Wānaka in brief
Wānaka sits at the southern end of Lake Wānaka in Otago. It is the regional starting point for Mount Aspiring National Park, and for most visitors it is also the base for the Blue Pools. DOC gives 1 hour 10 minutes by car from Wānaka to the Blue Pools car park.
This is an independent guide, not run by DOC, the district council, a hotel or a tour operator. The town has far more to offer than this page covers. Here we stay with what helps a Blue Pools trip: the day trip, a few local walks and the way in from Queenstown. Prices are in New Zealand dollars as listed in 2026, and they change.
Planning the day trip
The drive is the main variable.
Drive times
Wānaka to Makarora is about 1 hour, according to a local operator, and the Blue Pools car park is 10 minutes further. DOC gives 1 hour 10 minutes in total. A guided operator lists 45 minutes to its start point, so times differ by source.
Makarora →The road
Slips after heavy rain closed SH6 between Makarora and Lake Hāwea on August 28, 2026. NZTA announced round-the-clock travel from October 9, with roadworks and delays continuing. A day trip from Wānaka depends on the road, so check NZTA before you set out.
Haast Pass road →On site
The Blue Pools Track is 3 km return, about 1 hour. Sandflies can be strong between November and April. Plan for the same drive back before dark.
Blue Pools Track →Our picks: from Wanaka
A day trip to the Blue Pools, a water taxi to an island and a cruise on the lake.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Blue Pools, Wilson Creek and Fantail Falls from Wanaka
Pickup in Wanaka and stops at the Blue Pools, Wilson Creek Canyon, Fantail Falls, the swing bridges and Haast Lookout. Meals are not included.
Check availability →
Water taxi to Mou Waho Island
A water taxi there and back with commentary, walking poles and a self-guided walk on the island. A guided island walk is not included.
Check availability →
Catamaran cruise on Lake Wanaka with cheese and a drink
One hour on a catamaran with cheese and crackers and one glass of wine, beer or a soft drink. Hotel transfer and extra drinks are not included.
Check availability →Tours from Wānaka
Guided Blue Pools day trips, scenic flights and other tours from Wānaka and the Haast Pass road, with live prices and availability.
A guided day trip from Wānaka
Operator details as published in 2026.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | NZ$395 for adults, NZ$295 for children aged 4 to 14 |
| Group | At least 2 adults, at most 6 people per guide and day |
| Included | Transport from Wānaka, guide, lunch and GST |
| Pickup and return | Pickup 08:45, back about 15:00 to 16:00 |
| Walking | 2 to 3 hours of walking |
| Booking | Until 18:00 the day before; offered year-round |
This is the operator's plan and not a statement about road or track conditions on the day. For a driving trip of your own, the getting there page has the routes and times.
Roys Peak: closed until November 11
Roys Peak is the best-known hill walk above Wānaka. It is 16 km return, takes 5 to 6 hours, climbs more than 1,200 m and tops out at 1,578 m. DOC rates it a demanding day walk. Every year the track closes from October 1 to November 10 for the lambing season, and it reopens on November 11.
- Start: about 6 km west of Wānaka on the Wānaka-Mount Aspiring Road.
- Parking: free. Do not park on the roadside outside the car park.
- Conditions: no water and no shade. In winter and spring the upper track can ice over, and avalanches are a risk.
For another steep hill walk, see Lake Hāwea and Isthmus Peak.
More in and around town
Short stops and the road west.
That Wānaka Tree
The local tourism organization describes the Wānaka willow, known as That Wānaka Tree, and lists the Wānaka Watersports car park as the starting point.
Rob Roy
Rob Roy is a separate trip into the Matukituki Valley, 54 km west of Wānaka and about 1 hour 20 minutes by car. The last 30 km are gravel, with fords on the last 10 km. See the national park page.
Freedom camping
Wānaka is in the Queenstown Lakes District. Since December 1, 2025, freedom camping is limited to certified self-contained vehicles. It is banned in urban areas except at designated sites, and fines start at NZ$400. See camping.
Getting to Wānaka
From Queenstown and beyond.
A bus from Queenstown to Wānaka takes about 1 hour 45 minutes and is listed as running daily. It leaves from Athol Street and arrives at the Log Cabin on the lakefront, 100 Ardmore Street. Going the other way, the bus from Wānaka to Franz Josef is listed at about 6 hours 25 minutes, which is a bus time and not a driving time. For the bigger picture on the West Coast side, see the Franz Josef Glacier guide. For beds in town, see where to stay.
Wānaka: frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Wānaka to the Blue Pools?
DOC gives 1 hour 10 minutes to the car park. One guided operator lists 45 minutes to its start point. Roadworks can add time.
Can I do the Blue Pools as a day trip from Wānaka?
Yes, if the road allows. The walk is 3 km return and takes about 1 hour, so the drive is the bulk of the day. A guided day trip leaves at 08:45 and returns around 15:00 to 16:00.
How much is the guided day trip?
NZ$395 for adults and NZ$295 for children aged 4 to 14 in 2026, with transport from Wānaka, a guide, lunch and GST. It needs at least 2 adults, and a guide takes at most 6 people.
Is Roys Peak open?
It closes every year from October 1 to November 10 for lambing and reopens on November 11.
How do I get from Queenstown to Wānaka without a car?
A bus takes about 1 hour 45 minutes and is listed as running daily. It leaves from Athol Street and arrives at the Log Cabin on the lakefront.