food

Our chef Tiffany Firth is from Sydney. After a career in marketing Tiffany... more

location

Wanaka lies in the heart of the worlds most beautiful unspoilt alpine and lakes district located on the South Island of New Zealand. It is a 50 minute scenic drive from Queenstown International Airport.

Whichever way you drive to Wanaka, the scenery is superb. Approaching via the rugged West Coast of the South Island, you can in one day walk on a glacier, walk through a rain forest to placid blue pool in a snow fed river, walk along a wild surf beach, then drive over the Haast pass, through desert tussock country to Wanaka. The approach via Mount Cook takes you over the magnificent Lindis Pass or from Dunedin you experience the wild spare scenery of the Maniatoto.

The lodge is located in a quiet area a few kilometres from the centre of Wanaka village.  The village has a number of great restaurants, and cafes. You can walk into town along the lakefront walkway or take the Lodge’s bikes for a great cycle.
The local ‘beach’ is just a minute’s walk from the lodge. Summer can be hot and the beach is a great place to gather at the end of the day for a swim, a picnic and drinks.

In Winter Cardrona, Snow Farm and Treble Cone Ski Areas are just a 15 -20 minute drive from Wanaka.

Directions - getting there

Fly direct into Queenstown International Airport for the most direct route.  Air New Zealand and Qantas fly direct several times a week.

Approaching from Queenstown/Cardrona Valley:
Drive into Wanaka down to the lake, turn right into Ardmore Street, then turn left into Lakeside Drive and follow this until you veer right into Beacon Point Road. Follow Beacon Point Road until the end, where you reach Penrith Park (approximately 2 km) then turn right into Minaret Ridge and you will see us on the right.

From the West Coast/Cromwell or Lake Hawea:
Drive into Wanaka past the Caltex and BP petrol stations, turn right into Lakeside Drive and follow this until you veer right into Beacon Point Road. Follow Beacon Point Road until the end, where you reach Penrith Park (approximately 2 km) then turn right into Minaret Ridge and you will see us on the right

By air:International Airport is just a 50 minute drive away. We can assist with arranging transfers from the airport.

Stop Press: April 08

Air New Zealand to operate more  direct flights Sydney to Queenstown over the winter ski season.

During July and August: direct flights Sydney to Queenstown on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

September: 4 direct flights will operate from Sydney.

Outside the ski season direct flights from Sydney operate on Tuesday and Saturday.

There is one direct flight on Saturdays from Melbourne to Queenstown and one direct flight from Brisbane.

NZ travel distances:
www.newzealand.com/travel/Australia

For a  real time view of Wanaka check out the webcam - chose Beacon point location to see a camera near us.

Wanaka web cam

climate

Wanaka has a low humidity climate. Average rainfall is 682 mm, half the national average. The seasons are distinctive.

Spring
September to December feature wonderful blossoms and some snowfalls on the mountains Day temperatures 12- 25 degrees Celsius.

Summer
January to March is hot and sunny. Temperatures 21 -34 degrees Celsius

Autumn
April to June is a photographer paradise. Temperatures 12- 20 degrees Celsius

Winter
July to September brings crisp days and great skiing. Temperatures 5 -12 degrees Celsius.

What to pack

Dress here is always casual – no ties or suits or anything too dressy. It can be very hot in summer but we experience big diurnal temperature shifts so layers are good. Good walking shoes and a hat are a must as is a swimming costume.
Hat and sun block are essential – the air is so clear the UV is very high.

What to be careful of

Only 2 things:

Sun

Wear a good sun block and a hat – in summer between 11.00 am and 4.00pm the UV is very high as the air is so clear.

Sand flies

We don’t have them in Wanaka but when heading for the West Coast and on some of the day trips from Wanaka into that area , wear long pants and a long sleeved shirt and use a good insect repellent, but remember to put it on before you get out of the car! Spray repellent on your clothes as well.
There is a suggestion that eating Vegemite toast in the morning is a repellent but that idea will probably only be attractive to Aussies! We do have Vegemite in the Lodge.