Wanaka Travel Guide 2026: Top Activities, Eats & Essentials

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New Zealand's South Island

Must-Visit Spots in Wanaka

Restaurants / Cafes / Supermarkets / Activities

Making your travels smooth, this is Travel Lubricant.

If you're visiting Wanaka by campervan,

it's such a shame to only stay for a day.

I recommend staying for about two nights.

From activities, delicious restaurants, and cozy cafes to supermarkets,

I've personally explored and experienced them all.

Here are the must-visit places in Wanaka

all organized for you right now.

Recommended Activities in Wanaka

The Secret Sauna

In a barrel sauna right in front of Lake Hawea,

you can enjoy a Finnish-style sauna

and then experience jumping into the cold lake.

After 15 minutes in the sauna, when you jump into the lake,

you'll feel a piercing cold sensation,

but that exhilaration was definitely my top pick among everything I did in Wanaka.

The attendant sprinkles a herb-scented liquid over heated stones,

and when they wave a towel, the temperature skyrockets, making you sweat profusely.

For detailed reservation methods and reviews, please refer to the post below.

Hook Wanaka

(Hook Wānaka)

Catch your own salmon and have it prepared right there on the spot.

Don't worry if you have no fishing experience.

It's a fish farm, so you'll get a bite quickly after casting,

meaning even beginners can enjoy the thrilling tug on the line.

One important thing to know is that

you must purchase any salmon you catch.

There's a NZD 100 fine if you put it back into the pond.

If you get carried away by the thrill of fishing and catch too many,

the cost will add up accordingly,

so it's a good idea to set a target for how many you'll catch

before you start.

For cooking, I recommend smoked or grilled over sashimi.

Taking it to go and using it for an Alfredo pasta at your accommodation

was the most delicious combination.

For a detailed breakdown of prices and an honest review of the taste, please refer to the post below.

Puzzling World

If you're wondering where to go on a rainy day,

this is the place.

It features an illusion museum, puzzle exhibitions, and an outdoor maze.

With a significant portion indoors,

you can enjoy it regardless of the weather.

There are many hands-on exhibits for children to touch and press,

so they'll never get bored, and adults will find plenty of photo opportunities.

You might just stumble upon some unexpectedly fun photos!

Stroller access is available, and most of the paths are flat.

An hour to an hour and a half is usually enough time for a visit.

​

Admission Fees

✔ Free for children under 5

✔ The combo ticket offers the best value!

👉 [Buy Wanaka Puzzling World Combo Tickets at a Discount]

Wanaka Lavender Farm

✔ Address: 36 Morris Road, Wānaka 9382

✔ Hours: Sep-May 09:00-17:00 / Jun-Aug 10:00-17:00 (Closed on Christmas Day)

✔ Parking: Free

Seasonal Admission Fees

If you visit in December-January,

you'll get to experience the season when the purple lavender is in full bloom.

The purple gate amidst the lavender fields is the most famous photo zone.

It's quite popular, so you might encounter long lines on weekends.

One important thing to know is that

there are a *lot* of bees among the lavender.

We highly recommend wearing long sleeves and long pants.

You can also find lavender ice cream at the cafe inside the souvenir shop.

Lavender honey tasting is available too,

and since each variety has a different flavor, be sure to try them all!

Wanaka Restaurant & Cafe Recommendations

You might want to save this section

for future reference,

so we recommend saving it!

The Doughbin Bakery

(The Doughbin Bakery)

This is where you'll find the mince & cheese pie

that won an award at the 2025 New Zealand Pie Awards.

It has a fast turnover, so it's a great spot to pop in and grab something without a long wait.

The Steak & Mushroom pie is made with meat stewed in a rich sauce,

and the Mince Savory pies are perfectly bite-sized for a taste!

They're also about $1 to $1.50 cheaper than Fergburger Bakery in Queenstown.

Ramen Ramen Wanaka

(Ramen Ramen Wanaka)

This ramen spot has both locals and Asian travelers

lining up to get a taste.

It perfectly recreates the authentic Japanese ramen experience,

making it the ideal place to go when you're craving a hearty broth.

Just a heads-up, the prices here are a bit on the higher side.

Big Fig Wanaka

(Big Fig Wanaka)

They operate on a plate system.

You choose 1 meat + vegetables + salad

filling your plate according to your chosen size.

Choose from Small (4 items), Medium (5 items), or Big (6 items)

Let me tell you about the Medium plate combination I tried myself!

The beef cheek braised in pomegranate sauce was slightly savory with a

tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture, and the sauce was absolutely exquisite.

The roasted broccoli was slightly caramelized – it was out of this world!

The lentil stew had a subtle tomato flavor, perfect for comforting your stomach.

The carrot and apple slaw contains cilantro,

so if you love cilantro, this is a must-try!

When you're traveling in New Zealand and find yourself

craving vegetables after all the meat,

this is absolutely the place to go!

It's also delicious to grab takeout and enjoy back at your accommodation.

The Catch Wanaka

(The Catch Wanaka)

This is a specialist fish and chips takeaway

located right in front of Lake Wānaka.

Many people take their orders to go and enjoy a picnic by the lake.

They have a huge menu,

but I highly recommend trying the Whiting and Gurnard.

Tartar sauce is available for separate purchase, and they also sell

a variety of items like chicken tenders and burgers.

The fish portions are massive, so you'll definitely be satisfied!

I only tried the Whiting,

but the inside was tender and the outside perfectly crispy.

It's even better enjoyed as a late-night snack with a can of beer.

Besides these, Crumb Bakehouse, famous for its pain au chocolat,

local Wānaka restaurant Kika,

and Francesca Restaurant are also highly sought-after

and well-reviewed places.

Wānaka Supermarket Information

There are two New World supermarkets in Wanaka.

​

New World Wanaka

(Downtown location)

Located in downtown Wanaka,

it's within walking distance from Hampshire Holiday Park.

Campervans are not allowed to enter the parking lot,

so you'll need to shop on foot.

​

New World Three Parks

(Outskirt location)

It's larger than the downtown branch and sells a wider variety of products.

It has a big deli section and an automatic pineapple cutting machine.

Be sure to buy and try the pineapple!

For ways to get discounts at New World,

I've organized them separately in a previous post.

If you check it out before grocery shopping, you can save quite a bit.

If you're curious about Wanaka accommodation reviews,

please also refer to the Hampshire Holiday Park post.

Wanaka is already wonderful just for its lake,

but add in the food and experiences,

and even two nights can feel too short in this town.

Next time, I'll introduce you to

the Pukaki Alpine Cook Salmon we encountered on the way to Tekapo.

If you want to see more travel stories,

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