Featured Activities
Fresh local produce, award-winning wines, craft local beers and artisan spirits. Using this three-day itinerary, discover the incredible food and drink scene, with Wānaka as your home base.
Wānaka is quickly becoming a craft beer hotspot, with four craft breweries all producing tasty brews. If you’re down to visit just one, check out Wanaka Beerworks at the Wānaka Airport or B.Effect Brewing at B.Social Bar and Restaurant on Anderson Road. Both of these require driving from the CBD.
If you’re in for more of a tiki tour of breweries, both Rhyme & Reason Brewery and Ground Up Brewing can be found on Gordon Road, within walking distance of each other.
After all that craft beer drinking, you might be keen on taking it up a notch. For that, head to Bistro Gentil on Golf Course Road, serving modern French inspired cuisine with an extensive wine list that features many of our locally produced wines.
Sample some of the world’s best Pinot Noir or a range of other cold-climate varietals from the Central Otago region. Guided tours can take you to several vineyards in a single day, including Rippon, Maude, Nanny Goat and Aitkin’s Folly. Wine tours can be either half or full day experiences. If you’re short on time, try a tasting at a vineyard or tasting room.
Another unique option? Pembroke Wine & Spirits in Wanaka CBD hosts wine and spirit tastings with selections from all over the Central Otago region. It’s a one-stop tasting shop!
In the evening, visit the award-winning Kika for dinner. But always be sure to make a reservation.
Today is about visiting a few of the local producers and if it happens to be a Thursday, then a visit to the Artisan Market at 3pm on Ardmore Street is a must!
If it’s not a Thursday, don’t worry about it – Wānaka has so many lovely cafes that line the streets, just pick one and head in. We always recommend asking the staff there about their favourite caffeine or treat pick. Some local favourites – The Coffee Shack, Fedeli, Relishes and Kamino.
Once you’ve kicked off the day head-up the Cardrona Valley to The Cardrona Distillery. This is a family-owned artisan distillery producing hand-made artisan spirits made with pure alpine water sourced from the heart of Mount Cardrona. Book in to do a tour and tasting and see how they make their spirits using time-honoured traditional methods.
Finish the day with a great pub meal at the historic Cardrona Hotel!
