Featured Activities
Wānaka has a flare for casual sophistication. In this curated shopping itinerary, find beautiful boutiques, hole-in-the-wall shops and a few favourite cafes for mid-shop snacks and refreshments.
On your first day of shopping in Wānaka, start at the top of Ardmore Street and work your way down to the lakefront.
On the hill down, stop in first at Scroggin, one of Wānaka’s newest cafes. Scroggin’s interior design takes inspiration from New Zealand’s backcountry huts and their food menu features elevated versions of all your mountain favourites. Featuring artwork from local artists, sheepskins from local designer Wilson & Dorset and flower arrangements from the Workroom – it’s a labour of local love.
Continue down the street, making sure to stop in to boutiques like Gifted and Thieving Kea. If outdoor sports is what you’re after, pop in to Racers Edge on the lakefront. When you’re done with your shop, drop in to Black Peak Gelato or Patagonia Chocolate for an ice cream by the water.
On Day 2, take a wander down The Precinct, Wānaka’s little taste of the big city. As per its name, the Precinct was once the town’s police station. It is now a beautiful urban alleyway with beautiful shops like Deval, Revology and Alice Herald, as well as yummy cafes like Wee Tart and Cakes of Wanaka.
Upstairs, pamper yourself at Ukiyo Salon or Silver Sixpence Beauty. And when you’re all shopped out, head around the corner to award-winning Kika for dinner.
Lastly, flex your passion for sustainability and pay a visit to locally-beloved Wastebusters.
Op shop lovers will froth over ‘Wasteys’. The racks and shelves are jam packed with formerly-loved items of clothing, jewellery, shoes, costumes, housewares and more. You could spend a whole afternoon just trolling through the treasures there.
