Summer Fun in Wanaka

Wanaka is an ideal summer destination for a fun and relaxing holiday filled with festivals, outdoor adventures, and tasty indulgences.

Summer hits the shores of Lake Wanaka in December with warmer weather and sunshine. 

Wanaka’s summer temperatures heat up to an average 24°C for you to enjoy the sun and outdoor activities with light until about 10pm!  

On the water

Lake Wanaka and all the rivers in the Wanaka area offer a range of activities for you to enjoy the warmer temperatures and outdoor activities. 

• Boat cruises: Take a cruise on New Zealand’s fourth largest lake to explore the beaches and bays of Lake Wanaka.  Mou Waho Island is a must.
• Fishing: Summer is peak fishing season where you can catch a brown or rainbow trout going fly fishing.  You can even try from the shores of Edgewater!
• Kayaking: Hire a kayak from Edgewater to go on a guided or freedom tour and paddle around to explore Toys Bay and Ruby Island.     

Summer festivals

A great summer festival is the Rippon Festival which is held at the Rippon Vineyard in Wanaka.  The 2012 festival will be held on 4th February with a line-up of Kiwi musicians.  The first festival was held in 1998 and has continued to be a fun musical event attracting artists like Fat Freddy’s Drop, Trinity Roots and Salmonella Dub.  

Outdoor exploration

Mt Aspiring National Park offers a variety of trails to explore the mountains, rivers and wildlife that reside in the World Heritage Area.  Some of the popular track and walks include the Greenstone and Caples, Rees-Dart and Routeburn Tracks.  You can also choose to take a scenic flight to explore Mt Aspiring National Park and Fiordland.        

Tasty indulgences

The Otago region is renowned for its wines and features several award winning vineyards.  You can enjoy the many different wines and local flavours on a wine tour.  Edgewater’s Wineglass Café features several different Otago wines for you to try and sit out on the sunny terraces to see the lake views.