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There is so much more to Wānaka than its world-famous tree. Here are ten fun things to do in Wānaka that don’t include taking a photo that every man and his dog already has. Let’s leave the crowds behind as much as we can and see more of this cute little town. The vibes here are really chill, it sort of reminds us of beachside towns back home in Australia. But here the beach is really a lake!
We’ve compiled a list of our top 10 free & cheap things to do in Wānaka. Most of these are free, with the odd paid activity we think is value for money included. They centre around the lake and the cool hikes that offer great views of the lake. So bring your adventurous spirit and chill vibes for a wonderful time in this little town.
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Swim In The Lake
There are numerous bays you can go to for a dip in lake Wānaka. Roy’s Bay is right at the town front and easy to get to, however it’s often crowded. Dublin Bay is a wonderful option that leaves the crowds of the town front behind. This gorgeous bay has wonderful mountain views and is especially good if you are in a van. There is plenty of parking on the beach to set up your awning for the day and just relax.
Another less crowded option is Brenner bay, closer to town but without the beachfront parking. The water is cold but refreshing in summer, in winter it’s icy but still worth a quick dip on a nice day!
Kayak To Ruby Island
A great half day spent on the water in Wānaka. There are kayak hire or tour options from the town foreshore. We hired a kayak and took a little picnic lunch with us out to Ruby Island. There is a short track on the island you can wander around to get different views of the lake.
Whilst you are paddling out to the island, you’ll pass the famous Wānaka tree. Try not to linger too long behind it, as people start to get grumpy, you are ruining their photos of the tree. We don’t really understand the obsession with this tree, but we were shocked to find out people have hurled abuse at kayakers who took too long to get out of the photo.
Diamond Lake & Rocky Mountain Track
A less Instagram famous hike and thus a less crowded hike, we’d recommend this over Roy’s Peak any day. The views are just as beautiful, and the hike to get them is much more interesting than walking through farm land.
Rocky Mountain track is more of a loop track than just a straight up and down, so when you emerge from the bush, your view changes as you go. The views once you get to the top are just as incredible as Roy’s Peak, and you can take a photo of them without waiting your turn or getting lots of people in the pic! The lake at the start of the hike is also great for some duck spotting.
Wānaka Food trucks
The Wānaka food trucks are definitely a highlight for us. We treat ourselves at least once whenever we are in town. Our favourite trucks are the Coco Hut and Burrito Craft. We love to grab some food and take it down to the foreshore for a little picnic dinner.
However, the seating at the food trucks are just as good. It’s a great way to treat yourself and support local business. The food trucks are a little hidden at the back of town, we actually didn’t know they were there until a local told us about them!
Climb Roy’s Peak For Sunrise
We debated whether we should include Roy’s Peak in our list of things to do in Wānaka. We don’t usually like to include the super Instagrammy things that are over touristed, and Roy’s Peak has sadly become one of those places. However, we do think that doing this hike so you are at the lookout for sunrise is pretty special.
So if you are going to do Roy’s Peak, make sure you hike up the mountain under the stars. Getting here this early won’t save you from the crowds (they are persistent all day) but it will make the relatively arduous hike up a lot more pleasant. The stars are shining, you aren’t baking in the sun, and you can’t see how far you have left to go either.
Lavender Farm
You will have to pay to get into the lavender fields here, but it’s worth the cost. We had so much fun wandering through the rows of lavender. They have so many cool little added touches here too. It’s a photographer’s paradise with the cute purple door and purple tractor to take pictures on.
Make sure you frolic amongst the rows of lavender at least once! The smell is incredible as you wander around, just keep an eye out for all the bees. If you are feeling peckish, the café here is pretty good, with lots of lavender food and drink options.
Rob Roy Glacier Track
In our opinion, this is THE must-do hike in Wānaka. So if you only have time to do one of these hikes, this is the one to do. Whilst it doesn’t give you amazing views over the lake, it does give you incredible views into the Matukituki Valley and out to Rob Roy Glacier. Sitting in this picturesque valley surrounded by towering mountains, glaciers and numerous waterfalls, it’s hard to believe such beauty is real.
The drive out to this hike is not fun with 30km of gravel road, ford crossings and cattle grids, but it is so worth it for this view.
Wishbone Falls
A beautiful little waterfall that is either gentle or very full depending on the amount of rainfall. Regardless of the rainfall, you will be able to swim at this one. Well worth the stop as long as you are also doing the Rob Roy Glacier track.
The drive out on the gravel road isn’t worth undertaking for just the waterfall alone. It’s an easy yet beautiful ten-minute walk from the road to get to the falls, be mindful of staying on the track as you do cross private farmland to get here.
The Next Chapter Wānaka
One of Tiff’s favourite indie bookshops in the South Island! You can’t visit Wānaka without browsing this cute little book store. Tiff has taken every one of our visitors here. For such a small bookshop, they are incredible well stocked. Their sections by New Zealand authors are particularly good. They even have a cute little free library out the front of the store if you are super budget conscious.
The staff here are all super friendly and offer great recommendations if you aren’t sure what to get. Tiff’s top Kiwi book recommendation is Greta and Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly.
Wander The Sunday Craft Market
A small market that packs a punch! Don’t miss out on the beautiful local crafts you can buy here. From elderflower cordial, earrings, Wānaka stickers and more. There is even a local kids author that is often at the markets. There isn’t often food trucks here, so if you are after some coffee or a bite to eat, head up the road to the crape and coffee trucks that are permanently on the corner of Brownston St and Dungarvon St.
Once you are done exploring the market, go down to the foreshore and read the tiles along the path. If you start from the side furthest away from town (close to the Wānaka tree) you’ll be able to read the history of Aotearoa and Wānaka in chronological order along with a brief world history for context. It’s a really cool way to learn more about this wonderful town.
Bonus – Wander The Town & Hit Up The Op Shops
Make sure you spend some time just wandering around town taking it all in. There are so many cute and quirky shops here. We love just meandering through the town, walking into the shops and browsing. You don’t need to buy anything, just have a look and a chat to the owners whilst you’re there. Often this is how you get a few cool local tips for places to eat or things to do in Wānaka.
Wānaka is home to quite a few good op shops, our favourite being Waste Busters. It’s out of town but worth taking a short drive to if you are after anything second hand. We really do mean anything too, this place has so much stuff from outdoor equipment, clothes, books, furniture, the list goes on! It’s all been saved from going to the tip, so you never know what you could find here.
Keen for more inspo? Be sure to check out:
- Queenstown Must Do: A Different Side To The Adventure Paradise!
- Top 5 Free Things to do in Auckland
- Which New Zealand Hot Water Beach Should You Visit?
