Activities & Tours
Wanaka Attractions
In addition to downhill skiing and snowboarding at
Treble Cone and
Cardrona, Wanaka offers various things to do.
Wanaka Skiing Activities
Cross-country skiing is available at Waiorau Snowfarm. Snow Farm is a dedicated cross-country ski resort with 50km of groomed tracks that cater for all ability levels. They provide lessons as well as rental equipment.
Freestylers should head to
Snow Park, a dedicated terrain park resort.
If you’re more of a powder junky, head out heli skiing with
Harris Mountain Heliski or
Southern Lakes Heliskiing.
For other backcountry skiing adventures check out
Aspiring Guides. If you want to learn the basics of ski touring or boarding in the backcountry, take a one day trip that goes beyond the boundaries of TC. Other trips include a 3 day introductory tour at Pisa Range and a 3 day Black Peak adventure based at a backcountry hut. Other activities on offer are avalanche awareness courses and ice climbing adventures.
Adventure Activities
Wanaka isn’t as driven as
Queenstown when it comes to extreme adventure activities, but Wanaka is certainly a playground for outdoor adventure activities. Some of this is centred round the lake including kayaking, windsurfing and sailing (depending upon your cold tolerance!), but other adventure opportunities include guided canyon adventures or skydiving with
Skydive Lake Wanaka.
Wanaka Scenic Flights
Aspiring Helicopters offer scenic flights around the spectacular Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks. Some scenic flights also include a snow landing.
Southern Alps Air offers a range of scenic flights including trips to Milford Sound, Mt Cook, and the Fox, Tasman and Franz Glaciers.
Head out with
Classic Flights for a scenic flight in a vintage Tigermoth biplane, or if you want an adrenaline inducing aerobatic flight try
Silver Demon.
Other Wanaka Activities
A more relaxed Wanaka attraction would be fishing or a cruise on Lake Wanaka with
Adventure Wanaka.
Puzzling World is located on the outskirts of town. This is not just for children but also for others seeking a brain tease. In addition to lots of small puzzles and optical illusions, there is a big 1.5km long maze.
The Warbird museum just outside Wanaka displays various fighter aircraft from yesteryear.
There are many wineries around Wanaka in the Otago area that you can visit independently, or partake in a tour with
Wanaka Lonely Mountain Tours or
Ridgeline Adventures.
Relaxation Activities
For complete relaxation there are a few day spas in Wanaka, or you can visit the rock pools at Oakridge Resort which are open to the public for a small fee. They include two large pools and many small hot tubs which are situated in a relaxed setting amongst rocks with the views of the mountains in the background.
Snow Farm Activities
Snow Farm is a 35 minute drive from Wanaka and is a hive of activities.
Snowkiting is growing in popularity and the relatively flat plateaus of the Pisa Range are perfect for it.
Boarder Patrol offer beginner lessons, progression lessons and equipment rental.
For a unique experience try dog sledding with
Quiet Running Adventures. Enjoy watching the frenzied dogs being harnessed then enjoy the peace of sitting in the sled whilst the powderhounds race around the scenic cross country trails. Quiet Running Adventures run short day time trips as well as overnight trips, but prior bookings are required. You're guaranteed to have a howling good time!
Snowfarm is also used as a conference centre so there are other activities that are targeted to the corporate types with a need for speed. The flat slopes of the Pisa Range are ideal for hooning around on snowmobiles, and Snowfarm is home to the Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds. Car companies from around the world come here to test cars on the skid pans, but advanced driving courses are also held at SPPG where corporates have fun hooning around on the ice.
Other Snowfarm activities include snowshoeing and tubing.
Wanaka Activities & Tours Listings
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Harris Mountains Heliski
New Zealand's premier heli skiing operation with locations in Wanaka, Queenstown & Mt Cook. Spoil yourself to an experience of a lifetime.
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Wanaka Wine Tours
Experience Central Otago's finest wines in a half or full day tour. We will pick you up and drop you off from your accommodation so you can taste as many wines as you like!
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Backcountry Helicopters (BCH)
Join a day group heli ski adventure or hire a chopper with a guide for you & a few friends. We operate in some of the best & most diverse terrain in NZ with something for every level of skier & boarder.
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Wilkin River Jets
Jetboat wilderness river adventures & scenic helicopter flights in the World Heritage listed Mt Aspiring National Park. Suitable for the whole family.
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Aspiring Helicopters
Scenic flights & heli-adventures. Alpine & snow landings. See glaciers, waterfalls, spectacular mountain views. Milford Sound, Fiordland & Aspiring National Parks.
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Wanaka River Journeys
A unique half day jet boating adventure on the Matukituki River. See LOTR locations, hanging glaciers and Mount Aspiring. Includes 50 min wilderness walk and local Maori culture; more than a jet boat ride...
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Wanaka Flightseeing
Enjoy uninterrupted views of the Southern Alps. Scenic flights to Milford Sound (including cruise), Mount Aspiring, Doubtful Sound, Mount Cook & Glaciers..
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Skydive Lake Wanaka
Need an extra thrill on your ski holiday to Wanaka; why not get the best view in town at 200kph! Tandem skydive with the experts and ski all in the same day.
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Snow Driving Cardrona
Learn to handle a car on ice and snow & have the time of your life doing high-speed powerslides on snow in a controlled environment. Courses from half a day to 2 days.
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Aspects Beauty & Health
Relax and unwind after a day on the slopes with a professional massage or spa treatment. Men & women welcome. Open 7-days pending demand.
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