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Wanaka

New Zealand travel guide

What to see in Wanaka

A calmer Queenstown, beside a lake and at the gateway to Mount Aspiring.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 5 must-see places
  • Best time: from September to May
Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand · CC0

Wanaka highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. That Wanaka Tree

    The tree growing in the lake, the most photographed in the country.

  2. Roys Peak

    A tough climb with postcard views over the lake.

  3. Lake Wanaka

    For kayaking, walks and sunsets.

  4. Mount Aspiring National Park

    Glaciers and valleys for hiking.

  5. Puzzling World

    A museum of optical illusions and a maze.

Day trips from Wanaka

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

When to travel to Wanaka

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Wanaka are from September to May.

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb no warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun with warnings
  7. Jul with warnings
  8. Aug with warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings
  • from June to August

    Winter on the South Island

    Snow in the mountains, passes that need chains and the Milford Sound road sometimes closed by avalanches.

    What to do: It’s ski season in Queenstown and Wanaka; for hiking and lakes, November to April is better.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: the neighbourhood café. The dishes you can’t miss are in the New Zealand guide.

Frequently asked questions about Wanaka

What to see in Wanaka?

That Wanaka Tree, Roys Peak, Lake Wanaka, Mount Aspiring National Park and Puzzling World.

What to see in Wanaka in one day?

Don’t miss That Wanaka Tree, Roys Peak, Lake Wanaka, Mount Aspiring National Park and Puzzling World. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

What’s the best time to travel to Wanaka?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Wanaka are from September to May.

What day trips can you take from Wanaka?

Wanaka.

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Tell us where and in under a minute you’ll have your day-by-day route, with places to stay, transport, expenses and tips. And we go with you in your pocket, offline too.

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More in New Zealand

Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.