NEW ZEALAND · REGION
New Zealand's best.
New Zealand's 15 most popular wanaka tours, in one place. What each one is actually like, who runs it, and what you will pay.
Wildwire Wānaka Level 2 via ferrata: cable waterfall climb with ladders and bridges, plus lunch. Small group, ~4 hours.
“The climb is amazing! Mark and the team are great too. Our guide was patient and calm, but fun at the same time. We are very grateful we were able to do this!”
Wanaka bike and e-bike hire with return shuttle. Ride Wanaka–Hawea trails on grade 1–2 paths with helmet, lock, trunk bag.
“Scenic ride along gravel trail. Great, thoughtful host. Some mountain-biking experience helpful but trail is basically just rolling hills along crystal blue river and lake”
1-hour Lake Wanaka happy hour cruise on a 17m catamaran with included wine/beer, cheese & crackers, and mountain views from the water.
“Loved this afternoon cruise. The crew were so friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable.”
Jet boat thrills on the Clutha River from Wanaka with small-group service, live commentary, 360 spins, and camera stops.
“Patrick and his crew were very experienced and made us feel comfortable and safe, while having fun. The boat was clean and well-maintained. Patrick was knowledgeable about the area and shared lots of good information. The scenery Read more”
Water taxi to Mou Waho Island for a short, steep climb to a hidden lake-in-lake view, weka bird encounters, and a swim.
“Our journey started in Wanaka full of birds and green spaces and our skipper Hannah. She gently guided our craft out and filled our imaginations with tales of Ruby Island and the history of wonderful Wanaka 😀. Mau Waho was a beautiful island and the lake at the top was amazing! A gorgeous day on…”
Intermediate small-group horseback trek near Wanaka in Central Otago, with gold-rush stories, river crossings, and a Cardrona Hotel drink.
“Superb ride through the high country around Cardrona. Horses were well-behaved but lively, easy to ride. Great fun to canter through the fields, great views, past cattle and deer. Fun stop at the historic Cardrona Hotel for a beer or beverage.”
Jet boat thrills on the Matukituki River plus a guided 50-minute walk in Mount Aspiring National Park from Wanaka, small group tour.
“Ben is a very knowledgable and gifted skipper. You are in for a real treat on this trip!!!! We had a blast with beautiful scenery, great jet boat ride and walk in a serene beech forest. Would definitely do this again when in Wanaka!”
Tandem skydive in Wanaka from 9,000–15,000 ft with freefall up to 200 kph, Southern Alps views, and optional photo-video.
“excellent jump master, safety at all times, great gear, thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it”
Ride a Wanaka Water Taxi to Mou Waho Island for birdlife, steep panoramic views at Arethusa Pool, and guided Lake Wānaka commentary.
“Awesome guided tour of the lake. Guide was super knowledgeable. Island hike beautiful and well worth our.”
Jet boat thrills on the Clutha River from Wanaka. Small-group Hamilton spin, tunnels, 80 kph speed, and local stories. 1.5 hours.
“Best experience to have for our first time especially in the South Island. Wicked laughs along the way, so ecstatic to experience seeing the mountains from the Lake point of view. Almost did not purchase it but lucky I did.”
Ride the Hawea–Clutha river trails from Lake Hawea to Wanaka with e-bike or bike options, shuttle support, and easy views.
“We really loved the ride. We are in our 60s and took the e-bike option and were grateful we did. There were some challenging parts of the track I.e hills, steep descents, tree roots, and narrow paths. Great for younger or more experienced seniors. James was really nice, informative, James was really nice and caring.…”
2-hour Lake Wanaka catamaran cruise to Stevensons Island with a guided nature walk, tea and cookies, plus big photo views.
“the boat trip was good & scenery beautiful. think your guide could do with some lessons.... strode off up bthe hill 5 metres ahead of everyone, never looked back to check people were ok very casual in his chat at the top & finally he needs to use deodorant”
Wanaka’s Puzzling World combo ticket: 3-D Great Maze, 6 Illusion Rooms, Think Tank Cafe and photo towers for $19.
“Puzzling World had some cool things, but overall it wasn’t as enjoyable as we had hoped. Unfortunately due to the rain (we were passing through), the outside maze was just frustrating. We found one corner tower out of the four. The illusion room was something I couldn’t do (not for people with vertigo etc). When…”
Cruise Lake Wanaka to predator-free Mou Waho, plant a native tree, hike to a summit lake, and enjoy tea in alpine scenery.
“We had the best time seeing Wanaka from the lake and doing a perfect length hike to the top of the island. We learned so much about the plants and animals in the area too! Boat ride might be a little chilly/splashy in the winter :)”
Wanaka jet boat ride on the Clutha River: 1 hour of spins, 80+ km/h thrills, and snow-capped mountain views from a small group.
“The guide was brilliant. So informative & made sure we were all having a great time, even though the weather was miserable!! Highly recommend!”
