Nothing Wears White Like Wānaka
It begins with the landscape…it breathes, there’s an energy, a feeling, that sets Wānaka apart. Amid the stunning Southern Alps of New Zealand, you’ll discover what draws visitors from all over the world.
Wānaka is the perfect base to enjoy the best skiing in New Zealand, with three diverse ski areas Cardrona, Treble Cone and Snow Farm all within a 40-minute drive from the town centre. The Wānaka region has the largest skiable terrain in the Southern Hemisphere and the biggest area of heli-skiing outside North America. A veritable paradise for skiers, snowboarders, and cross-country skiers, boasting the only Nordic skiing facility in New Zealand, this stunning region is home to five international ski areas and an enviable après ski village vibe.
Off the snow there’s countless off-mountain activity choices from jet-boating, skydiving and flightseeing, to simply strolling along the lakeshore, and a small town bustling with joyful energy… how will you ever fit it all in?
It’s not just the outdoor enthusiasts who have plenty to do, and finding the perfect coffee, chai latte or freshly squeezed juice is not too difficult – the cafe culture is thriving, with plenty of great coffee spots to indulge in. Stroll the streets and be inspired by galleries, stylish shops and be spoilt for choice with a great selection of cool cafes, excellent restaurants, craft breweries, award-winning wineries, and an artisan distillery.
When it comes to eats on wheels, the Wānaka food truck community has nailed it. What was once a small collection of locally-beloved trucks nestled together in a lot on Brownston Street has exploded into a culture that covers nearly every part of the region.
In Wānaka, there’s a community that centers around our food trucks. They’re a place to gather with your friends; but more than that, they are a way for our locals and visitors to connect with business owners. Many food truck owners know their customers by name and vice versa. It’s a bond that keeps people coming back and encourages local support during even the most difficult times.
While some of our food truck locations are more obvious, like the Brownston Street Food Truck Market, there are some undercover goodies that will blow your mind – all you have to do is know where to find them.
A trip to the movies in Wānaka is still a special occasion. Wānaka has two cinemas, the first is Ruby’s Cinema & Bar. Located on Cardrona Valley Road (in the same building as Basecamp Adventures), Ruby’s has an old Hollywood vibe, with wrap-around velvet couches in the foyer and old-school movie posters. You can buy delicious food, coffee, and treats as well as alcoholic beverages.
At Cinema Paradiso, located in town, you’re transported back to the dawn of the cinematic era. Cozy up on one of the couches in the theatre or sit back in a converted Morris Minor. You can purchase beer, wine, snacks and meals like pizza before the movie. And at halftime, be sure to get a freshly-baked cookie to take back with you for the remainder of the show! The National Transport & Toy Museum is fascinating and is one of the largest private collections in the world with four major buildings housing over 600 vehicles, 20 aircraft, 60,000+ toys and 1,000s of miscellaneous items. The transport collection includes vintage and classic cars, fire engines, military vehicles, tractors, trucks, motorbikes, heavy construction equipment, buses, boats and much more. The toys are a child’s dream. There are thousands of diecast models, meccano, dolls and teddy bears, tin, windup, clockwork and battery powered toys. It is also home to New Zealand’s largest display of Barbie and Star Wars memorabilia.
Wānaka offers warm southern hospitality and incredible views wherever you look. And between a place to simply lie down and close your eyes for the night or relax in total indulgence, there’s the ideal base for your time here. For accommodation right on the lake then the Edgewater Resort Hotel is the perfect place to stay. They are the only accommodation directly on the shore of Lake Wanaka. You’ll find all the best things about New Zealand in Wānaka. From skiing and biking, to hiking and dining. Everything here is at its peak.
