, sample award-winning wines at four boutique vineyards, and enjoy a late gourmet lunch cooked right inside a wine barrel. Expect relaxed conversation, new friends, hotel pickup and drop-off — plus those little moments you can’t plan for but always remember.
Wanaka & Cromwell: Wine Tour with Māori Culture, Tastings & PickupYou’ll taste Central Otago wines in boutique vineyards around Wanaka and Cromwell while hearing Māori stories from your local guide. Expect laughter over cheese platters, hands-on moments with haka moves, and quiet time by Lake Wanaka. This isn’t just wine tasting — it’s sharing food, culture, and scenery you’ll remember long after you leave.
Wanaka: Skydive Over Southern Alps with Scenic FlightYou’ll ride out from Wanaka for your skydive adventure over the Southern Alps — gearing up with your tandem instructor before taking off on a scenic flight past lakes and glaciers. Feel your heart race as you freefall above Wanaka, then float gently down with views you won’t forget soon.
Wanaka: Off Road 4WD Farm Safari & Alpine Cafe ViewsYou’ll ride deep into West Wanaka’s wild hills by 4WD, spot red deer and cattle roaming private farmland, hear real local stories from your guide, and pause for coffee with sweeping lake views at an alpine hut. Expect fresh air, laughter, and an authentic slice of New Zealand mountain life.
Wine Tasting Wanaka & Central Otago: Meet the WinemakersA wine tasting and sightseeing tour of Central Otago's five key regions—Wanaka, Pisa, Cromwell, Bannockburn and Bendigo—with tastings at local wineries, a shared gourmet lunch platter, and a guide who drives. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included; minimum age is 18.Is it for me?Hotel pickup means you don't need a rental car or navigate the five wine regions yourself—the day unfolds from your accommodation, and the guide handles the route while you focus on the tastings and the winemakers.
Wanaka wine tour: 6 vineyards, 30 wines, lunch includedA full-day small-group wine tour in Wanaka and Central Otago takes you to 6 boutique vineyards where you taste approximately 30 hand-crafted wines, meet the owners and winemakers, and sit down to a five-course barrel-cooked banquet matched with five award-winning wines. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with a guide who explains the region's geography, soils and winemaking characters. The tour runs 6.5 hours and suits everyone from complete novices to dedicated enthusiasts.Is it for me?Small groups mean you're tasting alongside other wine lovers rather than on a crowded coach, and the pace—6.5 hours with time at each vineyard and a proper sit-down lunch—lets you absorb what you're learning instead of moving fast to hit a checklist. Book this if you want to taste serious Central Otago wines and meet the people making them, without the logistics of driving between vineyards yourself.
