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“I had no idea the shopping was SO GOOD here!”

If we had a nickel for everytime we heard this… 

Although Wānaka is renowned for its world-class ski resorts, beautiful mountains and hiking & biking adventures, there’s a casually sophisticated layer that tends to spark the phrase, “if you know, you know”.

Case-in-point, shopping in Wānaka. An incredible variety of beautiful boutique fashion stores, unique art galleries, knowledgeable sport and outdoor shops and everything in between. Wānaka’s shopping scene is packed with both large, well-known retailers and hidden gems.

Here’s your guide to them all.

Fashion

Our fashion houses in Wānaka take great pride in the brands they stock, combing through beautiful pieces from New Zealand and international designers to fill their racks. 

On Helwick Street, pop into 47 Frocks and shop by item or designer. Across the street, enjoy a glass of bubbly while you browse at Deval, located in the new Precinct Building. A hop, skip and a jump away is Bella Wanaka, a long-established women’s fashion store and if you take a stroll up to Ardmore Street, you’ll find Escape Clothing.

For streetwear, check out Base NZ (or South Beach in the summer months) and Base Streetwear, both located on Helwick Street.

Sports & Outdoor

If you’ve followed the advice of our last paragraph and headed to 47 Frocks, you might’ve also happened across Fearless, Wānaka’s first retail store for women’s activewear and accessories.

From Fearless, you’ll find outdoor shops in either direction. Racers Edge has a bike shop on Helwick and the main store on Ardmore Street, while Outside Sports and MT Outdoors are both located on Dunmore Street. All three shops stock incredible high-performance brands that will stand up to whatever the mountains throw at you. Plus, staff are well-versed in outdoor pursuits and can help you with your selections.

Gifts & Souvenirs

We have some really lovely gift and souvenir shops here in Wānaka. At Gifted Design Store, you always find something new and totally unique. Same with the Wonder Room, up on Ardmore Street, and we love their selection of items with a bit of humour.

Art on the walls at Wonder Room

For more traditional souvenirs, check out Keke, Wools of Wanaka or Simply New Zealand – all located within a block radius of one another in the CBD.

And if you’re venturing outside of Wānaka CBD, we love the Old School House out at Cardrona.

Old School House at Cardrona

If you’re looking for a gift for that extra special someone, head to The Precinct to Herald Diamond Couture for custom jewellery.

Alice Herald's workshop

Home decor

Want to bring a little bit of Wānaka into your home? First stop is Wilson & Dorset, where you can find the most beautiful and comfortable sheepskin furnishings and decor for your house.

Wilson & Dorset interior

Just around the corner is The Workroom, a boutique interior design and homewares shop, with modern furnishings and products for sale, as well as design services.

And on the way to the Workroom, you’ll pass Wanaka Interiors, a hub of creativity for interior spaces.

Let’s not forget new kid on the block Brown & Co Home (previously Janet Brown Furniture) where every item  has a history and tells a story.

Sustainability

Almost all of our incredible retailers in Wānaka operate with sustainability in mind. If you’re looking to incorporate a little sustainability shopping into your visit, you have to visit Revology Concept Store. Revology sources products based on their reusability and low impact on the planet.

And outside the Wānaka CBD, check out Wastebusters, where you can find a secondhand gem – and there’s always something quirky floating around!

Sustainable op shop in Wanaka.

Ready to start shopping? Explore more stores here.