Wanaka, Family Activities

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  • Snow farm tubing 4
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    Snow farm tubing

    Snow Fun Zone – Snow Farm

    A day at the Snow Farm is a must-do for all things snow, to suit the whole family!   We're famous for our friendly, social atmosphere and amazing cross-country skiing adventures - ... read more

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    Cardrona gondie
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    Cardrona Alpine Resort - Adventure Playground

    Sightseeing Gondola ~ Mountain Carting  ~ Mountain Biking ~ Stargazing ~ Alpine Walking.Take a day and come and play in New Zealand’s highest playground! Take the gondola to sight-... read more

  • Cardrona biking 2
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    Cardrona biking kids

    Cardrona Mountain Biking

    Enjoy lift-accessed downhill Mountain Bike Trails for all abilities to enjoy!  Lap the lifts daily from 10am to 4pm or til 6pm during peak periods (26th Dec-22nd Jan). With beginne... read more

  • Ages 7+
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    Basecamp Adventures Wanaka - Family Snowshoeing

    No Experience Necessary.  Your own personal guide will take you on an amazing half-day or full-day snowy adventure tailored entirely to your family's fitness, experience and comfor... read more

  • Ages 8+
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    Cardrona karting
    Cardrona gondie

    Cardrona Mountain Carting and Lift Pass

    Experience Cardrona’s newest gravity-fuelled activity – Mountain Carting!  No prior experience is needed for this fun downhill activity, just a sense of adventure & a thirst for FU... read more

  • Ruby Island Cruise

    Ruby Island Cruise and Photo Walk

    All aboard this Lake Wanaka Cruise to Ruby Island for a 60 minute cruise and gentle island walk on the island. This affordable and family-friendly Wanaka cruise will take you past some spectacular mountainous scenery by the lake before disembarking for a gentle 20 minute walk. See the remains of an old dance hall heralding back to the day of prohibition as well as an introduction into the origins of Manuka Honey here in New Zealand.

    Located on Lake Wanaka, it is simply impossible to take a bad photo on Ruby Island with a stunning mountain backdrop to all your photographs. The 60 minute Lake Wanaka Cruise is available at 1 pm and is activity travellers of all ages can enjoy together.

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  • wanaka jet boat

    Wanaka Jet Boat

    Discover the waterways of Lake Wanaka over a thrilling 60-minute jet boat ride. This experience will see you racing across Lake Wanaka and down NZ's largest river, the Clutha, famous for turquoise waters and a gold-rush history.

    Navigating shallow waters, overhanging trees and pressure waves at hurtling speeds, your adrenaline will be kicked into overdrive. Not least of all by the famous Hamilton spin! But it won't be all screams and spins. Expect plenty of photo opportunities, history and stories from your tour guide and the chance to relax and admire the incredible setting.

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  • Ages 9+
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    Wild Wire - Twin Falls Via Ferrata

    Get High with Wild Wire! No Experience Necessary!  Go Wild on a Family Adventure of a lifetime, let our experienced guide harness you up and Via Ferrata ( a network of steel cables, rungs and ladders) your family into the a heart of a waterfall high above Wanaka. Discover hidden pools, enjoy the thrill of crossing a 35m high suspension bridge whilst enjoying stunning views all the way. If you can climb a ladder you can Via Ferrata.

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  • Ages 5+
    Paddle Wanaka kayak cute girl

    Paddle Wanaka Kayaks :: Guided Half Day Tour

    Head out onto the water of Lake Wanaka in the Otago region with a guided kayaking tour. This popular Tiki Tour will see you climb into a kayak to spend half the day paddling around the scenic lake taking in all of the region's best sights.

    Ideal for for those visiting with children, this tour features around 8 to 10 kilometres of easy paddling meaning you won't be overly exhausted by the end of the tour. Travelling along the Lake Wanaka coastline this tour is perfect for those looking to explore the region, have some fun and take some incredible photos.

    No experience is required for kayakers and an experienced guide will be on hand to help you whenever you need. Complete with all necessary safety equipment and training, light snacks and refreshments to enjoy during the journey and the choice of a 15-minute peninsula or island walk, this is the ultimate water-based adventure in the beautiful town of Wanaka.

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North Island

South Island

Map of New Zealand
  • Central Otago
  • Auckland
  • Bay of Plenty
  • Christchurch
  • Dunedin
  • Coromandel
  • Gisborne
  • Fiordland
  • Hawkes Bay
  • Marlborough Sounds
  • Manawatu
  • Nelson & Golden Bay
  • Northland
  • North Canterbury
  • Queenstown
  • Rotorua
  • South Canterbury
  • Taranaki
  • Southland
  • Taupo
  • Wanaka
  • Waikato
  • Wellington
  • West Coast
  • Whangarei
  • Bay of Islands
  • Tauranga
  • Gisborne
  • Hamilton
  • Napier
  • Kapiti
  • Palmerston North
  • Whanganui
  • New Plymouth
  • Arrowtown
  • Te Anau
  • Akaroa
  • Ashburton
  • Hanmer
  • Kaikoura
  • Methven
  • Mt Cook
  • Oamaru
  • Tekapo
  • Timaru
  • Abel Tasman
  • Motueka
  • Nelson Lakes
  • Blenheim
  • Picton
  • Catlins
  • Gore
  • Stewart Island
  • Central Plateau
  • Invercargill
  • Cromwell
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Westport
  • Glenorchy

Our favourite destinations…

Auckland

New Zealand’s economic heart and biggest city is also an exciting family visitor destination, situated on a sunny harbour with city beaches just minutes away from the CBD. Orientate yourself by heading down to Viaduct Harbour, wandering the waterfront, checking out the super yachts or enjoying the waterfront restaurants. Nearby is the must-visit Sky Tower along with excellent and kid-friendly museums and tons of exciting activities!

Wellington

Wellington is New Zealand’s capital. Here you will find New Zealand's parliament buildings, including the 'Executive Wing', more well-known as 'The Beehive' due to its distinctive shape. Another icon to look out for is the Wellington Tram, which was the main means of public transport between 1878 and 1964.

Christchurch

With a population of around 400,000 Christchurch, in Canterbury, is the South Island ’s largest city, yet much of it has the feel of a small town. Perhaps that’s why it’s known as the Garden City but with the expansive Hagley Park, Botanic Gardens, Port Hills, River Avon and numerous beaches the city certainly has an open, relaxed feel that’s hard to beat.

Queenstown

With its well-deserved reputation as New Zealand’s activity adventure capital you’ll never run out of activities and things to do in Queenstown, but you may run out of time! With breathtaking scenery, activities and festivals, cafes and restaurants, skiing and snowboarding, shopping and wineries, this lakeside alpine resort rates as one of the world’s top vacation destinations for all ages and seasons.

Rotorua

Rotorua sits on the shore of Lake Rotorua, one of sixteen lakes in the area formed by hundreds of thousands of years of eruptions from the Taupo Volcanic Zone. The area is renowned for its geothermal activity and top of any activity list is to see the bubbling mud pools that are around the region for yourself. The Waimangu Volcanic Valley offers a first hand insight into the devastation caused by the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera and is a great place to discover steaming volcanic craters and bubbling, spitting  pools of mud!

Nelson and Golden Bay

The Nelson and Golden Bay regions, at the top of the South Island, boast enviable sunshine hours, glorious sandy beaches, safe swimming spots, lots of wildlife to look out for, and Abel Tasman National Park - an absolute must to explore, on foot, by kayak, your own craft or watertaxi.  Nelson is home to a vibrant arts and crafts community with a fabulous Saturday market, and is close to award-winning wineries and family-friendly bike tracks to take you around the coast.

Hawkes Bay

Napier was rebuilt after the 1931 earthquake and is now known as NZ's Art Deco City.  The Art Deco influence has created a unique city – nowhere else can you see such a varied concentration of art deco style. With over 2,200 sunshine hours a year, Napier is a year-round holiday destination with countless activities to entertain the kids – there's days of entertainment on Marine Parade alone, plus numerous other family-friendly trips and activities.  Add to that the beaches, walks and flat cycle paths, outdoor cafes and entertainment, and you have a perfect holiday destination!

Northland

Beautiful, unspoiled beaches, fishing, historic gum fields, kauri forests – the Far North has it all. With subtropical temperatures, it's often known as ‘the Winterless north', with warm, humid summers and mild winters.
Gateway to the Bay of Islands, Paihia is a pretty, lively beachside town and a perfect base for your family holiday. It’s your start point for Bay of Island adventures including day cruises, sailing, kayaking, swimming with dolphins and reef or wreck diving.