7 Incredible Day Trips from Wanaka

Set out on a day trip from Wanaka in any direction, and you’re bound to land somewhere gorgeous.

As if there isn’t already enough to do in Wanaka, this lovely alpine town also makes an excellent base for day trips around the lower South Island.

Here are my favourite day trips from Wanaka, including a mix of scenic drives, epic hikes, and charming towns that are well worth visiting.

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The Best Day Trips from Wanaka

1. Rob Roy Glacier Track

🚗 From Wanaka: approx. 54 km | 1 hour 20 minutes 

If you’re a keen hiker, the Rob Roy Glacier Track is a very worthy day trip from Wanaka.

Located in Mount Aspiring National Park, this is my all-time favourite day hike in New Zealand, which is saying a lot in a country filled with incredible hikes. 

Getting to the trailhead is a bit of a mission, as the last 30 km of the journey is on an unpaved road with a couple of creeks to cross. The creek crossings can be impassable if there’s been recent heavy rain, particularly for 2WD vehicles, so you’ll want to time this one with dry weather.

Some rental car and campervan companies prohibit driving their vehicles on this road. If you’re hiring a vehicle, check your rental company’s terms and conditions before making your way out here.

Once you arrive at the trailhead, prepare to be awestruck. The hike takes you across a swingbridge over the Matukituki River and then climbs up through lush beech forest to eventually reach an incredible view of Rob Roy Glacier. 

Pack a picnic to enjoy on one of the boulders at the upper lookout, and soak up the scenery while you eat your lunch before heading back to your car.

On the drive back to Wanaka, Wishbone Falls is a nice stop for a quick walk to see a beautiful waterfall.

2. Haast Pass

🚗 From Wanaka: approx. 115 km | 1 hour 40 minutes (to Roaring Billy Falls)

Haast Pass is one of the South Island’s three main alpine passes that connect to the West Coast. 

Driving a section of Haast Pass makes for a fantastic day trip from Wanaka, with numerous waterfalls and nice walks to explore along the way.

From Wanaka, you’ll skirt alongside the wide-open shores of Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka to eventually reach Haast Pass, at which point the road becomes cloaked in dense beech forest.

There are lots of stops you can make along the pass. In order of distance from Wanaka, here are the main stops I recommend:

• Pembroke Patisserie in Albert Town (for a pastry and coffee)
• Lake Wanaka Lookout
• Blue Pools Track
• Fantail Falls
• Thunder Creek Falls
• Roaring Billy Falls

Personally, I don’t think it’s necessary to drive all the way to Haast, as there’s not much there. Roaring Billy Falls would make a great turnaround point before heading back to Wanaka.

Pack a picnic lunch, snacks, and drinking water. Insect repellent will also come in handy, as sandflies are present out here.

3. Queenstown

🚗 From Wanaka: approx. 68.5  km | 1 hour 10 minutes (via the Crown Range Road)

While Queenstown is a great destination in and of itself, it also makes for a very doable day trip from Wanaka.

To drive from Wanaka to Queenstown, you can either drive via the Crown Range Road, or Cromwell and State Highway 6.

The Crown Range Road is the quickest and arguably most scenic option, but as the highest main road in New Zealand, it’s quite steep and winding. It can close during a snowstorm and some campervan rental companies prohibit driving their vans over this road, in which case you’ll want to drive via Cromwell instead.

After arriving in Queenstown, your first challenge will be finding a parking spot. The Boundary Street Carpark is a good paid option that has large parking spots for campervans, or for a free option, I recommend Park Street.

Your second challenge will be deciding what to do with one day in Queenstown, as there are heaps of options!

First, I suggest taking a stroll around the Queenstown Gardens, which are free to visit and are quite lovely. 

Then take your pick from a number of activities in Queenstown. Some great options are the Skyline Gondola and luge, the Shotover Jet, or a cruise on Lake Wakatipu like the historic TSS Earnslaw.

4. Glenorchy

🚗 From Wanaka: approx. 115 km | 2 hours

Glenorchy is a small settlement located at the head of Lake Wakatipu. 

It’s easily one of my favourite day trips from Queenstown, but it’s also possible to day trip here from Wanaka.

The drive to Glenorchy is absolutely stunning, with scenic lookouts, hikes, and Lord of the Rings filming sites along the way.

Some of my favourite stops and detours on a Glenorchy day trip include Moke Lake, Bob’s Cove, and the Bennett’s Bluff Lookout.

After arriving in Glenorchy, visit Mrs Woolly’s General Store for a coffee and treat. The historic Glenorchy boat shed is worth checking out, too, and the Glenorchy Lagoon Walk is perfect for a peaceful stroll.

While it would make for a long day trip from Wanaka, it’s also worth driving beyond Glenorchy towards Mount Aspiring National Park. The mountain views are incredible, and you’ll find some of my favourite South Island day hikes out this way, including the Lake Sylvan Track and the start of the Routeburn Track.

5. Arrowtown

🚗 From Wanaka: approx. 55 km | 55 minutes

Arrowtown is a charming village from the gold rush era, located just 20 minutes from Queenstown.

It feels like a place from a storybook, with quaint shops, historic buildings, and a peaceful river surrounded by woodland.

To kick off your day in Arrowtown, enjoy coffee and breakfast at one of the many excellent cafes in town. Provisions Cafe and the Dishery have good food, and Wolf Coffee Roasters is perfect for locally roasted coffee.

Then explore the shops along Buckingham Street before making your way down to the Historic Arrowtown Chinese Settlement to learn about some of the town’s gold mining history.

Next, I’d pick a walk or hike to do—there are some lovely trails in Arrowtown! Sawpit Gully is a good day hike, or for something mellow, I always love the Arrowtown Millennium Walk, an easy one-hour amble along the Arrow River.

Alternatively, you could hire bikes from Better By Bike to cycle the scenic trails around Arrowtown.

When you’re ready for lunch or dinner, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Slow Cuts is great for a casual meal, as is the Fork & Tap pub. 

Or you could head out to nearby Ayrburn for a world-class dining experience amidst their impressive grounds.

6. Bannockburn 

🚗 From Wanaka: approx. 62 km | 50 minutes

For a hidden gem of a day trip from Wanaka, Bannockburn is a wonderful choice.

Bannockburn is a small Central Otago gold-mining settlement, with walking and cycle trails that wind through beautiful wine country.

On the drive from Wanaka to Bannockburn, it’s worth visiting the Cromwell Heritage Precinct for a wander. 

You’ll get great views over Lake Dunstan, and there are some cute shops and cafes to check out—I always love visiting Pinot Junction for a cinnamon scroll.

After exploring the Cromwell Heritage Precinct, make your way to Bannockburn. 

A great little stop along the way is the Local Honey Shed, where you can purchase jars of delicious local honey—the wild thyme honey is a favourite of mine.

Then it’ll be time for a walk. 

The Bannockburn Sluicings Track takes you on a 3.5 km loop through a heritage site that looks straight out of the Wild West. With a unique, desolate landscape created by the area’s gold-mining history, there’s nothing else quite like it in New Zealand.

After your walk, you might want to reward your efforts with a visit to one of the nearby wineries. 

Both Mt Difficulty and Carrick Winery are great options, with local wine, good food, and beautiful vineyard settings.

7. Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park

🚗 From Wanaka: approx. 206 km | 2.5 hours

Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is easily one of the best places to visit in the South Island, particularly for outdoor lovers.

If you have time to spare, I do recommend booking accommodation near Mount Cook National Park so you can stay overnight and really soak up your time there. However, it’s also fully possible to day trip here from Wanaka if you leave early and plan for a jam-packed day out.

The drive from Wanaka to Mount Cook National Park is absolutely stunning, with wide-open vistas and mountain scenery to keep you company along the way. 

Some of my favourite stops and detours are the Lindis Pass Summit Scenic Lookout, the Omarama Clay Cliffs, Mint Folk & Co Cafe in Twizel, and Peter’s Lookout on the shores of Lake Pukaki.

As you approach the national park, prepare for your jaw to drop—driving along turquoise-blue Lake Pukaki with views of snow-capped Aoraki/Mount Cook itself is a surreal experience.

Once you arrive in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, it’ll be time to lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails! 

Do note that you now need to pay for parking at the White Horse Hill carpark, which is the starting point for several excellent hikes.

The Hooker Valley Track (10 km return) is the most popular day hike in the national park (for good reason). 

Kea Point is another great option for a shorter walk, as is the Tasman Glacier View Track.

On your drive back to Wanaka, consider booking a soak at Hot Tubs Omarama—I can’t think of a better way to cap off a day of exploring!

Where to stay in Wanaka

• Camping: Check out my guide to the best campsites in Wanaka
• Budget-friendly ($) – Hampshire Holiday Park Wanaka
• Mid-range ($$) – Clearbrook Motel
• High-end ($$$) – Lakeside Apartments Wanaka

Thanks for reading my guide to the best day trips from Wanaka!

I truly hope this has helped you plan your next adventure.

As always, please leave a comment if you have any questions or feedback for me. I really love hearing from you!

More New Zealand travel inspiration for you

Planning to visit Wanaka on a larger New Zealand itinerary? You might find these articles helpful:

• Christchurch to Queenstown road trip (7 days)
• 12-day South Island itinerary