Where to stay in Wānaka: lakefront, budget and holiday parks

Wānaka is the relaxed lake town many visitors fall for after the bustle of Queenstown. It is compact, so choosing where to stay is mostly about how close you want to be to the lake, and how much you want to spend. In summer and the ski season, though, beds go fast, so it pays to know your options.

This guide covers the main areas, then budget, mid-range and splurge stays, and the campsites in and around town. Prices are from the accommodation providers and the Department of Conservation (DOC), as at November 2026. Drive times are routing estimates with no stops.

Quick answer

Areas

Central Wānaka and Roys Bay. The town centre wraps around Roys Bay at the southern end of Lake Wānaka. Staying here means you can walk to the lakefront, cafes, restaurants and the start of the lakeside tracks, and drive a few minutes to the Roys Peak car park. It is the best base for a first visit. Our things to do in Wānaka guide covers the highlights.

Albert Town. About 5 km from central Wānaka (around 6 minutes), Albert Town sits where the Clutha and Hāwea rivers meet. It is quieter and more residential, with a supermarket, eateries and a pub, and good for travellers with a car.

Lake Hāwea. The small township of Lake Hāwea is about 16 km from Wānaka (around 16 minutes). It is peaceful, with big lake and mountain views, and a good base if you are heading north towards Haast Pass.

Luggate. Around 15 km from Wānaka (about 14 minutes) on the way to Cromwell and the airport road, Luggate is a small village with a quieter, rural feel.

Cardrona. About 25 km from Wānaka (around 23 minutes), Cardrona is the valley base for the ski area in winter and the road over the Crown Range to Queenstown. It is very quiet outside the ski season.

Budget

Wānaka has a couple of well located hostels within walking distance of the lake.

Bakpaka, the backpackers at 117 Lakeside Road, lists:

• shared rooms (3 to 4 bed dorms) from $50
• twin rooms from $120
• double en-suite rooms from $160

Its location on Lakeside Road puts you a short walk from the lakefront and the town centre.

Haka House Wānaka, on Brownston Street in town, lists dorms from $55 and private rooms from $140.

If you are travelling on a tight budget, our backpacker budget guide has more ways to keep costs down.

Insider tip: in summer and the ski season, book hostel private rooms early. They are the best value rooms in town for couples, and they are often the first to sell out, while dorm beds tend to stay available a little longer.

Mid-range

In Wānaka, mid-range usually means motels, apartments, holiday homes and the private rooms at hostels and holiday parks. Options include:

• Bakpaka’s double en-suite rooms from $160, a step up from a dorm with your own bathroom.
• Haka House private rooms from $140, in the town centre.
• Cabins at Hampshire Holiday Parks Wānaka, a stroll from Roys Bay and the lakefront.

Motels and apartments are spread through the town centre and along the main roads in. Prices rise sharply in peak summer and during school holidays, so compare a few dates if you can be flexible.

Splurge

Edgewater Hotel sits at the edge of Lake Wānaka. It offers hotel rooms, premium rooms, one-bedroom suites and two-bedroom apartments, plus a restaurant with a seasonal menu, and many rooms look out to the mountains. Edgewater does not publish set prices on its home page, so check its booking page for your dates.

For something more remote and luxurious, look at the lodges and boutique stays on the outskirts, many with big lake or mountain views. Our unique stays guide covers glamping and other memorable places around the country.

Campsites

Hampshire Holiday Parks Wānaka. The holiday park in town, formerly Lakeview Holiday Park, has cabins, powered sites and tent pitches, and is a stroll from Roys Bay and the lakefront. It is minutes from the walking and biking trails heading towards Mt Aspiring National Park.

Albert Town Campground. Hampshire Holiday Parks also runs this simple riverside campground, about 10 minutes from Wānaka beside the Clutha and Hāwea rivers. Key things to know:

• No bookings and no set sites: first come, first served.
• Pay at the EFTPOS machine at either entrance.
• No power, showers or laundry, so it is self-sufficient camping.
• Bring your own drinking water, cooking gear and a torch.
• Dogs are allowed on a lead.

Kidds Bush Reserve Campsite (DOC). On the shore of Lake Hāwea, in a large grassy area shaded by mountain beech, about 40 minutes (32 km) north of Wānaka off SH6, according to DOC. Fees are $15 per adult and $7.50 per child (5 to 17) a night, and infants are free. The DOC Campsite Pass can be used. DOC says it is often booked out between Boxing Day and early February, so book ahead. Meads Road is gravel, narrow and steep in places, and not suitable for large campervans.

For more campsites in the region, see our South Island campsites guide.

Choosing by season

Wānaka has two peak seasons, and they suit different bases.

Summer (December to February). This is the busiest time, with lake swimming, paddleboarding and long evenings. Central Wānaka near the lakefront is ideal, and campsites come into their own. DOC’s warning that Kidds Bush is often booked out from Boxing Day to early February applies to most popular lake campsites, so book early or arrive at Albert Town early in the day.

Winter (June to August). Skiers and snowboarders fill the town. Staying in central Wānaka gives you restaurants and bars in the evening, while Cardrona puts you closest to the slopes. Holiday park cabins and hostels are good value, but tent camping is cold, with hard frosts on clear nights.

Spring and autumn. Shoulder seasons bring quieter streets, easier bookings and often lower prices. Autumn colours around the lake and Albert Town are a highlight, and walking conditions on the lower tracks are often excellent.

Tips for booking

• Book early for summer and school holidays. The best located budget rooms go first.
• Check what is walkable. Some accommodation advertised as Wānaka is actually in Albert Town, Luggate or Lake Hāwea, which is great with a car but not without one.
• Think about parking. Central streets get busy in peak season, so a place with off-street parking is worth having if you are driving.
• Read cancellation terms. Winter weather can close roads, so flexible bookings are useful if you are crossing the Crown Range or Haast Pass.
• Campers, be self-sufficient where needed. At Albert Town there are no showers or drinking water, so plan where you will fill up.

Getting there

Wānaka is about 69 km from Queenstown, around 77 minutes by car (routing estimate, no stops). Hampshire Holiday Parks suggests the Crown Range Road if conditions allow. In winter, check road conditions and carry chains if they are recommended.