Wanaka, South Island

including Lake Hawea

Wanaka family holiday: boys by Lake Wanaka in summer

Wanaka family holiday: hiking in the hills

Wanaka family holiday: view of Lake Wanaka and Glendhu Bay

Walks and Parks

Walks & Parks

Get Outdoors!

Discover the region's walks, parks, beaches, lakes or rivers.

Welcome to Wanaka

Wanaka

Wanaka is a perfect year-round family destination situated on the shore of Lake Wanaka (New Zealand's fourth largest lake) with the magnificent mountains and glaciers of Mount Aspiring National Park on its doorstep. Absorb the breathtaking views with a road tour and stop for a scenic walk. Other activities include jet boating, horseriding, the famous Puzzling World, the unique Transport and Toy museum and of course, skiing and snowboarding. Wanaka has three great ski areas - Treble Cone, Cardrona and the Snow Farm from as little as 30 minutes drive away. There are also lots of shops to browse, great cafes and one of the region’s most interesting cinemas!
The town offers a range of accommodation from holiday parks to luxury apartments and it’s hard to avoid getting a great view wherever you stay.

Lake Hawea

Just 10 minutes drive from Wanaka, the stunning lakefront township of Lake Hawea is a fantastic destination in its own right. You can give the kids that real, laid-back kiwi holiday experience with the focus on outdoor play, swimming, fishing, water sports, family bike tracks and summer evening barbeques, all seconds away from your accommodation. Meanwhile the excitement and activities of Wanaka are just 10 minutes drive away, and Queenstown is just over an hour – perfect for a day trip!

KidzGo front cover only small3 Visit Kidz Go Southern Lakes online magazine >>

North Island

Map of New Zealand

Our favourite destinations…

Auckland destination2

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.