Gore Visitor Centre
Skiing and snowboarding in Wanaka
Wanaka is popular with skiers and snowboarders because of its close proximity to Cardrona and Treble Cone ski areas. It can get pretty lively during the ski season.
Cardrona
Located about halfway between Queenstown and Wanaka, Cardrona is a family-oriented resort with good snowboarding. A full-day lift pass is $99–115, but a lift, lesson and rental package is better value at $199 for skiers or snowboarders.
Treble Cone
With 550ha of terrain, Treble Cone is the South Island’s largest ski area (and the closest ski resort to Wanaka). It is geared mostly toward advanced skiers who have half the runs while beginners only get 10%. Treble Cone have a first-timers package that gives you ski or snowboard rental, a two-hour group lesson and lift pass for $119 (one-day) or $450 (three-days). Treble Cone is a 35-minute drive from Wanaka.
Snow Farm
Snow Farm is New Zealand’s only dedicated cross-country ski resort. A day pass is $40 and ski rental starts at $30.
Skydiving in Wanaka
Doing a tandem skydive over Lake Wanaka allows you to take in the breathtaking views of Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Aspiring National Parks as you freefall at 200km/h.
You have a choice of skydiving from 9000ft (25 second freefall), 12,000ft (45 second freefall) or 15,000ft (60 second freefall). There is an excellent choice of add-on photo and video packages, although the total package can double the cost of your skydive.
Rock climbing in Wanaka
Wanaka Rock has half and one-day rock climbing courses as well as more advanced three day courses. A combination of the one-day introductory course followed by the one-day Explore Wanaka Rock course will give you a thorough introduction to rock climbing.
Kayaking on Lake Wanaka and the Clutha River
Paddle Wanaka run a variety of kayaking and stand up paddle board tours that let you explore Lake Wanaka and the Clutha River.
Their most popular tour is the Tiki Tour. On this half-day tour you travel by water taxi to the starting point and paddle back to Wanaka.
Paddle Wanaka also rents kayaks and stand up paddle boards for more independent exploration of Lake Wanaka and the Clutha River.
Jet boating in Wanaka
Go Jets Wanaka and Wana Jet offer one-hour rides on Lake Wanaka and the Clutha River.
Canyoning in Wanaka and the Matukituki Valley
Deep Canyon run exciting canyoning trips in the spectacular canyons of the Matukituki Valley. The trips include abseiling down waterfalls, climbing, swimming and plunging down slippery shutes. The basic Niger Stream trip is their most popular trip which is suitable for most people but the “Big Nige” option is “steeper and deeper” and better suited to fit people with some abseiling experience.
A lot of people consider canyoning to be the best activity in Wanaka. Canyoning trips operate November-March.
Warbirds and Wheels
Warbirds and Wheels is a transport museum located at Wanaka Airport that focuses primarily on classic and vintage cars and motorcycles from the early 20th century as well as military aircraft.
Wanaka bus and coach stop
InterCity Coachlines operate a Wanaka–Queenstown service and also stop in Wanaka on their Franz Josef–Queenstown route.
Ritchies also run buses between Wanaka and Queenstown with five daily services.
Both InterCity and Ritchies stop outside the Log Cabin at 100 Ardmore Street on the lakefront.