The Best Day Trips from Wanaka

If you fancy exploring outside of Wanaka, here are a few of my favourite day trips to make:

Queenstown: 1 hour 15 minute drive from Wanaka

Queenstown is about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Wanaka by car, making it the perfect day trip or weekend escape. The drive itself will take you over the Crown Range, which is absolutely beautiful. There are a few stops to make along here; Cardona Distillery, Cardona Hotel (lovely quaint pub), and Bradona (iconic bra fence). The top of the Crown Range is beautiful too, and there's even a walking track up here which is worth doing.

Once you’re there, you’ll want to hit the must-see spots: take a stroll along Lake Wakatipu, hop on the Skyline Gondola for epic views (and maybe a luge ride if you’re feeling adventurous), wander through Queenstown Gardens, and don’t miss the chance to explore the charming streets packed with cafes and boutique shops. For thrill-seekers, there’s everything from bungy jumping to jet boating — Queenstown really is the adventure capital!

A few of my favourite places here:
🤤 Go to Blue Kanu for dinner - it's some of the best food I've ever had!
🌲 Bob's Cove is a beautiful, chilled walk with a gorgeous spot to swim (and jetty to jump off!)

🥾 Moke Lake for a longer walk. It's also a gorgeous place to camp.
🍔 You have to try a Fergburger (I bet you've heard of it...and yes, it is worth the queue!).

Mt Cook: 2.5 hours drive from Wanaka

Mt Cook / Aoraki is about 2.5 hours’ drive from Wanaka, so it is a do-able day trip, but I'd recommend staying overnight to get the most out of it. It is breathtaking here - you HAVE to see Mt Cook during your trip to New Zealand as its the tallest mountain here!

The iconic Hooker Valley Track is currently closed (as I'm writing this, October 2025, but check the DOC site for any updates). An alternative walk is the Sealy Tarn track. This is the route up to Mueller Hut, and it is beautiful, although quite a tough slog as you'll walk up 2000 steps. It's worth the sweat though, trust me!

If you're after a more chilled walk, head over to Tasman Lake and walk to the viewpoint. In winter, there will be floating icebergs on the lake which is pretty epic!

Mt Aspiring National Park:

Mt Aspiring National Park is my favourite place to head out to from Wanaka. The drive into the National Park will take you rougly 1.5 hours and you'll likely need a 4x4 as the road is mostly a gravel track with several fords to cross which can get pretty deep after heavy rainfall. It is a stunning drive - there are so many waterfalls to see and visit (Wishbone Falls being the best). You'll arrive at Raspberry Flat Carpark, and from here, there are many tracks to do. Rob Roy Glacier Track is a must for incredible glacier and waterfall views without being too strenuous. For longer hikes, the French Ridge or Cascade Saddle routes reward you with epic alpine panoramas. Don’t miss a visit to Matukituki Valley, where you can picnic by the river or make your way out to the Mt Aspiring Hut to stay at overnight :)

Arrowtown: 45 minutes drive from Wanaka

Arrowtown is just about 45 minutes from Wanaka by car, making it an easy half-day or day trip. It's just before you arrive in Queenstown, so it's worth stopping at. You'll feel like you've stepped back in time here, it is so quaint and the historic streets are lined with charming shops, old-fashioned pubs, cafes and galleries. Check out the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement to learn a bit of gold-mining history, and if you’re visiting in autumn, the fall colours along the Arrow River are spectacular. For a little adventure, nearby trails like Tuckers Beach Walk offer a peaceful escape into nature 🌲