Custom Travel Itineraries to New Zealand since 1990
Custom Travel Itineraries to New Zealand since 1990
Imagine this: the sun hasn’t even crested the horizon yet, and locals are already tearing up mountain trails, bikes in hand and hearts pounding. That’s just a regular morning in Wānaka, New Zealand, arguably the greatest adventure destination on the planet.
Tucked at the foot of Mount Aspiring National Park on New Zealand’s South Island, Wānaka packs paragliding, canyoning, jet boating, skydiving, mountain biking, and so much more into one jaw-droppingly beautiful corner of the world. Whether you’re a first-timer looking to push your limits or a seasoned adrenaline junkie, Wānaka delivers the goods every single time.
The mountains here aren’t just scenery, they’re an open invitation. Mount Aspiring National Park and its surrounding peaks form the rugged backbone of Wānaka’s adventure scene, offering everything from mellow day hikes to full-on mountaineering expeditions. So lace up, gear up, and get amongst it.
From bespoke backcountry adventures to multi-day treks deep into Mt. Aspiring National Park, Wānaka’s local guides know these hills like no one else. You can summit iconic peaks, sharpen your mountaineering skills, or simply wander breathtaking trails at your own pace — every step rewards you with scenery that barely seems real.
Your pulse will spike on the very first pedal stroke at Bike Glendhu, just 10 minutes from town. With trails for every ability, e-bike hire, shuttles, and a cold brew waiting at the end, it’s dangerously easy to spend your whole trip here. For something even more epic, head to Cardrona Bike Park (open December–March) — let the lifts do the climbing, then blast a stunning 10km descent down to the Cardrona Hotel.
Whether you’re a total newcomer or a seasoned climber, Wānaka’s crags and indoor walls will test you in all the right ways. Expert guides tailor every session to your experience level, so you’ll be clipping bolts and loving life regardless of where you start. First timers — don’t be shy. Everyone started somewhere.
Here’s a sentence you didn’t know you needed: climb up a waterfall, then canyon back down it. Wildwire’s via ferrata is the world’s highest waterfall cable climb — and yes, it’s as wild as it sounds. Choose your route based on experience, or go full send and hire a helicopter for the ride down.
Trade horsepower for actual horses — or don’t. The Cardrona Valley offers both quad biking and guided horse rides through the stunning Pisa Range, perfect for beginners and experienced riders alike. If you really can’t choose, just do both. Alternatively, live out your cowboy dreams with an overnight horse trek through West Wānaka Station. Campfire not included, but the stars absolutely are.
Wānaka sits beside one of New Zealand’s most beautiful lakes, and the surrounding valleys are laced with glacier-fed rivers that beg to be explored. From jet ski thrills to serene packrafting expeditions, the water here is every bit as exhilarating as the mountains above it.
Scramble through waterfalls, ride natural rock slides, leap into crystal-clear mountain pools, and navigate canyons carved over millennia — all inside Mount Aspiring National Park. With expert local guides leading the way, canyoning in Wānaka isn’t just an adventure. It’s a full sensory overload in the best possible way.
Paddle through wave trains, drift into calm eddies, and let the mighty Matukituki River carry you through one of New Zealand’s most spectacular river valleys. Packrafting combines the freedom of hiking with the thrill of whitewater — and the Matukituki is about as scenic as it gets.
Hold on tight. Jet boating in Wānaka means carving through glacier-sculpted rivers at high speed, skimming crystal-clear shallows, and spinning 360° around sweeping river bends. It’s pure, unbridled fun — and the scenery rushing past makes it even more surreal. On the lake, you can grab the wheel of a jet ski yourself and go full throttle across one of New Zealand’s most iconic stretches of water.
The Matukituki River runs through a valley so dramatic, so impossibly photogenic, that even the locals stop to stare. Add a packraft and a set of paddles, and you’ve got yourself a story worth telling for the rest of your life.
-Wanaka Locals
You’ve conquered the mountains. You’ve tamed the rivers. Now it’s time to leave the ground behind entirely. The sky above Wānaka offers some of the most breathtaking aerial experiences on earth — and frankly, keeping your feet on the ground feels like a waste when views like these are waiting above.
Jump from up to 15,000 feet and reach speeds of 200km/h on a tandem skydive over the lakes and peaks of Wānaka. The view on the way down is nothing short of extraordinary — though you might be too busy screaming with joy to fully take it in. Don’t blink. Seriously
Launch off the slopes of Treble Cone and glide on a tandem flight lasting up to 20 minutes, with unobstructed views stretching across the region. Keep it gentle and meditative, or ask your pilot to throw in a few spirals and wing-overs for the full adrenaline experience. Either way, it’s pure magic from the moment you lift off.
See Tititea (Mount Aspiring) from the air, glide down toward Milford Sound, or touch down on a remote glacier in one of New Zealand’s most stunning scenic flight corridors. If you want the best of both worlds, try heli-biking: fly up to an alpine ridge, soak in the views, then bike back down through trails that would otherwise take hours to reach.
Book ahead in peak summer (December-March). Popular operators like Skydive Wānaka and Wildwire fill up weeks in advance.
Wānaka is compact. Most operators are within 20 minutes of the town centre, making it easy to pack multiple activities into a single day.
Weather can change quickly in the mountains so always check forecasts and trust your guide’s judgment over your itinerary.
Morning is magical. The light on the lake and hills before 8am is something else, and many trail experiences are quieter and cooler in the early hours.
Mix activity types for the full Wānaka experience: try one land, one water, and one sky activity to cover all the bases.
All ability levels are catered for across virtually every activity on this list so you don’t need prior experience to have an incredible time.
The landscapes that make Wānaka so extraordinary don’t look after themselves. Every operator listed in this guide is deeply committed to protecting the natural environment that makes their adventures possible, and as a visitor, that responsibility extends to you too.
Love Wānaka is a local non-profit organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, and regenerating the region’s natural environment. Consider donating to their work or joining one of their volunteering events during your visit.
Wānaka isn’t just a destination. It’s the kind of place that resets you, pushes your limits, and sends you home with stories you’ll be telling for decades.
The best experiences here fill up fast, so don’t leave your dream trip to chance. Reach out to our team of experts today and let us handle every detail, so all you have to do is show up and embrace the adventure.
Content based on official Wānaka tourism resources. Activity availability may vary by season.
