Lake Wanaka Family Holiday Adventure Guide

Lake Wanaka is the home of more elite snow sports athletes in winter than any other place on earth. The amazing terrain of Cardrona and Treble Cone is the ideal training ground for Olympic gold medallists and world champions on skis and snowboards. But in summer Wanaka transforms into a fantastic playground for families with lots of fun things to do on the lake and nearby. Another awesome thing is that you get a bonus lake. Lake Hawea is only 15 minutes away by car and it’s absolutely spectacular. It also has an epic camping ground on the lakeside called The Camp, which is a lovely place to stay if you prefer a more tranquil setting than busy Wanaka town. 

Like most of the other large South Island lakes, Lake Wanaka and its neighbour Lake Hawea were formed by glaciers carving deep valleys into the bedrock during the ancient ice ages. These glacial valleys filled with water over the millennia to become lakes. Today the shoreline or both lakes is a blend of sandy bays that are great for swimming and boating and places where the rugged mountains drop straight into the lake. 

Lake Wanaka is NZ’s fourth largest lake and around 45km long and 12km at its widest point. Its maximum depth is about 310 m meaning that its deepest point is a few metres below sea level.  

The inflows include river the Makarora River and Matukituki River and the lake drains via the mightly Clutha River. 

Lake Hawea is slightly smaller than Wanaka at about 35km long and around 8km at its widest. It deeper though at nearly 400 metres, significantly below sea level. At 'The Neck' the two lakes are only about 2km apart.

The trails around the lake and alongside the Clutha are a runners and bikers paradise. Check out the Outside Sports Guide to Gravel Trails at Wanaka. 

A flat, stroller-friendly lake path with plenty of spots for picnics, swimming and paddling. The views to the west at dawn and sunset are breathtaking. 

One of NZ’s best lakeside playgrounds is brilliant for younger kids. 

You can’t go to Wanaka without taking a selfie at the that Wanaka tree. It’s near town and easy walk either along the shoreline or from the carpark at the end of Homestead Close. 

Safe swimming, grassy areas and shady trees make this a great family chill-out spot on hot summer days. 

You can hire watercraft from the short by the jetty at the lakeside in the centre of town. Keep and eye out for speedy powered watercraft if you venture out beyond the buoys. 

Gentle, scenic cruises that’s suitable for all ages. 

A boat ride and a nice easy bush walk to the ‘lake on an island.’ You’ll love the wildlife and the views. 

This is an easy 90 minute out and back lakeside walk that takes you past That Wanaka Tree on the way to Glendhu Bay 

This track continues past Waterfall Creek and takes you to the Glendhu Bay camping ground, which is approx 15km from Wanaka town. The track is mostly flat, but after about the halfway mark there are some short steep and twisty sections on rough gravel. It’s good for walking and mountain bikes, but once you get to the steep bits buggy pushing will be quite difficult in places. 

These are super popular walking and running tracks with locals. They trails are steep, but suitable for older kids, and you’ll be rewarded amazing views at the top. 

This park is just past the boating club on the northern side of the lake about 1km from town. It’s full of beginner-friendly pump tracks and MTB trails and is perfect for kids wanting to hone their biking skills. 

Here’s a lovely option for days when you want to be a bit more relaxed. Do the farm visit with animals, games, and gardens. 

This is a great network of intermediate mountain bike tracks that starts at Platinum Ridge on the hill to the north-western side of town – more or less uphill from Lismore Park. Check out the Outside Sports Guide to Mountain Trails at Wanaka. 

If you love puzzles this place is heaven! There are mazes and all sort of other challenges whole family. It’s near to the Lavender Farm so you could combine a visit to both places. 

About 5km from town on the Glendhu Bay/Motatapu road you’ll see a park rising up to your left with a big carpark at the bottom. That’s Roy’s Peak where you’ll get one of the world’s best dawn views. It’s about a 5-6 hour 16km round trip than many people start in the early hours to be in the right spot to see the sunrise. The track is smooth, but steep! Active teenagers should have no trouble. 

Another few kms along the Motatapu road past Glendhu Bay you’ll find Diamond Lake. It’s yet another jewel in the Wanaka scenic crown. If you’ve climbed Mount Roy to see the dawn this is a low key excursion that you can enjoy on tired legs. 

This trail takes you along the lakeside from town to Beacon Point and then continues beside the fast flowing Clutha River to the Albertown bridge. It’s very popular for both biking and walking.  

Great for beginner fishing from the shore or river edges. Lots of people fish from their boats too. Try your luck for Brown and Rainbow trout, Quinnat Salmon and Perch. At Outside Sports we have all the fishing gear you need to enjoy angling on the Southern Lakes. 

A mostly flat lakeside path that’s great ideal for scooters, bikes, and strollers. On this walk you get a sense of the giant scale of the mountain of the Southern Alps. 

A large grassy area and playground near the lake. Great for picnics and swimming on hot days. Hawea is cold though as it’s a very deep lake, and it doesn’t warm up too much even in summer. 

Hire is available locally. The southern bays are usually the most sheltered. Both lakes can get extremely windy in a Northwesterly.

An excellent family bike ride from the Hawea village that heads along the Hawea river back towards Wanaka. It’s mainly flat, smooth, and scenic all the way to Albert Town. From there you go across the narrow swing bridge over the Hawea River and up through the Albert Town Domain  to the road bridge where you can connect with the Outlet track to Wanaka. 

Easy lakeside exploring with mountain views. 

This a much longer and steeper hike, so more for teens and adults than young kids. 

An awesome family picnic and lakeside camping area about halfway up the lake on the western side. 

A standing wave in the river where people surf and kayak. Because of the fast current and rocks its only for experienced surfers and paddlers to ride – but it's fun for anyone to watch. Access to the wave is down a short riverside track from Camphill Road on Hawea Flat. Look for the Camphill bridge and park in the carpark beside the river. 

This is currently NZs only wavepool, and it produces real waves that you can surf over an inflatable reef! The Your Wave activity is suitable for everyone from beginners to pros, depending on the difficulty rating they set the wave to. Lots of fun to try, and to watch, for everyone from teens on up. Bookings are essential to get a wave setting that matches your ability as a surfer.  

Our main Wanaka store in Dunmore Street has all the top international brands like Arc’teryx, Patagonia, The North Face, Picture Organic Clothing, Norrona, Icebreaker, Salomon, On Running, and many more in one place.  

We also have Wanaka’s best selection of premium brand hiking and running footwear plus the world’s finest hiking gear, tents and sleep systems. 

If you’re getting out on the lake for fun with your watercraft or to do a spot of fishing, we can help you with both of those activities too.  

You’ll find our large, dedicated bike shop ‘Bikes By Outside Sports’ on the corner of Brownston and Helwick Streets, where you can buy or hire bikes for the whole family. Book your hire bike here