South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷
Land Activities
The Hikes That Actually Deliver
The two big ones here are Roys Peak and Isthmus Peak, and both genuinely deliver on views. Roys Peak has gone properly instagram-heavy though - think single-file queues and potentially an hour's wait for your "solo" shot. If you can stomach a 3 or 4am start, it's worth it. If not, Isthmus Peak is my pick - only a fraction of the people, still a cracking view, solid grunt all the same. Both are exposed with zero shade, so early is the only way to go in summer.
Promo code RANKERS - good deal done!
The Quiet One That's Escaped the Algorithm
The Rob Roy track up in the Matukituki Valley is well worth the effort if you can handle the access road - it's long, winding, and not suitable for bigger motorhomes. The drive in puts a lot of people off, which is exactly why it's still quiet. You'll see glaciers and alpine scenery in half a day, and the whole experience including the drive will eat up most of yours, so don't rush it. There's also Rocky Mountain and Diamond Lake if you want something closer to town with big payoff for less effort.
Beyond the Walks
If you want to get off the trails, guided rock climbing near Wanaka is a good shout - use RANKERS for 10% off. The Wildwire via ferrata is another one worth doing, a waterfall cable climb that's genuinely spectacular and not like anything else in the region - same deal, RANKERS saves you 10%. And if you've got kids or just want something a bit different, Puzzling World has been quietly getting better for 30 years - arrive at opening to beat the crowds.
Wanaka Region Land Activities
95 items with the highest ranking score first, showing page 1 of 5.
Walking
Snow and Ice
Cycling
Outside the Square
Hiking Tours
Camping NZ App
All the great camping sites on your iPhone™, iPad™ or Android™ phone or tablet. Avoid camping penalties using this council approved app. Featuring offline maps.
Canyoning
Climbing