Lake Wanaka
Lake Wanaka

Lake Wanaka

Wanaka

The basics

Like many lakes in the lower South Island, Lake Wanaka is long, skinny, and wedged between high mountains. Lake Wanaka and its namesake town are much less crowded than nearby Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu but offer equally impressive mountain and lake views, as well as many of the same outdoor adventures.

Travelers visit Wanaka either independently or on guided tours of the South Island. Active travelers like to hike, mountain bike, or kayak around the lake, or even parasail above it. More relaxed options include taking a boat cruise, strolling the paths around the lake’s edge, or visiting the bird sanctuaries of Mou Tapu and Mou Waho, islands in the middle of Lake Wanaka.

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Lake Wanaka 1-Hour Cruise Including Wine and Cheese Board
Lake Wanaka 1-Hour Cruise Including Wine and Cheese Board
star-4.5
US$36.86 per adult
Traveler Favorite
Lake Wānaka cruise
Had an amazing cruise on Lake Wānaka and captain and crew were very friendly loved the view with snow on the surrounding maunga’s
Rosanna_K, Aug 2023
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Recent reviews from experiences in Wanaka

Perfect finish to a perfect stay in Wanaka
star-5
Perfect finish to a perfect stay in Wanaka
Roz_B, Apr 2023
Lake Wanaka 1-Hour Cruise Including Wine and Cheese Board
Was visually beautiful and very informative, I’ll take a longer one next time!!! Cider was served in a large wine glass befitting us woman and cheeseboard was just perfect. A real treat to finish of our stay in Wanaka
Happy hour cruise.
star-5
Happy hour cruise.
Darren_B, Apr 2023
Lake Wanaka 1-Hour Cruise Including Wine and Cheese Board
Enjoyable experience with friendly and knowledgeable staff. It was a nice finish from a long day of adventure. Highly recommended.
Unforgettable experience.
star-5
Unforgettable experience.
Greg_T, Apr 2023
Wanaka 4x4 Explorer The Ultimate Lake and Mountain Adventure
Both the cruise across the lake and the 4wd excursion up the mountain, plus the tour guide’s excellent knowledge and personality made for a memorable experience, not to mention the lovely picnic lunch and local wine.
It was breathtaking to...
star-5
It was breathtaking to...
HyunKyung_C, Mar 2023
Lake Wanaka 1-Hour Cruise Including Wine and Cheese Board
It was breathtaking to just view the beautiful wanaka lake from the boat. Wine and cheese were also nice
The BEST Day!!
star-5
The BEST Day!!
Rona_J, Mar 2023
Private, safe self guided ebike tour from Lake Hawea to Lake Wanaka
Gah!! Where do I even start? How about with sunshine, a charming local kiwi with a wicked sense of humor, like new e-bikes, a well thought out itinerary for self-guided fun, a thorough safety orientation, a cinematic video clip to make friends/fam jelly on social media, a stunning landscape, (including the INCREDIBLE Wanaka tree) and a sense of adventure!?? What could possibly go wrong? Um…NOTHING. Mark made sure this was one of our most memorable days of our NZ trip! Freda (the bike) was the sleek, capable steed who helped this old girl safely navigate and rock the ride, and Mark’s frequent check-ins helped build the confidence we needed to not only complete the ride, but also enjoy the best local food and beverages while doing so. He tailored our trip to US and was so accommodating. I’m the words of Nike…just do it. Book this adventure with this operator!! You won’t regret it!
Amazing! Highly recommend!
star-5
Amazing! Highly recommend!
Sherry_T, Mar 2023
Lake Wanaka 1-Hour Cruise Including Wine and Cheese Board
What an amazing cruise around the Wanaka lake with amazing views on a beautiful vessel, with a cheese and fruit board and wine or your choice of beverage. Captain Tim was so gracious and welcoming, in addition to informative. Bronie, the server, was amazing. We highly recommend this beautiful relaxing sunset cruise with your family and friends! You will not regret it. Thank you, Captain Tim and Bronie! Cheers!
Wine and lake boat ride
star-4
Wine and lake boat ride
Lynne_C, Jan 2023
Lake Wanaka 1-Hour Cruise Including Wine and Cheese Board
Lovely hour on a catamaran power boat with a glass of wine. Arrive at the beach near a small sign and the boat comes to the shore. There is free parking right there for 60 or 120 minutes and the little town has lots of dining options. Love Wānaka.
Outstanding...
star-5
Outstanding...
Richard_T, Jan 2023
Lake Wanaka 1-Hour Cruise Including Wine and Cheese Board
Outstanding Experience.Great cheese board. Beautiful scenery.Friendly staff. Great prices for drinks. Enjoyed the music
Beautiful wanaka
star-5
Beautiful wanaka
Lynda_D, Dec 2022
Lake Wanaka 1-Hour Cruise Including Wine and Cheese Board
It was great to get out on the water in wanaka… lovely cheese board and glass of wine.. perfect to end the day before going out to dinner in town..
Highly recommend doing...
star-5
Highly recommend doing...
Alysha_H, Oct 2022
Lake Wanaka 1-Hour Cruise Including Wine and Cheese Board
Highly recommend doing this little wine and cheese board cruise! Great way to see the beautiful lake and Wanaka. Large variety of drinks offered and a yummy cheese board. Great experience.
Nice way to spend an hour in Wanaka
star-4
Nice way to spend an hour in Wanaka
MELINA_P, Oct 2022
Lake Wanaka 1-Hour Cruise Including Wine and Cheese Board
It was a pretty cold day, but soon warmed up with a glass or two of red. It was a lovely way to spend an hour. Tim our captain was lovely and was very knowledgeable on the area and had a great sense of humour. It was great value for money.
Wonderful
star-5
Wonderful
Sue_L, Oct 2020
Lake Wanaka 1-Hour Cruise Including Wine and Cheese Board
Lovely trip on a beautiful afternoon with a glass of Sauvignon blanc and delicious cheese board. Staff were excellent.
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Things to know before you go

  • Wanaka gets cold in the winter, so be sure to pack appropriately.
  • In the winter, Wanaka makes a good base for accessing the ski fields nearby.
  • The Central Otago region is one of New Zealand’s prime wine-producing regions, especially famous for its pinot noir. There are many places in Wanaka town to enjoy a glass with a lake view.
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How to get there

Dunedin is the closest city to Wanaka, about 3.5 hours southwest by car. The nearest international airport is at Queenstown, about an hour drive away. Many travelers like to rent a car when traveling around the South Island, as this gives them easy access to smaller towns like Wanaka. It’s also possible to get a long-distance bus or take a guided tour from Queenstown or Dunedin.

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When to get there

Lake Wanaka is a year-round destination, although what you can comfortably enjoy doing depends on the season. Winters are cold but summers are pleasantly warm.

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Visiting nearby Lake Hawea

While visiting Lake Wanaka, make time to visit Lake Hawea, just a 15-minute drive from Wanaka. The two lakes are only separated by a very narrow strip of land. There’s a small town here with great hiking tracks that connect Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea. 

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More Tours in Wanaka