Wanaka Travel Guide: Your Southern Alps Exploration in New Zealand

Tucked within the stunning Alps of the South Island, the popular ski and resort town of Wanaka provides an escape to Mount Aspiring National Park. Historically an important spot for hunting and fishing in the Summer, Wanaka is primarily now an outdoor adventure base during the Summer and Winter seasons. The remote wilderness of Wanaka and the splendid views adds to its beauty.

A resort town in the South Island, Wanaka derives its name from the namesake Lake Wanaka. Glaciers, beech forests, alpine rivers, and mountains - Wanaka is full of natural wonders. It is also known as the South Island's second adventure capital, offering activities such as mountain biking, skiing, heli skiing, jet boating, and paintballing. Another must-visit destination for fun and family time is the Puzzling World of Wanaka. Explore all these attractions and more with our New Zealand packages.

Getting in Wanaka

Wanaka does not have an international airport on its own and the closest airports to Wanaka are at Christchurch and Queenstown. From there, you can drive to Wanaka. Some of the other cities from where you can also drive include Franz Josef Glacier, Lake Tekapo, Te Anau, and Mount Cook. From India, you can reach Wanaka by landing at Christchurch International Airport. Find the information for Christchurch below.

DEPARTURE	DURATION	LOWEST ROUND TRIP DEALS
Kochin	19h, 2 stops	Rs 98,000

Getting out Wanaka

From Wanaka, there are regular transportation systems that serve the cities of New Castle, Sydney, Wollongong, Gold Coast, Logan City, and Brisbane.

Public Transport in Wanaka

While there are inter-city buses that help connect Wanaka with the neighbouring cities, the public transportation system within Wanaka is limited and is on the lower side. Some of the bus services operating to and from Wanaka include InterCity, ConnectaBus, Atomic Shuttles, and Ritchie's.

Taxi & Airport transfer in Wanaka

Wanaka doesn't have an international airport on its own and the closest international Airport to Wanaka is at Queenstown. From there, while taxis are a bit on the expensive side, you can make use of Nakedbus or Connectabus to get to the city centre of Wanaka. The fares in Nakedbus start as low as $1 if you book well in advance.

Transport & city passes in Wanaka

There is no city passes to help you get around Wanaka.Taxis are available at high frequency and are bit expensive.

Driving & Car rental in Wanaka

Given the compact nature of the city of Wanaka, the best way to get around is by walk or hiring a mountain bike. Alternatively, you can also hire a car if you are expoloring Wanaka with a group. There is a local carpool system in Wanaka that works on coin donation. To get more info on the pickup and the drop points, check out WanaRide Share.