Wanaka

A lakeside town in New Zealand's South Island, Wānaka is known for hikes with lake views, Roys Peak and nearby ski areas. It moves at a slower pace than Queenstown.

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Wānaka is a small town on the shore of Lake Wānaka, in the Otago region of New Zealand's South Island. It lies about 1 hour 10 minutes' drive from Queenstown, and the two are often compared. Wānaka is the quieter of the two, with a slower pace and more time outdoors. People come for the lake and the mountains around it. Mount Aspiring National Park is close by, and Roys Peak is one of the area's best-known day hikes, climbing above the lake to a wide view of the water and the ranges.

It suits hikers and lake swimmers who want a slower base. Several ski areas are within driving distance, so winter is an option too. Summer, from December to February, is the season for lake days and long walks. In winter, the ranges are snow-covered and the ski areas open. Spring and autumn are quieter months between those two seasons. Plan at least two nights to fit one long hike, a lake afternoon and the drive over the Crown Range road if you come from Queenstown.

Wanaka in five

Check the Roys Peak lambing closureRoys Peak Track is closed from 1 October to 10 November each year for lambing and reopens on 11 November. DOC suggests Isthmus Peak Track, similar in length and difficulty, as the alternative.DOC Roys Peak page
Start Roys Peak early and carry layersThe track is 16 km return, 5 to 6 hours, with over 1,200 m of climbing and no shade. The free car park, about 6 km from town, gets very busy and parking on the road edge is not allowed.
Match the ski area to your levelTreble Cone has the most terrain and the highest share of black runs, Cardrona suits learners with a chondola, Snow Farm is for cross-country and Soho Basin is a private snow-cat area.
Choose the road to Queenstown by seasonThe Crown Range road reaches about 1,121 m and is the highest main road in New Zealand. It is shorter but slower than the Cromwell route, and chains should be carried from May to September.Queenstown
Walk to That Wānaka TreeA few minutes along the waterfront from the town center toward Roys Bay, the willow is the most photographed tree in New Zealand. Go early or late for fewer people in the frame.

Things to do in Wanaka

See all attractions in Wanaka

Museum · WanakaNational Transport & Toy Museum

Sight · WanakaPuzzling World

A person sitting on a bench in front of a lake

Park · WanakaWanaka Station Park

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to WanakaPut the places you like in Wanaka on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Wānaka (WKA) has domestic flights; Queenstown (ZQN) is the main gateway
Getting there: About 1 hr 10 min by road from Queenstown
Getting around: Walk the lakefront; car or shuttle for trailheads and ski areas
Best base: Town center for restaurants; lakefront for views
Time needed: 2–3 days; 4 with Mount Aspiring walks

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Warm, dry
FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Warm, dry
MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Mild, settled
AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Autumn color
MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh11°Low5°Cool, quiet
JunePartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh7°Low2°Cold, frost
JulyPartly cloudy12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low1°Coldest, snow
AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh7°Low1°Ski season
SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low2°Spring snow
OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°Changeable
NovemberRain12 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Mild
DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Warm, busy

Average daily high and low in Wānaka, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Wanaka

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 11°
Humidity: 82%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 100%

Wanaka

11:46 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+13

Today15°11°100%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 15°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 100%.
Wed19°12°98%Wednesday: Rain. High 19°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 98%.
Thu19°13°66%Thursday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 66%.
Fri20°12°100%Friday: Rain. High 20°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 100%.
Sat21°13°33%Saturday: Drizzle. High 21°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 33%.
Sun20°10°71%Sunday: Drizzle. High 20°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 71%.
Mon18°13°63%Monday: Drizzle. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 63%.

Updated 10:18 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.778 NZD

Amount

Converted to

NZD · New Zealand Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Mount Aspiring National Parkby road from WānakaA World Heritage area known for the Blue Pools Track and Rob Roy Glacier Track.
Queenstownabout 1 hour 10 minutes by roadAdventure activities, restaurants and the base for Milford Sound.Read the guide
Cardronaon the Crown Range roadSki area in winter; the resort is open year round, with mountain biking in summer.

Before you go to Wanaka

Stays in WānakaLakefront or town centerCheck availability

Day tours and flightseeingMount Aspiring and lake cruisesCompare day trips

eSIM for the Southern LakesMaps for trailheads and the Crown RangeRead the guide

Insurance for ski and hikingCheck snow sport and alpine coverRead the guide

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Rules for Wanaka, checked

Roys Peak Track is closed for lambing from 1 October to 10 November and reopens on 11 November; it crosses private farmland, so stay on the marked track.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
Crown Range road: carry chains and know how to fit them if you drive between May and September; check road conditions before you leave.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source

Plan around Wanaka

Queenstown or Wānaka

Which town to sleep in, by season

Read the guide Where to stay in the Southern Lakes

Five bases from Glenorchy to Wānaka

Read the guide Queenstown and Wānaka

The two-town region guide

Read the guide Queenstown

Activities, ski fields and Glenorchy

Read the guide Milford Sound

Cruises and the Milford Road

Read the guide Westland Tai Poutini

Glaciers beyond the Haast Pass

Read the guide All of New Zealand

Both islands, entry rules and money

Read the guide

Wanaka FAQ

Is Wānaka worth visiting?

Yes if you want walks, lake views and a smaller town. Tourism New Zealand lists Mount Aspiring National Park, four ski areas and a lakefront café scene, all within a short drive of the center.

Queenstown or Wānaka: where should you stay?

Queenstown for the widest choice of activities, restaurants and nightlife; Wānaka for a quieter lake town closer to Roys Peak and Mount Aspiring. The towns are about 1 hour 10 minutes apart, so many trips use both.

Is Roys Peak open?

Not between 1 October and 10 November, when DOC closes it for lambing. It reopens on 11 November. Isthmus Peak Track is the suggested alternative, with similar length and difficulty and fewer people.

How far is Wānaka from Queenstown?

About 1 hour 10 minutes by road. The Crown Range road is shorter but slower and more demanding than the Cromwell route, and chains should be carried between May and September.

Which ski area is closest to Wānaka?

Treble Cone and Cardrona are the nearest of the four areas, Snow Farm covers cross-country skiing and Soho Basin is private. Tourism New Zealand lists the ski season as June to October.