Getting to Adventure Wanaka
Whatever your method of travel – car, bus or plane, Wanaka should be right up there on any list of worthwhile stop-overs on a New Zealand adventure.
However you plan on getting here and from whichever direction, you’re in for some breathtaking views. To get to Wanaka you’ll pass through some stunning alpine and mountaineous country, travelling through either The Haast pass and skirting the Aspiring National park, The Lindis Pass or the Crown Range. Whatever route you take, plan it out, drive slow and don’t miss the numerous lookouts, waterfalls, hikes and activities along the way.
There are three clear ways of getting to Wanaka:
– Self-drive
– Intercity Bus
– Skydrive (from Queenstown Airport)
Click to enlarge the map
Travelling by Car
Usually, travellers will hit Wanaka after a stopover in Queenstown, Cromwell, Franz Josef or Mt Cook. Driving from Christchurch in one go is not advisable, as you’ll simply skip so much great stuff on the route.
Before you set off, check the Waka Kotahi (NZ Roads authoritys) pages for road status updates. It’s not unheard of for the Crown Range, Lindis Pass and the Haast Pass to be closed unexpectedly during periods of heavy snowfall. Driving in via Cromwell is usually the safest and reliably open stretch of road.
Average driving times: (factoring in views and stopping points as follows)
From Franz Josef via Haast Pass: 5-7 hours, 4 hours drive time
You’ll pass: Fox Glacier, Haast, Fantail Falls, Blue Pools, Lake Hawea, The Neck
From Queenstown: 2 hours, 1 hour drive time
You’ll pass: Crown Range lookout, Cardrona Hotel, Cardrona Distillery, Cardrona Ski Field
From Mt Cook via Cromwell: 3 hours, 2.5 hours drive time
You’ll pass: Lindis Valley Summit lookout, Omarama Clay Cliffs, Cromwell’s Big Fruit
Parking
Thankfully Wanaka has an abundance of free parking options, in and directly around the town.
Owing to our super central location in town, Adventure Wanaka does not offer private parking options for guests, but there is free roadside parking available on Helwick St and the surrounding streets nearby – Upton St, Warren St and Dungavaron St, all within a 2 minute walk. Slightly further you’ll find heaps of free parking spaces on Brownston St just a few minutes further away
For a full parking guide, head here www.adventurehostels.co.nz/parking-wanaka
Travelling by Intercity Bus
Sit back and soak up those views. Intercity run services to Wanaka from most major stop-off points on the West Coast, from most towns on the Southern Alps and from Queenstown. Services usually run daily from Queenstown and inland routes, with the West Coast service reduced over the Winter period.
If you’re travelling from the North, from Christchurch, via Tekapo and Mt Cook/Aoraki, then the Intercity service will drop you at Tarras, another shuttle will ferry you the remaining 40 minutes off of the SH8 highway. Wanaka is a considerable detour off the SH8.
When you arrive in Wanaka, the Intercity bus or shuttle will drop you at the Lakeside Car Park. This is opposite the popular Wanaka hangout – Kai Whakapai. All you need to do to get to Adventure Wanaka is walk 2 minutes straight up Helwick St, until you see our orange roof and white sign.
SkyDrive
The SkyDrive is a service run by Ritchies Transport Group – offering Minibus shuttles between Wanaka and Queenstown via Queenstown Airport three times daily. This is the best value option for travellers arriving straight into Queenstown airport, as it drops off and collects you from right outside the terminal building.
To Book: Head to https://www.skydrive.co.nz/queenstown
As of September 2025, the service costs $40 each way. Transporting large items such as bikes and ski’s may come at an additional cost. The services usually run fairly busy, so make sure to purchase a ticket in advance. https://orc.mattersoft.fi/timetable/#?stop=59010033
https://www.orc.govt.nz/orbus/queenstown-buses/check-your-timetables/1-remarkables-shops-to-sunshine-bay/
what are you waiting for?
