TIME VISITED: December 2015 BUSY ? Somewhat
WEATHER: 75 🌤 REASON FOR VISIT: Views
WHERE TO STAY: YHA HOSTEL EXPENSIVE?: $$-$$$
Wanaka, New Zealand is one of my favorite towns in the world for many reasons. It’s a small but lively town, it offers several stunning views, endless amount of activities AND it has great food. I was on my way to Queenstown and decided to stop here to check it out for a couple of days. You could easily spend a week in Wanaka but if you only have a couple days to spare it is still worth a stop.
Most people come to Wanaka to hike and there are so many to choose from. The most popular hikes are Roy’s Peak and Rob Roy Glacier Track. Make sure you are clear on what one you want to do before heading there because people mix them up all the time. I was looking for a more challenging hike that day so I decided to do Roy’s Peak.
To read more about the hike in detail check out my blog post HERE. 
If you are looking for stunning views but a bit easier hike check out the details of the Rob Roys Glacier Track HERE. Keep in mind this one is further away from Wanaka and that Roy’s Peak is just out of town.
WHERE TO STAY
I actually stayed in the Base Hostel in Wanaka but I wish I would have stayed at the YHA Wanaka Backpackers. My friend Lotti stayed here and it was smaller and a lot nicer, she also raved about the kitchen. I believe it is a few more dollars a night than Base but it is definitely worth it! Here are some pictures from their website.
WHERE TO EAT
I can’t even count the amount of times I ate at Burrito Craft Food Truck when visiting Wanaka maybe 6 or 7 times overall? The burritos and tacos here are unbelievable. I was obsessed with their veggie burrito but their fish tacos were also incredible and everything else my friends tried was great too! You guys I’m serious, I drove 2 hours out of my way just to have one last burrito before leaving the country and making it my third time in Wanaka. It makes for a great lunch or dinner and it is right next to a mini golf course so you could make an evening out of it as well. They are also located next to a couple other food trucks if someone in your group isn’t feeling Mexican food!
Not only is their food great their owners are awesome as well. A couple who simply had a love for Mexican food and worked their booties off to open this food truck. I follow Julia and Marc on Instagram and they recently took a trip to Mexico to do some research for new menu items! So awesome!
The first time I was in Wanaka I ate at Burrito Craft all three meals but the next couple of times I forced myself to try some new places. I’m glad I did because there is a lot of good food in Wanaka! Kai Whaka Pai was also a great place to eat and they are open all day. They offer local beer and great fresh food. Their eggs benedict is incredible for breakfast and I loved their salad for lunch (pictured below).
If you are looking for a fancy dinner (I came here when my parents were visiting) check out Francesca’s Italian Kitchen. Absolutely make reservations because they fill up fast. I fell in love with their braised beef gnocchi and if you like mushrooms we also loved their Tartufo Pizza.
For drinks check out the Lake Bar it’s a ton of fun and they have a patio that has great views of the lake. They have multiple local beers on tap and although I didn’t try their food I heard it is good.
#THATWANAKATREE
Have you ever heard of a tree having its own hashtag!? Well apparently it’s a thing and you can find it in Wanaka, New Zealand. And this isn’t just any tree, this tree has become one of the most photographed trees in the world! This lonely tree has been here for 80 years and is a wonder to people all over the world. How did it get there? How does it stay alive? Everyone has their own story but most people of Wanaka believe this tree simply symbolizes determination. Either way it is a cool place to take a picture and watch the sunrise! We got lucky and there were just a few others there but be prepared for crowds this tree just keeps getting more and more popular!
This is just a small percentage of things you can do in Wanaka, New Zealand! I would love to go back and explore more of it someday. What was your favorite thing to do in Wanaka? Comment below!
