Walking and hiking in Wānaka

There are a variety of walks in the Wānaka region ranging from short, easy tracks to multi-day hiking adventures.

There are over 750km of walking tracks to explore in the Wānaka region ranging from short, easy tracks to multi-day hiking adventures.

Located in the spectacular mountains of the South Island, the lakeside setting of Wānaka with its proximity to the wilderness of Mt Aspiring National Park, a Unesco World Heritage Area, makes it the perfect destination for walkers and hikers.

An extensive network of tracks are easily accessible from the town centre offering options for short and half day walks along the lakefront or Clutha River, whilst Mt Aspiring National Park has full-day and multi-day treks to suit more exerpienced hikers.

The Outlet Track is an easy walk that follows the Clutha River banks offering shade in summer, shelter in winter and spectacular colours in the autumn. For something a little more challenging try the Mount Iron loop track with its 360-degree panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The challenging 6-hour hike to the summit of Roy’s Peak is one of the Department of Conservation’s designated Great Day Walks and rewards hikers with breath-taking views across the length of Lake Wānaka and into the mountains and glaciers of the Southern Alps.

The pristine alpine wilderness of Mt Aspiring National Park offers unforgettable hiking experiences and is easily accessed from Wānaka and nearby Makarora. The Rob Roy Glacier track is regarded as one of the best half-day walks in New Zealand and includes an epic variety of scenery from river flats, native forest, waterfalls, and glaciers to sheer rock cliffs. From Makarora, a day trip by jet-boat or scenic flight into the Siberia Valley is a must-do and it is also the start / finish point for the multi-day Gillespie Pass Circuit track.