Queenstown with the volume down: the same mountains and another lake, an hour up the road, without the queues or the people selling you a jump.
Free things to do
Free
Roys Peak at dawn
The photo is real and so is the 1,200m climb, closed for lambing some years.
Free
That Wanaka Tree & lakefront loop
Sunrise for the photo, any hour for the walk.
Free
Rob Roy Glacier track
Three to four hours return through beech forest to a hanging glacier.
Where to stay
from $45
Wanaka Bakpaka
Dorm bed · per night
from $53
Adventure Wanaka Hostel
Dorm bed · per night
from $207
Haka House Wanaka
Private room · per night
from $170
Adventure Wanaka Hostel
Private room · per night
Trips that take it in
Australia & NZ · 13 days · 4 nights in Wanaka
The South Island Run
Christchurch → Wanaka → Queenstown
$803
plus flights · Jan 2027 dates