The hit list: 48 hours (or more) in Wānaka, NZ

Your home base for the good stuff 

Your new home base for lakeside living, mountain air, and a little Tasman sparkle.The kind of place where mornings start with birdsong and coffee in hand, and evenings fade into golden light, laughter, and maybe a slow walk back from the lake.

Here, life runs on holiday time.

Here, you can:
🚴 Grab a bike and roll straight onto the trails - the kind that hug the lake and make you forget what your phone’s for.
🧖 Sink into the spa and sauna - that perfect exhale moment after a day spent chasing views.
🐾 Bring the fur babies - because holidays are better when the whole family’s in tow (muddy paws and all).
🧚 Find the hidden fairy doors tucked around the park - tiny surprises that make little adventurers’ eyes light up.
🎿 Hot tip: Planning a winter return? We’ve got ski and snowboard storage ready for your gear - so you can focus on the mountains, not the mess.

Everything you need. Nothing you don’t. Just the simple, good stuff - done the Tasman way.

👉 Book your stay direct with Tasman Holiday Parks – Wānaka

Day one: Trail tales & tasty things 🚴🏔️

Mornings that move you ☀️ 
Wake up slow, let the sun hit your face, and ease into the day with the Wānaka Lakeside Tracks, an easy ride that wraps around the water like a lazy ribbon. The lake glints beside you, cicadas hum in the distance, and every turn offers a new reason to stop (and probably take a photo). Cruise past Eely Point and Beacon Point, where locals swim, kids chase skipping stones, and that first flat white of the morning tastes better than it has any right to. You might start with a ride, but don’t be surprised if it turns into brunch with a view.

Afternoon – Pine-scented playgrounds 🌲
When the midday sun kicks in, trade lake breezes for the cool hush of Sticky Forest It’s a tangle of pine trees and locally built trails that twist and roll through the hills - part playground, part escape hatch. Whether you’re chasing jumps or just cruising, there’s something addictive about the crunch of gravel and the smell of sun-warmed pine.

Finish the day like a pro: bike down, helmet off, and a cold local brew in hand. (You’ve earned it.)

Evening –Dinner with a view (or two)🍝
When golden hour hits, Wānaka slows right down - the sky turns to honey, and the air smells faintly of barbecue and adventure. Dinner at Kika is a no-brainer; their “Just Feed Me” menu is a choose-your-own-story for food lovers.
Or wander over to Bistro Gentil where the Pinot flows, the views linger, and the sun dips perfectly behind the mountains - because in Wānaka, even dinner feels like a postcard.

Day two: Peaks, pours & pure Wānaka wonder✨🍷

Morning - views worth the climb 🏔️

Early risers, this one’s for you. Lace up and take on Isthmus Peak - 16 km of pure alpine goodness. It’s a solid climb (and then some), but the 360° views of Lakes Wānaka and Hawea are worth every breath. Perfect for those who like their mornings bold and their afternoons easy.

If you’re after something gentler, Diamond Lake & Rocky Mountain Track is just the ticket - shorter loops, lookouts for days, and plenty of picnic-worthy spots. Ideal for families, first-timers, and anyone travelling with a furry co-pilot.

Fancy more hikes and tracks? Wānaka’s bursting with trails for every pace and personality - from relaxed lakeside strolls to big alpine missions.
👉 See more Wānaka hikes & tracks

Travelling with pets?🐾 Some local trails welcome four-legged explorers too - tails wagging, tongues out, adventure mode activated.
👉 Find our guide to pet-friendly Wānaka walks.

Afternoon - Raise a glass to taking it slow 🍇

By the time you’ve dusted off the trail shoes, you’ve more than earned something a little indulgent. Start your slow afternoon at Cardrona Distillery - where small-batch spirits meet crisp mountain air and time seems to pour a little slower.

If you’re in no rush (and why would you be?), keep exploring Wānaka’s softer side. Think sun-drenched cellar doors, tucked-away breweries, and distilleries that tell their story one sip at a time.

👉 Discover Wānaka’s wineries, distilleries & craft brewers

Bonus round: Too good to leave so soon 🚁

Because 48 hours Is just the teaser trailer.

For those who’d rather drift than dash, trade hiking boots for something a little more poetic. Feel the spray on your skin as you skim along glacier-fed rivers with Wānaka River Journeys - jet-boating through landscapes so still they look painted on. Step out, breathe deep, and listen to the silence hum.

Or take to the skies with Aspiring Helicopters or Southern Alps Air, chasing horizon lines over snow-dusted peaks and glassy lakes. From up there, you’ll see why no photo ever does this place justice.

It’s not about ticking boxes - it’s about taking your time. Let the mountains move you, and maybe, just maybe, stay another day.

👉 Explore Wānaka’s tours

The wrap-up 💛

Some places don’t just give you a getaway - they give you back a feeling you didn’t know you’d lost. Wānaka is one of them.

Whether it’s plunging into the lake or sinking into the spa, cruising the trails or lingering over a local drop, this place has a way of slowing life down until it feels just right again. The air’s cleaner, the light softer, and time seems to bend a little - enough for you to actually catch your breath.

So go on. Switch off the noise, pack the togs, and let the real world feel real again.

👉 Plan your lakeside escape with Tasman Holiday Parks – Wānaka