Wānaka is surrounded by water and mountains. That’s not a metaphor – it’s just the reality of living and visiting here. Wherever you look, there’s a ridgeline begging to be walked along.
Ask any local what they did at the weekend and nine times out of ten, it involves tramping. Why? Because our mountains are right there, and it feels wasteful not to use them.
We’re not going to oversell it. Some of these tracks are steep, exposed, and genuinely hard work, although others are hardly more than a gentle stroll you might fit in between your first coffee and brunch. But whether you’ve got an hour or a full day, hiking boots or trainers, kids in tow or just yourself and a packed lunch, there’s a track in Wānaka with your name on it. After all, we have 750km of trails on the doorstep!
This guide contains the hikes and walks we keep coming back to. Some will test your legs. Some will slow you right down. But every single one of them will remind you why you came to Wānaka in the first place. Ready?
Like the sound of a hiking trip to Wānaka? Browse our hand-picked holiday homes – many with the views you plan to walk to and hot tubs to soak in after a big day on the trail.
Best easy Wānaka hikes
If you’re looking for a walk that doesn’t involve too much distance or time, won’t leave you sweating buckets and/or fits in with the kids, check out the list below. They’re all favourites with us.
Read the guide to family adventures
Albert Town to Hāwea – strolling with views
Why do this hike? You want to explore slightly further afield, but without a tramping challenge.
Ideal for: anyone who enjoys a walk
This pretty hike starts at the Lake Hāwea swing bridge in Albert Town, before opening up to the flats, meandering through kānuka shrubland until it hits the riverside. Enjoy stunning views as you head upstream all the way to Lake Hāwea.
Distance: 14km (one way)
Duration: 3-4 hours
Difficulty: easy to intermediate
Best season: any time of year
Butterfields Wetland Walk – easier strolling with views
Why do this hike? You want to get out into the Wānaka countryside
Ideal for: families
This easier, shorter version of the Albert Town to Hāwea hike starts at the Lake Hāwea swing bridge in Albert Town. Weave your way through terraced grasslands & kānuka forest, enjoying the scenic views of the native wetlands & the surrounding peaks.
Distance: 2.5km (loop)
Duration: 45 minutes
Difficulty: easy
Best season: any time of year
Blue Pools Track – mountain and pool views
Why do this hike? You love the thought of visiting one of New Zealand’s iconic blue water lakes.
Ideal for: families
This easy trail, located in Mt Aspiring National Park near Makarora, takes you on a short walk across open flats with impressive mountain views and then through beautiful native forest to the swing bridge crossing the Makarora River. Cross a second swing bridge to the Blue Pools viewing platform. And yes, the water is really that blue.
Distance: 3km (return)
Duration: 1 hour
Difficulty: easy
Best season: any time of year
Diamond Lake Track/Rocky Mountain – take your pick
Why do this hike? You want a walk with lake views.
Ideal for: every level and age
This area of Wānaka combines three variations:
- A family-friendly 1.5km flat loop around Diamond Lake, with waterfront views all the way.
- A slightly longer route to Lake Wānaka Lookout (3.5km return), with a few stairs to climb, so don’t take the stroller if you’re with the kids.
- A more challenging 7km version, with stretches that are steep, wet and muddy, or exposed to steep drop-offs. You could find yourself scrambling, but the reward comes in panoramic views of Lake Wānaka, the Southern Alps and Mt Aspiring.
Distance: 1.5 – 7km
Duration: 1-4 hours
Difficulty: easy to advanced
Best season: any time of year, but the longer version is wetter in winter. In summer, we recommend going early to avoid the heat and sun, as there isn’t much shade on the way up.
Mount Iron – do as the locals do
Why do this hike? You want to get your bearings on the Wānaka scenery, give your legs something to put just a small amount of effort into and be rewarded with all the views.
Ideal for: any level
This tramping loop is a firm favourite with locals, so expect plenty of company. The loop track takes in 360-degree views of Lake Wānaka, the Southern Alps and the Pisa Range.
Distance: 4.5km
Duration: 90 minutes
Difficulty: easy to intermediate
Best season: any
Outlet track – follow that water
Why do this hike? You want an easy walk with river scenery.
Ideal for: families
This lovely track takes you along the Clutha River, with spectacular scenery all the way. It’s flat and well-formed, so ideal for strollers or little ones on their scooters or bikes. You can walk it in either direction, with options to start/end from the Wānaka township or the Outlet Camping Ground.
Distance: 3km (one way)
Duration: 1 hour
Difficulty: easy
Best season: any time of year
Wānaka to Waterfall Creek – west along the waters
Why do this hike? You’re looking for iconic Wānaka sights.
Ideal for: families
This anyone-friendly, easy walk starts at the west end of Roys Bay, taking you along the western shores of the lake before you reach Waterfall Creek. Look out for #thatWānakatree (don’t forget to snap a selfie), Wānaka Station Park (a lovely picnic spot) and views of Ruby Island at the end.
Distance: 3km (return)
Duration: 1-1.5 hours
Difficulty: easy
Best season: any time of year
More challenging Wānaka hikes
Experiencing all our local grandeur requires some serious tramping, but whatever the distance and effort involved, stunning scenery is guaranteed. We’ve listed our favourite big hikes below.
Grandview Ridge Track – literally what it says
Why do this hike? You’re looking to really get out there and see our famous views.
Ideal for: hikers used to long, demanding hikes
This long ridge (choose your distance) rewards you with simply stunning vistas over the upper Clutha Valley and over to the mountains beyond it. You tramp along a well-formed farm track, but some stretches have steep elevation. In lambing season (mid-September to early November), some parts are closed.
Distance: 10.5-43.5 km (one way)
Duration: 3-11 hours
Difficulty: advanced
Best season: spring to autumn
Isthmus Peak – lake views to die for
Why do this hike? You’re looking for fabulous views of our two iconic lakes, Lake Hawea and Lake Wānaka.
Ideal for: hikers used to challenging gradient profiles
For us, Isthmus Peak is a much better alternative than the busy Roy’s Peak track (mentioned below), and a more enjoyable hike. The track to the 1,385m summit treats hikers to beautiful views of Lake Hawea on the way up, then, when you reach the top, gorgeous views over the top of Lake Wānaka as well. Why not take a packed lunch and make a day of it? The views are spectacular, especially on a bluebird day like the one pictured. This track is also suitable for mountain bikes, so if you’re feeling energetic, rent a bike and get peddling.
Distance: 16km
Duration: 5-7hours
Difficulty: advanced
Best season: spring and autumn
Roy’s Peak – the most famous of them all
Why do this hike? You want to see why the DOC describes it as “one of our best day hikes”.
Ideal for: hikers used to distance and motivated by a big view.
Roy’s Peak is one of the most famous of Wānaka’s walks. Chances are you will have seen photos of this view before you’ve even got to New Zealand! People brave enough can expect a lung-buster and leg-burner of a hike to the 1,578m summit, but will be rewarded with jaw-dropping views of Lake Wānaka and the Southern Alps. Take plenty of water (there’s none on the way) and snacks, and of course your camera! We recommend heading out early in the morning for this hike, to beat the sun (there’s no shade on the way up) and to get a space in the car park! It’s such a popular walk now that it can be hard to get a spot to park. There are shuttles from Wānaka town centre out to the start of the track, which can be an easier alternative. It’s also a popular spot from which to catch sunrise, so experienced trampers often start the walk in the middle of the night in order to catch that golden moment.
Distance: 16km (return)
Duration: 5-6 hours
Difficulty: advanced
Best season: spring (closed for lambing 1 October to 10 November), summer (leave early and take plenty of water), autumn and winter (expect ice and snow).
Rob Roy Glacier Track – the best tramp of them all?
Why do this hike? You enjoy a challenging hike in stunning scenery
Ideal for: hikers who are used to a challenge
This walk takes you through the Matukituki Valley, a beech forest and a small river gorge before you reach the viewing point for the glaciers. Expect impressive scenery, including dense beach forest, snowfields, glaciers, sheer rock cliffs and waterfalls. Throw in a swing bridge, and you have one of the best walks near Wānaka.
Distance: 10km
Duration: 4-5 hours
Difficulty: moderate
Best season: spring to autumn. Snow and ice are likely in the winter.
Follow the 10 responsible hiker commandments
Before you set off
- Choose the right hike for you based on your fitness and the time available.
- Check the weather – as we Kiwis well know, we often have four seasons in a morning. Plus, conditions at altitude can change in the blink of an eye.
- Pack warm layers and extra food.
- Share your hiking route with others and plan ways to get help.
- Read the Land Safety Code
On your hike
- Leave nothing behind you – pack in, pack out.
- Respect the surroundings, ideally leaving them exactly as you found them.
- Don’t get too close to wildlife or feed any animals or birds.
- Keep your dogs on dog-friendly trails.
- Bury or scoop your poop (follow these instructions).
Stay close to the trails in these Wānaka holiday homes
The best way to experience the best of hikes in Wānaka is to stay at the heart of it. Whether you’re in the township itself, lakeside or slightly further away, our holiday homes put you in easy reach of great walking.
Take a look at our collection or discover the best places to stay in Wānaka this year.
Wānaka hiking FAQs
Got a question? Check out our FAQs below and if yours isn’t there, get in touch.
What is the best hike in Wānaka for first-timers?
Mt Iron is the go-to if you’re new to tramping here. It’s a 4.5km loop that takes around 90 minutes, with a well-formed track and 360-degree views of Lake Wānaka and the Southern Alps at the top. It’s challenging enough to feel rewarding, but won’t push you over the edge! A great first Wānaka hike.
Are there hikes suitable for families with young children?
Yes. The Diamond Lake flat loop (1.5km) is ideal for small kids, with easy terrain, beautiful scenery, and short enough to keep those little legs from flagging. The Wānaka to Waterfall Creek walk is another good option: flat, easy, and with the bonus of spotting #thatWānakatree along the way.
How hard is Roys Peak and is it worth it?
Hard. Roys Peak is a 16km return track with around 1,200m of elevation gain, so expect 5 to 6 hours out on the trail and tired legs at the end of it. But the views from the top, looking out over Lake Wānaka and the Southern Alps, are genuinely among the best in New Zealand. If you’re reasonably fit and prepared, absolutely do it.
When is the best time of year to hike in Wānaka?
Late spring to autumn (November to April) is the sweet spot. Tracks are accessible, days are long, and the weather is most reliable. Summer can get busy on popular trails like Roys Peak – set off early to beat the crowds. Winter hiking is possible on lower tracks, but alpine routes can be icy and dangerous unless you have the right gear.
What should I take on a day hike in Wānaka?
At minimum: plenty of water, snacks, sunscreen, a warm layer (the weather can change fast in the mountains), and sturdy footwear. For longer or more exposed tracks like Isthmus Peak or Roys Peak, add a waterproof jacket, a first aid kit, and a fully charged phone with the track downloaded offline. Don’t rely on mobile phone coverage in the hills.
Are any of the Wānaka tracks currently closed?
It depends on the trail. Track conditions and closures change regularly – for example, the Rob Roy Glacier and Blue Pools tracks have both experienced closures due to bridge maintenance in recent years. The DOC Otago alerts are the most reliable source for up-to-date track status information – check before you start your hike.
Is Wānaka a good base for a hiking holiday, and where should I stay?
It’s one of the best hiking bases in New Zealand. Most of the region’s top tracks are within 30 to 45 minutes of the town centre, and the town itself has everything you need – shops to buy gear, great cafés, pitstops to stock up on snacks for your hike, and plenty of places to recover after a big day out.
Staying in a holiday home gives you the flexibility to set your own schedule: early starts, packed lunches from your own kitchen, and a hot shower (or even better, a spa pool) waiting when you get back. We have a range of holiday homes and luxury lodges in and around Wānaka, many with mountain views, and all with fully equipped kitchens, and the kind of space that a hotel room just can’t match. Browse Wānaka accommodation
Ready to get out there tramping? Our local Travel Fixer team can help you plan the perfect Wānaka escape. Get in touch
First time in Wānaka? Read the ultimate guide