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 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.

If you’re more of a powder junky, head out heli skiing with Harris Mountain Heliski or Southern Lakes Heliski.

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 Treble Cone. 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.

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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.

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Wanaka Scenic Flights

One of the most spectacular ways to see the Southern Lakes area is via a scenic flight by helicopter or fixed wing aircraft around the spectacular Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks. Some scenic flights also include a glacier/snow landing.

Or for something a little more nostalgic, 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.

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Other Wanaka Activities

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.  

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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 that are situated in a relaxed setting amongst rocks with the views of the mountains in the background.

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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.

For a unique experience try dog sledding with Under Dog. Enjoy watching the frenzied dogs being harnessed then enjoy the peace of sitting in the sled whilst the powder hounds race around the scenic cross country trails. They run a few different types of trips. 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.