Wanaka Tours & Vacations

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

There are several ways you can travel to Wanaka, but when it comes to which option is the best, it largely depends on where in New Zealand you're coming from.

If you travel from a destination on the North Island, it may be easier for you to fly. While Wanaka doesn't have an international airport, it has a smaller commercial one, allowing you to get to Wanaka from various destinations quickly.

You can also catch public transport to Wanaka with the InterCity bus service offering routes from major locations all over the South Island. 

There are several ways you can travel from Christchurch to Wanaka, with catching public transportation, flying, and self-driving being the best options.

Flying is the quickest option, with direct flights from Christchurch to Wanaka taking only 45 minutes.

Self-driving will take around 5 hours, and public transportation will take about six and a half hours with a layover during the journey. 

Wanaka enjoys a continental climate with cool year-round temperatures. It never gets hot, with summer temperatures rarely exceeding 24°C.

In winter, the daytime temperature averages 6°C, but it often drops to around -1°C at night.

Rain is consistent throughout the year, but spring and summer are the wettest periods.

Wanaka is full of natural beauty and one of the best ways to ensure you're taking in as much of this stunning as you can is to walk your way through it. These are some of the best walking tracks in Wanaka: 

• Mount Iron Track 
• Glendhu Bay Track
• Isthmus Peak Track 
• Roys Peak Track 
• Blue Pools Track 

What you should pack for your trip to Wanaka largely depends on what kind of holiday you want to have, but because Wanaka is full of picturesque scenery, chances are you'll be doing some walking/hiking during your stay.

This means you should pack a pair of socks and some comfortable and sturdy walking shoes. You should also make sure you have sunscreen (even in winter), a reusable drink bottle, a camera, and weather-appropriate clothes.

We are committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations. 

We are always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.