Arrowtown
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South Island
Wānaka & Central Otago
Framed by lake, mountains, and open skies, Wānaka captures the quieter side of alpine New Zealand.
7 Tours Visit Here
Kauri, Kōwhai, Mataī, Mt Cook Lily, Pōhutukawa, Rimu, Tōtara
1 Customisable Day
Choose your own adventure
Discover Wānaka & Central Otago
At the foot of New Zealand’s Southern Alps, Wānaka unfolds around one of the country’s most beautiful lakes. Mountain peaks frame the horizon, while galleries, boutiques and a celebrated outdoor lifestyle bring character to the lakeside town. Beyond Wānaka, the journey through Central Otago reveals rugged ranges, open valleys and the gold-rush heritage of Arrowtown. Together, the region invites exploration while quietly encouraging you to slow down.
Lake Wānaka's Remarkable Scale
Stretching 45 kilometres, Lake Wānaka is one of the South Island's most impressive alpine lakes.
That Wānaka Tree
The lone willow growing from the lake has become one of New Zealand's most photographed landmarks.
Glacier Shaped Landscape
Ice age glaciers carved the region’s deep valleys and helped form the landscape surrounding Wānaka today.
Across the Crown Range
The journey over New Zealand’s highest main road reveals expansive views across mountain ranges, valleys and historic gold-mining country.
Wānaka sits within a landscape shaped by ice, where ancient glaciers carved the lake basin and surrounding mountain valleys. In Waitaha tradition, the lakes of Te Waipounamu (the South Island) were created by the ancestor Rākaihautū using his kō (digging tool). Kāi Tahu later established settlements around the lake, while the name Wānaka comes from a southern form of wānanga, meaning sacred knowledge or a place of learning.
European settlers brought sheep farming, gold prospecting and timber milling to the Upper Clutha, with boats carrying people and supplies across the lake. The township was known as Pembroke until residents restored the name Wānaka in 1940. Beyond the lake, the journey through Central Otago crosses the Crown Range and descends through valleys marked by gold-mining history, high-country farming and small historic communities.
Today, Wānaka brings outdoor adventure together with a relaxed, creative spirit. Galleries, local makers and welcoming places to eat add character to the lakefront, while the surrounding roads lead through some of the South Island’s most memorable alpine country. Together, Wānaka and the wider journey through Central Otago offer a rich blend of scenery, heritage and small-town character.
What You'll Experience
Some of New Zealand's most treasured experiences, all part of your time in Wānaka & Central Otago.
Customisable
Customisable
Ridgeline Wānaka
Lake Cruise & Island Nature Walk
Cruise across Lake Wānaka with a passionate local eco-guide to predator-free Mou Waho Island, then follow a 3-kilometre return trail through native vegetation and birdsong to the island’s hidden lake. Relax beside the water or continue to the summit for panoramic views across Lake Wānaka, the surrounding mountains and Arethusa Pool. Look for curious buff weka and take part in the sanctuary’s future by planting a native tree before cruising back to Wānaka.
Mou Waho Island is a sanctuary for buff weka, which have been extinct on mainland New Zealand since 1920.
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Ridgeline Wānaka Rugged Off-road Adventure
Head off the beaten track on a guided 4WD adventure through the remote back roads of an authentic high-country farm overlooking Lake Wānaka. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, glaciers and wild river valleys, encounter free-ranging red deer, cattle and sheep while discovering the region’s early farming heritage and modern farming life. Two optional short walks provide opportunities to explore pristine alpine meadows and ancient lakeside forest along the way.
West Wānaka Station covers around 30,000 acres, and the experience visits remnants of early farming life dating back to 1865.
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Lakeside Leisure in Wānaka
Enjoy time at leisure to explore Wānaka in your own way, surrounded by its spectacular lakeside and alpine setting. You may choose to browse boutique shops and local galleries, visit one of the town’s characterful cinemas, relax over a meal, or unwind with a massage or spa experience. Perhaps venture outdoors to enjoy the lakefront, seek out the famous Wānaka Tree, or choose from the many adventures offered among the region’s mountains, trails, and waterways
The famous Wānaka Tree began more than 80 years ago as a willow branch planted in the lakebed to help keep livestock contained.
Lake Wānaka
Take in the clear waters and mountain-framed beauty of Lake Wānaka, the natural centrepiece of this relaxed alpine town. Its shoreline, open views and changing perspectives remain part of the experience throughout your stay, whether enjoying the lakefront or travelling through the surrounding landscape. This remarkable setting gives Wānaka its spacious, peaceful character and enduring connection to the outdoors.
Stretching 45.4 kilometres and reaching a depth of 311 metres, Lake Wānaka is New Zealand’s fourth-largest lake.
Cardrona Hotel
Pause for a photo at the historic Cardrona Hotel while travelling through the Cardrona Valley. Established in 1863, it is one of New Zealand’s oldest hotels and one of only two surviving buildings from the valley’s gold-rush township. Its distinctive roadside exterior offers a memorable glimpse into the days when the hotel provided accommodation, livery services and a coaching stop for miners and travellers.
Long-serving publican Jimmy Patterson allowed travellers heading towards Wānaka two drinks, but those crossing the treacherous Crown Range were limited to one.
Explore Historic Arrowtown
Explore historic Arrowtown, a charming gold-rush village nestled beside the Arrow River and surrounded by mountain peaks. Discover its rich heritage among restored miners’ cottages and historic buildings, with the option to visit the Lakes District Museum or explore former gold-mining sites beside the river. The compact town centre is also home to inviting cafés, restaurants, galleries and boutique shops, offering plenty of ways to enjoy Arrowtown at your own pace.
Local fact: More than 70 historically listed buildings and features preserve Arrowtown’s gold-rush heritage.
ExploreCustomise Your Day Here
Wānaka gives you a morning to shape yourself. One option takes to the water and a predator-free island sanctuary with a hidden lake to discover. The other heads off the sealed roads onto a working high-country farm. Whichever you choose, the afternoon stays free to enjoy the town at its own gentle pace.
Option A
Lake Cruise & Island Nature Walk
Half day
Enjoy a scenic cruise across Lake Wānaka with a passionate local eco-guide to predator-free Mou Waho Island. From the beach, follow a guided nature walk through native vegetation alive with native birdsong to discover the island’s hidden lake, where you can relax, swim or continue to the summit for sweeping panoramic views across Lake Wānaka and the surrounding mountains. Encounter native birds, geckos and wētā, including the endangered buff weka, then help protect their island home by planting a native tree in this important conservation refuge.
- Enjoy a scenic cruise across Lake Wānaka
- Explore Mou Waho Island on a guided nature walk
- Encounter native birds, including endangered buff weka
- Plant a native tree in this conservation refuge
Explore this option
Option B
Rugged Off-road Adventure with a Kiwi Twist
4 hours (8:30am - 12:30pm)
Venture off-road into an authentic New Zealand High Country farm, exploring remote tracks surrounded by snow-capped peaks, wild river valleys, and sweeping views over Lake Wānaka. Get up close to deer, cattle, and sheep while discovering historic sites and the stories of the region's early farming life. With optional walks through alpine meadows and ancient lakeside forests, this experience offers an immersive glimpse into Wānaka's landscape, heritage, and way of life.
- Off-road tracks across a working high-country farm
- Deer, cattle and sheep seen up close
- Historic sites and stories of Wānaka's early farming life
- Optional 20-minute walks through alpine meadows and lakeside forest
Explore this option
Available on: Available on the Kauri, Kōwhai, Pōhutukawa, Rimu, Mt Cook Lily, Tōtara, and Mataī tours
Where You'll Stay in Wānaka & Central Otago
On selected departures, our usual accommodation may be substituted with another carefully selected property, based on availability.
2 nights
Edgewater Hotel
Established 1986
Sitting at the edge of Lake Wānaka, this hotel offers a superb lakeside location just a short walk from Wānaka town. Framed by views to Mt Aspiring National Park, the resort's accommodation is spread across the grounds, creating a tranquil setting with ever-changing perspectives. The on-site restaurant serves a locally crafted, seasonal menu.
- Lakefront location
- On-site restaurant
- Hot tubs and sauna
- Leisure facilities
Alternative accommodation
Oakridge Resort Wānaka
Surrounded by mountains and located just three kilometres from Lake Wānaka, Oakridge Resort offers a peaceful setting in which to relax and recharge. Unwind in the landscaped outdoor hot pools and sauna, or enjoy the option of dining at the on-site restaurant and relaxing poolside at The Poolhouse Bar.
- Mountain setting
- On-site restaurant
- Outdoor heated pools and sauna
- Poolhouse Bar
On Tour in Wānaka & Central Otago
See how this destination features on our small-group tours.
How Pure Discoveries® Visits
Arrive in Wānaka from the wild landscapes of Haast, where rainforest gives way to the sparkling waters of Lake Wānaka and its mountain backdrop. Settle in for two nights and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of this picturesque lakeside town.
The following morning, customise your tour with a Your Choice experience. Choose the Lake Cruise & Island Nature Walk, travelling to predator-free Mou Waho Island, or a Rugged Off-road Adventure through a spectacular High Country farm. The afternoon brings lakeside leisure in Wānaka, before the next day’s journey takes in the much-photographed Cardrona Hotel and time to explore historic Arrowtown.
Tours That Explore Wānaka & Central Otago
These Pure Discoveries® tours include Wānaka & Central Otago in their itinerary.
Both Islands
23Days
Days 16-17 here
A 23-day guided journey across both islands, designed as the full New Zealand experience. A seamless adventure for travellers who want the complete story.
Featured Experience: Discover the beauty of the Bay of Islands, shaped by its sparkling coastlines
Both Islands
20Days
Days 16-17 here
A 20-day guided journey across both islands, designed for travellers who want New Zealand's coastal beauty at the heart of the trip, alongside classic New Zealand highlights.
Featured Experience: Discover the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, steeped in New Zealand's history
Both Islands
20Days
Days 13-14 here
A 20-day guided journey across both islands, designed for travellers who want the classic two-island experience with a deeper South Island ending.
Featured Experience: Journey through native forest on the Driving Creek Railway
Both Islands
17Days
Days 13-14 here
A 17-day guided journey across both islands, designed as a shorter two-island adventure that still delivers New Zealand's big bucket list moments.
Featured Experience: Discover Cathedral Cove, one of New Zealand's most iconic coastal sights
South Island
14Days
Days 7-8 here
A 14-day guided journey through the South Island, designed for travellers who want the complete South Island story in one beautifully paced experience.
Featured Experience: Indulge in Marlborough wine country with a tasting at a world-class vineyard
Both Islands
12Days
Days 5-6 here
A 12-day guided journey across both islands, perfect for those wanting the cultural and geothermal highlights of the North before a fuller South Island adventure.
Featured Experience: Walk elevated forest pathways on the Redwoods Treewalk in Rotorua
South Island
10Days
Days 3-4 here
A 10-day guided journey through the South Island, designed for travellers who want a compact adventure that still delivers the big scenic moments.
Featured Experience: Glide along the Avon River on a classic punting experience in Christchurch
Nearby Places
More to explore around Wānaka & Central Otago
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