8 Epic Things to Do in Wanaka for Backpackers

8 Best Things To Do in Wanaka

1. Stroll Around Lake Wanaka ❤️ Must Visit

What makes Wanaka so stunningly beautiful is its location at the foot of Lake Wanaka, which is New Zealand's fourth-largest lake. It has some of the most beautiful water you will ever see.

The town has built a wonderful walkway along the lake where you can enjoy a nice morning stroll while watching the life around the lake come to life. On a sunny day, you will be able to see the locals come out and enjoy the sun at the lake, swimming, sunbathing, and picnicking.

The Lake Wanaka trail goes for miles and miles, and it will take hours to see them all, so I would recommend you choose 2 stopping points from left to right and stick with them.

I recommend you walk all the way to Waterfall Creek Seat and then backtrack your way back to town before continuing on to the right toward Eely Point Reserve. That should give you a good opportunity to see and appreciate the beauty of Lake Wanaka.

Where to Stay in Wanaka?

Budget

Wanaka Backpackers Bothy

Dorm | $

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👍 Top Pick

Mid-Range

Bella Vista Motel Lake Wanaka

Studio | $$

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High-End

Wanaka Springs Lodge

Queen Room | $$$

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2. Find the Lone Tree of Lake Wanaka ❤️ Must Visit

As you stroll along Lake Wanaka, be sure to look around for the famous Lone Tree of Lake Wanaka, one of the most photographed trees in New Zealand. It has become such a popular landmark that it attracts professional photographers from all over the world to visit Wanaka just to capture a photo of this tree.

From town, you can walk left along Lake Wanaka toward Waterfall Creek Seat, and you should see this tree standing alone in the calm clear water while the snowy mountains loom behind. Once you see it, you will know right away why it is so sought after.

3. Kayak to Ruby Island

If the sun is out, I highly recommend that you rent a kayak from Paddle Wanaka for 3 hours and go paddle to Ruby Island in the middle of Lake Wanaka at your own leisure.

For 50 NZD per person, they will provide you with the kayak, where you can paddle yourself to Ruby Island, which should take you about 45 minutes. Afterward, they will pick up the kayak for you and give you a few hours to relax on the island before coming to pick you up with a shuttle bus to take you back to the marina.

It is a fun activity to keep you active, as well as to see Wanaka and the lake from a perspective not many see. To rent the kayak, you can walk-in anytime or you can book it online with the link below:

Rent a Kayak from Paddle Wanaka

4. Hike Up Mount Iron

For a nice hike to do in the afternoon, I recommend you go hike up Mount Iron and check out its viewpoint over the city. From town, it's around a 45-minute walk, and once you arrive at the top, you will be rewarded with a wonderful 360° view of Wanaka and its surroundings.

The hike is simple and quite easy to walk. You do not have to be in great shape to hike to the top of Mount Iron. The walk is perfect for anyone who is looking to make the most out of a sunny day in New Zealand.

5. Visit the Puzzling World

Located not too far from Mount Iron, you will also find a popular tourist attraction in Wanaka called Puzzling World. It is a sort-of amusement park featuring a multi-level outdoor maze, optical illusion rooms, and a ton of photo opportunities.

There are two exhibitions at Puzzling World: the Great Maze and Illusion Rooms. To enter, you will have to pay 18 NZD and 20 NZD respectively. However, if you want to visit both, you can opt for the combo ticket, which costs only 25 NZD. In my opinion, this is a much better deal.

The Puzzling World opens from 9 AM to 4:30 PM, and I recommend you do this before hiking Mount Iron. Mount Iron is best visited at sunset, and by the time you get down from Mount Iron, the Puzzling World might have been closed. For more information about the Puzzling World, visit their official website, or you can get the ticket online here:

Buy the Puzzling World Combo Ticket

6. Drop by the Lavender Farm

If you are looking for a nice place to visit in Wanaka for some photo opportunities, the Wanaka Lavender Farm located just outside of Wanaka Town is worth dropping by after you have visited Puzzling World.

At Wanaka Lavender Farm, you will find large lavender fields covering over 20 acres of space, where you can stroll around. Additionally, there are farm animals and display gardens. There is also a cafe where you can enjoy their herbal tea and indulge yourself in their lavender ice creams.

Wanaka Lavender Farm's opening hours are between 9 AM and 5 PM from September to May, and 10 AM to 5 PM from June to August. The admission fee is 10 NZD during summertime and 5 NZD during wintertime.

7. Hike Roy's Peak ☀️ Great Day Trip

One of the best viewpoints in New Zealand, often featured in magazines and postcards about New Zealand, is at the top of Roys Peak where you will be able to see an incredible panoramic view of Lake Wanaka and the rolling snowy mountains behind it.

The Roys Peak hike begins at the Roys Peak Parking Lot just west of Wanaka, and you can either reach there with a shuttle bus provided by Ritchies Bus Company, which will drop you off and pick you up at the parking lot for 30 NZD per person.

You can also hitchhike from Wanaka since it isn't that far, and you will find many cars heading that way that are willing to pick you up. It is free, and it is a good way to talk to the locals here.

The hike to Roys Peak takes around 2 hours to reach the top. Once you arrive at the top, you will likely see a line of people waiting to capture that epic Instagram shot of themselves with the lake and the snowy mountains.

It is truly one of the most popular photo spots in New Zealand, and you will have to be extra patient to get that Instagram shot. Once you are done with the photo, don't forget to walk a little further to actually reach the real summit.

It should take about an hour to get down, and then you can hitchhike back or wait for the Ritchies shuttle bus to come pick you up. If you want to do this hike, make sure that you are not visiting Wanaka when the trail is closed for lambing, which is from 1st October to 10th November every year.

8. Go Skydiving in Wanaka

If you are looking for something more adventurous, something more epic, something that will allow you to experience New Zealand in a way that can only be done here, you should definitely skydive.

Wanaka has all the components for a great skydive, with the stunning Lake Wanaka, the snowy mountains around it, and a great company that offers cheap tandem skydives. For only 200 USD, you can skydive off a moving plane at 9000 ft and see Lake Wanaka and the mountains of Central Otago from a perspective not many get to see.

With Wanaka Skydive, you can choose how high up you want to be, ranging from 9000 ft to 15000 ft. This choice will determine the duration of your freefall. There is no better way to commemorate your New Zealand travel experience than with a photo of you skydiving, which can be taken as a souvenir to bring back home. You can book the tandem skydive tour using the link below:

Book a Tour to Skydive in Wanaka

When to Visit Wanaka?

The best time to visit Wanaka is during the shoulder seasons between September to November and March to May, where there will be considerably fewer travelers during this time. Additionally, most accommodation will offer discounted prices, making your trip way more cost-effective than the peak season (November to March).

How to Get to Wanaka?

Wanaka is located approximately 68 km north of Queenstown, the major travel hub of the South Island of New Zealand, and you will have to make your way there before you can travel to Wanaka.

From the US, there are no direct flights to Auckland, Queenstown, or Christchurch, so you will have to rely on transit flights from airlines like Qantas, which often transit in Fiji and take about 19 hours.

From Europe, you can fly from the most popular European hubs like London, Paris, or Frankfurt via Lufthansa, Qatar, Emirates, or Singapore Airlines. You will then have to transit through their headquarters to get to Auckland, Queenstown, or Christchurch. The flight will take over 24 hours, so gear up and prepare for a long ride.

From Asia, there are several airlines offering various routes from many hub cities such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Jakarta, Bangkok, and Hong Kong that will fly you directly to Auckland, Queenstown, and Christchurch. Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand, and Singapore Airlines are excellent choices for traveling this route, with the fastest flight time being 9 hours.

To find a cheap flight to New Zealand, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.

Getting from Auckland to Wanaka

By Air and Bus: Queenstown is the closest city that you can fly into. Jetstar and Air New Zealand often fly from Auckland to Queenstown more than seven times a day. The journey should take around two hours and cost around $67. You can book your flight here.

Once you arrive in Queenstown, you can take the bus to Wanaka following the instructions provided under the "Getting from Queenstown to Wanaka" section.

Getting from Christchurch to Wanaka

By Air and Bus: From Christchurch, the most affordable and efficient way to travel to Wanaka is to fly to Queenstown and then take the bus from there.

Air New Zealand flies this route directly 3 times a day. It will take about 1 hour and 15 minutes and cost 95 USD. You can book your flight from Christchurch to Queenstown here.

Getting from Queenstown to Wanaka

By Bus: If you want to travel from Queenstown to Wanaka, you can take the bus operated by Intercity. They have one bus leaving from Queenstown Intercity Bus Stop at 8:10 AM on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

The bus journey from Queenstown to Wanaka will take around 2 hours and cost 33 NZD per person. You can book the bus to Wanaka here.

If you are planning to travel for a longer period in New Zealand via buses, I recommend that you get the Flexipass where you can buy hours and travel any route in the country depending on the bus's duration. It is a great way to hop around the country without having to pay a ton of money.

For more information about Flexipass, please visit the official Intercity Flexipass page here.

By Car: If you are looking for a more comfortable way to travel to Wanaka, you can also rent a car from Queenstown Airport and drive there in about 1 hour. It will cost you around 25 USD per day. To rent a car, click the link below:

Rent a Car in Queenstown

How to Get Around Wanaka?

By Foot: Most of the attractions in Wanaka are concentrated around Lake Wanaka, so everything should be reachable on foot.

By Car: If you have your own car, you can significantly shorten your travel time and visit more places in one day. That being said, you won't need a car to follow the list of recommended things to do that I provided here. You can rent a car with the link below.

Rent a Car in Queenstown

How Many Days Should I Spend in Wanaka?

2 days is a good amount of time to spend in Wanaka. Here is what your days will look like in Wanaka:

Day 1: Spend the entire day hiking Roy's Peak.

Day 2: Spend the morning walking along Lake Wanaka, visit the lone tree, kayak to Ruby Island, visit the Lavender Farm, Puzzling World, and hike Mt. Iron.

How Much Does It Cost To Travel to Wanaka?

Since we will be spending only 3 nights in Wanaka, we can calculate how much you will be spending in Wanaka for 2 days as follows:

Accommodation: For 3 nights in Wanaka, you will be spending around 60 USD on accommodation.

Food: An average meal in Wanaka is around 10 USD, and since you will have to cook your own lunch when you hike Roys Peak, you can expect to spend around 50 USD on food.

Transportation: You will have to pay for a roundtrip shuttle to Roy's Peak, which will cost you around 30 NZD, equivalent to approximately 22 USD.

Activities: Excluding skydiving, you will only be paying for Puzzling World's admission fee, which is 18.3 USD.

Total Budget for 2 days in Wanaka: 206 NZD (150.3 USD).

Which tourist SIM card is best for New Zealand?

Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend checking out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace. It allows you to stay connected affordably while traveling in Wanaka, New Zealand without having to switch out your physical SIM card.

Gone are the days when you needed to scramble to find a local SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You can purchase an eSIM before your arrival, and you'll be good to go. If your phone doesn't support eSIM, here is how you can get a local SIM card in Wanaka, New Zealand:

Don't expect much from New Zealand's WIFI. It is terribly outdated, with some cafes offering free 25 MB and 15-minute time limit WIFI to their customers. Yes, really!

For a more reliable internet connection, I would recommend that you get yourself a local SIM card, where you will be able to find a 4G connection in all the major cities around the country now.

Spark is a recommended carrier with the most coverage around the country. You can buy their prepaid SIM card "Data Lover" package at the airport in Auckland, which comes in 2 price points: 20 NZD for 1 GB (+1 GB for social) and 40 NZD for 4.5 GB (+1 GB for social). Both are valid for one month.

With Spark, you can top up your data via stores around the country or simply do it online with your credit card. It's very easy and convenient.

For more information about SIM cards in New Zealand, visit: New Zealand's Prepaid Data SIM Card

Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.

What to Pack for Wanaka?

As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Wanaka, New Zealand:

• Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
• Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
• Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
• Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
• Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
• Down Jacket: In freezing temperatures, a down jacket is essential. The Columbia Men's Lone Fir Hooded Jacket (for women) is my choice. They are warm, lightweight, and available in various colors.
• Wool Beanie: A wool beanie is perfect for keeping your head and ears warm.
• Wool Gloves: I always have wool gloves handy to keep my hands warm in cold weather.
• Wool Socks: Don't forget to keep your feet warm with wool socks.
• Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
• Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
• Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
• Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
• Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
• Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
• Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
• Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.

For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.

Looking for a more comprehensive packing list for New Zealand? Check out:What to Pack for New Zealand - The Essential Packing List

Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:

Flights: Skyscanner and Expedia are the best places to start looking for cheap flights and great deals from your home country.

Accommodation: Hostelworld, Booking.com, and Agoda.com are the ultimate go-to platforms to search for amazing hostels and hotels at affordable prices.

Travel Insurance: Heymondo covers theft, medical emergencies, cancellations, and more during your travels. Get a 5% discount if you sign up today.

Transportation: For buses, I always go with Omio when traveling in Wanaka, New Zealand while for trains, Omio is my go-to place to book all my train travels in advance.

Car Rental: DiscoverCars.com is a great and reliable platform to find rental cars.

Internet: Airalo is the best way to get a sim card and has reliable internet access for your trip. All you need is an esim compatible smartphone, install it on your phone prior to your trip, and you are all set.

VPN: To stay connected with people at home, I always make sure to have ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and I can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.

Day Trips & Tours: Viator, GetYourGuide and TripAdvisor are great platforms to search for trips and tours to join.

Tickets & Deals: Klook is always my go-to website when I want to find cheaper deals for entrance tickets to tourist attractions.

Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.

Further Reading for Backpacking in New Zealand

I've spent 5 weeks backpacking in New Zealand, and I have written a ton more about my journey traveling throughout New Zealand, from the North Island to the South Island, that might help in your trip planning.

Here's a selection of articles about New Zealand:

• Looking for a complete backpacking itinerary for New Zealand? Check out One Month Itinerary for New Zealand.
• Don't have one month in New Zealand? How about spending 2 weeks visiting all the highlights of New Zealand on the South Island? Check out our 2-Week Itinerary for the South Island, New Zealand.
• Want to visit New Zealand but not sure what to pack? Here's a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for New Zealand
• Planning a trip to New Zealand? Here are the 12 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand.
• New Zealand has a special place in my heart. It is one of the most memorable trips I have ever done, and here are 10 things I love about New Zealand.
• If you are planning to travel from North to South in New Zealand, Rotorua is a great place to start your journey from Auckland. Here are the 7 Best Things to Do in Rotorua.
• Did you know that you can climb Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings in real life? Check out: The Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Tongariro Crossing.
• Planning to travel across Cook Strait from Wellington in the North Island to Picton in the South Island? Here's How to Get From Wellington to Picton.
• Nelson is one of the most laid-back and sunny cities in New Zealand, making it a great place to relax and enjoy the abundant sunshine. Here are the 7 Best Things to Do in Nelson.
• Did you know that you can do parts of New Zealand's Great Walks in one day? The Abel Tasman Track offers a wide range of hiking trails to choose from. Here’s The Ultimate One Day Hiking Guide to the Abel Tasman Track.
• Want to do a road trip along the Great Coast Road in New Zealand? Better start in Westport. Here are the 5 Best Things to Do in Westport, New Zealand.
• Want to go hiking on a glacier in the Glacier Country of New Zealand? Here is the Ultimate Backpacking Guide to Franz Josef.
• Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world, and whatever extreme activities human bodies can endure, they probably have them in Queenstown. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Queenstown.
• Queenstown is also one of the best places in the world to go skydiving. Here’s my experience skydiving with NZONE in Queenstown.
• The Milford Sound is one of the most popular attractions in New Zealand, and it would be a shame to miss it when you are in New Zealand. If you want to visit the Milford Sound, check out: A Day Trip from Te Anau to the Milford Sound.
• One of the best Great Walks in New Zealand is the Routeburn Track, and if you have to pick one Great Walk to do, make it this one. Here’s The Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Routeburn Track.
• Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook are some of the most photogenic places to visit in New Zealand, and it is best to do so together. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook.
• Dunedin has so much to offer for nature lovers. From the sight of the world's largest birds to the beautiful cliffs of Tunnel Beach, here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Dunedin.
• Not convinced by my words about New Zealand? Come follow me, and I’ll show you New Zealand in 70 photos.
• You can see all my New Zealand travel guides and related articles on my New Zealand Travel Guide page.