Wanaka is located a good hour from Queenstown with a population of under 10,000, swelled dramatically by tourists, both during the Summer and winter months. There’s plenty to enjoy in the way of food and wine and scenery, or alpine activities (if you’re that way inclined). We’ve just spent a couple of nights in Wanaka for a friends wedding and loved every second of our short stay. Even if you don’t have an excuse to visit yet, you soon will.
Stunning Scenery
Most people visiting Wanaka, approach through the Crown Ranges from Queenstown (the nearest Domestic and International Airport). The Crown Range is one of the more dramatic alpine scenes that I’ve been privy too, with an epic vantage point at the highest point on the highway, before the road winds down through the Cardrona Valley towards Wanaka. Just a note, if you’re into being instafamous, that viewpoint at the top of the hill is one for you. We saw all sorts of poses while we stopped and I thought I’d give one a try (unsuccessfully of course).
Wanaka itself is a beautiful town, situated right on the shores of Lake Wanaka, one of the glorious lakes in the region. It’s the dramatic snow-capped mountains at the far end of the lake that makes for the beautiful postcard scenery. Take a walk around the lake if you have the time and breathe in that fresh alpine air. We were lucky enough to get accommodation right on the lake front and I tell you what, I’ve woken up to worse views.
Food and Wine
Regional New Zealand cuisine isn’t what it once might have been (such an Auckland thing to say), and you can easily find yourself a tasty morsel in Wanaka. Some highlights for us were:
Cocktails at Gin and Raspberry, a boutique cocktail bar located upstairs right across from the lake. While they offer a decent array of gins to choose from, their Espresso Martinis are pretty good too. Wind down with a drink on their deck at sunset, just don’t forget some sunblock as it can get pretty warm in Summer.
Dinner at Francesca’s Italian Kitchen, a serious Italian establishment just behind Speight’s Ale House. While they have a wood fired pizza and produce delish garlic bread, I was a big fan of the Ragu Bolognese with Parpadelle, and the not-so-Italian potato skins were spot on.
Breakfast at Ritual Espressowas a good way to start the day. The coffee was strong, the cinnamon and Raisin bagel just what I needed and the plum tart was to die for. Yep, breakfast cake.
Visiting the beauties nearby
Unless it’s winter and you’re into skiing, or it’s Summer and you’re there for an event, Wanaka might be a bit too relaxing (if you’re someone that can’t sit still). So don’t be scared to just use it as a base to visit other towns, or just stay for a night before heading either north up the wild West Coast or back towards Queenstown.
Some other spots you should check out are Cromwell, Arrowtown, Tekapo or just any of the gorgeous wineries in the Central Otago Region, there’s so many to choose from. If you’re into hiking (which I’m very much not), I think you’ll be able to find an epic walk or two to do too in the Mt Aspiring National Park.
Hopefully that’s enough to get you interested in visiting Wanaka, here’s a list of those wineries I said you might need to give a whirl.