Things to do in Wānaka: lakes, hikes and a slower alternative to Queenstown

Wānaka sits at the southern end of Lake Wānaka, an hour and a bit over the hill from Queenstown, with Mount Aspiring National Park filling the skyline to the north-west. It has the same lake and mountain drama as Queenstown with a lot less hurry: fewer bungy queues, more people in tramping boots, and some of the best short and big day walks in the country within half an hour of town.

Here is what to do on a first visit, from the walks to the lake, with facts from DOC and operators’ own sites. Prices are in NZD, as at November 2026.

Roys Peak and the big view walks

Roys Peak: the famous one

The photo you have seen, of a ridge running out above a lake full of islands, is from Roys Peak. DOC lists the track as 16 km return, 5 to 6 hours, climbing more than 1,200 m to the 1,578 m summit. The well-known photo spot is about 30 minutes below the summit, so you do not need to go all the way for the shot.

What first-timers need to know:

• It is closed for lambing from 1 October to 10 November and reopens on 11 November. Most of the track crosses private farmland, so respect the closure and stay on the track.
• There is no shade and no water. Carry plenty, plus sunscreen and a warm layer for the top.
• The car park fills early. It is about 6 km from town along Wānaka Mount Aspiring Road. DOC asks people not to park on the road edge when it is full.
• Start early for cooler temperatures and a free car park space, or come late afternoon with a head torch for the descent.

Easier walks with big views

• Rocky Mountain and Diamond Lake. A 7 km loop of about 3 hours to a 775 m summit above Diamond Lake, with views up the lake to the mountains (DOC). The car park is 18.5 km west of town on a sealed road and has a toilet. DOC warns that parts are steep and slippery even in summer, with some light scrambling on the western side and steep drop-offs on the eastern side, so wear proper shoes.
• Mount Iron. A 4.5 km loop of about 1.5 hours, climbing nearly 250 m to views over the town and the lake (DOC). The car park is on State Highway 84, about 2 km from town.
• Isthmus Peak. DOC’s suggested alternative to Roys Peak, another long climb with big lake views. It has its own seasonal closure, so check DOC before you set out.

Insider tip: if Roys Peak is closed or you are not fit enough, Rocky Mountain gives you a similar lake and mountain panorama for about half the time on your feet.

That Wānaka Tree and the lakefront

That Wānaka Tree is a willow growing out of the lake near the town centre. Lake Wānaka Tourism says it began more than 70 years ago as a wooden fence post keeping stock from wandering. Christchurch photographer Dennis Radermacher’s photo of it on a misty June day won the 2014 New Zealand Geographic photograph of the year, and it has been an icon ever since. It is a short, flat walk along the lakefront from the Wānaka Watersports car park.

Admire it from the shore and leave it alone. Go at sunrise for calm water and fewer people.

The lakefront itself is the easiest thing to do in town: a flat path between the cafes, the beach and the tree, with views across Roys Bay.

Wānaka town and Lake Wānaka from above. Photo: Hagai Agmon-Snir via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Mou Waho Island and time on the lake

Lake Wānaka has islands, and one of them has its own lake. Mou Waho is a predator-free island reserve, and Eco Wānaka Adventures runs a 3.5 to 4 hour cruise and guided walk there. Its site says you can see weka, which it notes have been gone from mainland New Zealand for over 100 years, look for the rare mountain stone wētā, and visit what it calls the lake on the island on the lake on the island. No price was published on the page when we checked, so ask when you book.

Prefer something simpler? A swim off the town beach on a hot afternoon is free, though the water is cold even in summer.

Rob Roy Glacier and Mount Aspiring National Park

The Rob Roy Track is one of the best half-day walks in the country. DOC lists it as 10 km return, 3 to 4 hours, following the river and climbing through beech forest to views of the Rob Roy hanging glacier.

The catch is the drive. It starts at Raspberry Creek car park, 54 km from Wānaka, about 1 hour 20 minutes away (DOC). The last 30 km is gravel, and DOC warns of fords across the road in the final 10 km. Check conditions after heavy rain, and do not drive through a ford if the water is high.

Safety: DOC says the upper track crosses avalanche paths, and from May to November you should not go past the lower lookout. Kea live here; do not feed them.

Eco Wānaka Adventures also runs small-group guided walks to Rob Roy, which solves the driving problem.

Blue Pools and the drive to Haast Pass

The Blue Pools are clear, glacial-blue pools under swing bridges on the Makarora River. DOC says the car park is about 10 km past Makarora on State Highway 6, about 1 hour 10 minutes’ drive from Wānaka. The walk is about 30 minutes each way through silver beech forest, with toilets at the car park.

It is a natural stop if you are heading north over Haast Pass to the West Coast; see our Franz Josef Glacier guide for what comes next. Our 14-day South Island road trip covers the whole Haast Pass drive.

Skydiving over the lake

Wānaka is one of the most scenic places in the country to jump. Skydive Wānaka offers:

Allow about 3 hours. There is a shuttle from the Wānaka i-SITE, and from 19 October 2026 there are return transfers from Queenstown on set days of the week, from $399, which need about 6 hours in total. The minimum age is 6, and anyone 95 kg or more is assessed by the tandem master on the day. Our skydiving guide compares every drop zone and covers the safety standards.

Rainy day: Puzzling World

Puzzling World, open since 1973, has six Illusion Rooms, a Puzzle Café and the Great Maze outside. As at November 2026:

• Combo (Illusion Rooms and Great Maze): $32.50 adult, $23.50 child (5 to 15), $99 family
• Illusion Rooms only: $26.50 adult
• Great Maze only: $22 adult

Prices are valid until 31 March 2027. You do not need to book. Puzzling World says it does not give refunds for bad weather, which matters if you are mostly there for the outdoor maze.

Getting there and where to stay

Wānaka is about 70 km and 1 hour 15 minutes from Queenstown (routing estimate without stops). Most visitors drive, because the best walks are out of town.

How long to stay: one full day from Queenstown gets you the tree, the lakefront and a short walk like Mount Iron. Stay at least two nights if you want a big walk and a lake day, and three if you also want Rob Roy or the Blue Pools, which each take most of a day with the driving. Wānaka has hotels, motels, holiday parks and holiday homes, and summer weekends fill up. If you are basing yourself in Queenstown instead, things to do in Queenstown has the rest of the region.