10 Best Walks in Wānaka: Your Ultimate Guide for 2026

Wānaka is easily one of the best places in New Zealand for hiking. After spending a lot of time exploring the area over the years, it’s still one of my favourite places to go for a weekend away.

The scenery around here is ridiculous. You’ve got huge mountains surrounding the lake, glacier valleys, alpine tracks, waterfalls, native forest walks, and some of the best summit views in the country all within a pretty short drive from town.

If you want the classic Wānaka summit hike with huge panoramic views, Roys Peak is probably the one. If you’re after something quieter, Mt Isthmus is such a good alternative. Rob Roy Glacier is one of the best all-round hikes near Wānaka, while Mou Waho Island is perfect if you want something more unique than a standard mountain climb.

I used to live in Queenstown, so I spent heaps of weekends driving over to Wānaka to explore new tracks and re-do old favourites.

Over time, I’ve done most of the popular hikes around the area, along with a few quieter ones that don’t get talked about as much. Some of these walks are famous for a reason, while others completely surprised me and ended up becoming personal favourites.

Best Walks and Hikes in Wānaka

1. Roys Peak Track

Length: 16 km return
Time: 5-7 hours
Elevation: 1,258 m gain
Difficulty: Hard

Roys Peak is the hike everyone knows in Wānaka, and the views are every bit as good as people say they are.

The track climbs steadily the entire way with barely any flat sections, so don’t expect an easy day out. Your legs will definitely feel it by the end.

The reason this walk is so popular is because the scenery is ridiculous almost the entire climb. The higher you get, the bigger the views over Lake Wānaka and the surrounding mountains become. It is a hard walk, but so worth it once you make it to the top.

Most people stop at the famous viewpoint, but I’d recommend continuing to the summit if the weather is good.

Start early if you can because the track gets busy fast, especially in summer, and there’s almost no shade the whole way up. Watching the sunrise from the top is also incredible, so if you don’t mind a 3am wake up, then it is well worth it.

2. Mou Waho Island Walk

Length: 2.6 km return
Time: 1-1.5 hours
Elevation: 150 m gain
Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Mou Waho Island ended up being one of my favourite experiences in Wānaka. The day feels more adventurous than a normal hike because you need to get a boat out to the island first, which already makes it feel pretty special.

The walk itself is short and easy, but the scenery is incredible the whole way. The main highlight is Arethusa Pool, which is a small lake sitting on top of an island in the middle of Lake Wānaka. It’s such a strange and cool place to see in person.

Because the island is predator-free, there are native birds everywhere and the whole place feels really peaceful compared to some of the busier tracks nearby. I got lucky and went out there with a friend who had a boat, but I’d definitely recommend booking a tour over there if you get the chance.

3. Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountain Track

Length: 7 km return
Time: 3 hours
Elevation: 450 m gain
Difficulty: Moderate

This is a really good alternative if you want big views without doing a huge climb like Roys Peak. The track starts near Diamond Lake before climbing higher toward Rocky Mountain, and the views keep getting better the further up you go.

I think this walk is pretty underrated compared to some of the more famous hikes nearby. You still get amazing views over Lake Wānaka and the surrounding mountains, but with a fraction of the effort.

Sections of this walk do involve a bit of climbing up the rocks, but nothing too difficult.

There are also shorter track options if you don’t want to do the full loop, although I’d recommend heading all the way to the summit if you’ve got the energy for it.

4. Mt Iron Track

Length: 4.5 km loop
Time: 1.5 hours
Elevation: 250 m gain
Difficulty: Easy

Mt Iron is probably the best quick walk in Wānaka. It’s close to town, easy to fit into your day, and still gives you surprisingly good views for such a short hike.

I always liked doing this one later in the afternoon before heading back into town for food afterwards.

The climb is short but steep enough to feel like you’ve earned the views at the top. From the summit you can see right across Wānaka, out toward Lake Hāwea, and over the surrounding mountains.

Last time I did this walk there were locals running up it while I was struggling my way to the top, which definitely put my fitness into perspective a bit.

5. Blue Pools Track

Length: 3 km return
Time: Around 1 hour
Elevation: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy

The Blue Pools are a bit further from Wānaka than most of the walks on this list, but the colour of the water makes the drive completely worth it. The water is so clear and bright blue that it almost looks fake.

The track itself is really easy and takes you through beautiful beech forest before crossing a couple of swing bridges over the river.

It’s a nice relaxed walk the whole way through, so it works well for pretty much anyone.

If you’re visiting during summer and don’t mind freezing cold water, bring your togs because people do swim here.

Watch out for the sandflies as well, if you are anything like me they never leave you alone.

6. Wishbone Falls Walk

Length: 1 km return
Time: 20-30 minutes
Elevation: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy

Wishbone Falls is a super short walk, but it’s worth stopping for if you’re driving nearby. The track takes you over farmland before reaching the waterfall, and the whole thing only takes around half an hour return.

This walk works well when you don’t feel like doing anything too intense but still want to see somewhere scenic. The falls look best after rain when there’s more water flowing through, and the surrounding bush makes the whole area feel really peaceful.

I could easily have spent the whole day at these falls. This is a favourite spot of mine and not many people even know it exists.

7. Rob Roy Glacier Track

Length: 10 km return
Time: 3-4 hours
Elevation: 500 m gain
Difficulty: Moderate

Rob Roy Glacier Track is easily one of the best hikes near Wānaka if you want huge alpine scenery without spending an entire day climbing uphill.

The track has a bit of everything, swing bridges, waterfalls, rivers, glaciers, and mountain views almost the whole way through.

The walk starts through native forest before opening up into the valley higher up, and that’s where the scenery really gets impressive.

Once you reach the glacier viewpoint, you’re standing directly across from huge cliffs and hanging glaciers, and if you’re lucky, you can sometimes hear avalanches rumbling in the distance.

For a moderate hike, the payoff on this walk is seriously good.

8. Mt Isthmus Track

Length: 16 km return
Time: 5-6 hours
Elevation: 1300 m gain
Difficulty: Moderate to hard

If you want a challenging hike without the crowds of Roys Peak, Mt Isthmus is a great option. The climb is still tough, but the track feels way quieter and more remote compared to some of the more famous hikes nearby.

The best part about this walk is the views over both Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea at the same time. As you get higher, the landscape just keeps opening up more and more.

On a clear day, the summit views are incredible and easily some of the best in the area. Bring plenty of water for this one because there’s not much shelter once you’re up high.

9. Brewster Hut Track

Length: 5 km return
Time: 6-8 hours
Elevation: 966 m gain
Difficulty: Hard

Brewster Hut is a serious hike and definitely one of the tougher tracks on this list. It is a bit of a drive from Wānaka but there was no way I wasn’t including it in this list.

The climb starts steep and pretty much stays that way the entire time, but the alpine scenery at the top makes the effort worth it.

Once you break out above the bushline, the whole landscape changes into huge rocky peaks, alpine valleys, and glacier views.

Compared to some of the more touristy hikes around Wānaka, this one feels much more remote and wild. If you’ve ever wanted to stay overnight in a New Zealand alpine hut, this would be an epic place to do it.

10. Lakefront Walk to that Wānaka Tree

Length: 1.5 km return
Time: 30-45 minutes
Elevation: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy

You can’t really visit Wānaka without seeing That Wānaka Tree at least once. The walk itself is short and easy, following the edge of the lake with great mountain views the whole way.

The tree gets ridiculously busy at times because everyone wants the same photo, but the lakefront is still a really nice place to walk, especially around sunrise or sunset when the water is calm.

One thing I learned the hard way though, don’t expect the tree to look amazing in winter. The first time I visited, it was completely bare and looked nothing like the photos I’d seen online.

Wrap up: Best Walks and Hikes in Wānaka

Wānaka is truly a walker’s paradise, offering a variety of tracks that cater to all levels of fitness and adventure. Whether you’re seeking a short, easy stroll to a stunning waterfall or a more challenging hike with breathtaking views, Wānaka has something for everyone.

The beauty of the surrounding landscapes, from alpine lakes to mountain peaks, makes each walk a unique experience. So, lace up your shoes and hit the tracks, you won’t regret taking the time to explore this incredible part of New Zealand. Happy hiking!