Things To Do With Kids In Wānaka

The Wānaka Lavender Farm is a dream for the little ones. Kids go wild for oversized Jenga blocks, massive bocce sets, and Connect 4. Then there are the farm animals who know they’re the stars of the show. Friendly goats who’ll charm treats right out of your hands, fluffy highland cows perfect for photos, and in winter, alpacas and sheep ready for feeding time.

Between games, kids love running through the lavender rows and discovering the old rustic tractor. The tearoom does brilliant lavender ice cream in flavours that actually surprise them (lavender-chocolate is usually a hit). Garden picnics work well here too; spread out a blanket and let them roam while you relax. It’s proper family-friendly without trying too hard.

Bike Glendhu opens on 24 October 2025, with its off-grid base area buzzing once again. Start your day at Velo Café & Beer Garden—perfect for a pre-ride coffee or a post-ride craft beer—before heading out on more than 30km of purpose-built trails that climb steadily to sweeping views over Lake Wānaka. Hire an e-bike, grab a full-suspension trail bike, or bring your own wheels to join the fun.

Families are well looked after here too. At Base 334, little riders can practice on the mini pump track, while swings and a sandpit keep younger siblings entertained. Out on the trails, the Kākāriki Loop and Family Loop give beginners a gentle way in, while Jairolla, Curly’s Sweep, and Hare-Time let confident kids take it up a notch.

For a helping hand, balance bikes, tow ropes, and child seats are all available, and the park’s van shuttle runs regularly to Jack’s Spot so young legs can save their energy for the downhill flow.

Hook is a great family activity. Catch your very own Chinook salmon from the spring-fed fishing lakes then relax while they prepare it for you. Meanwhile the kids can feed the fish, explore the beautiful grounds, play a lawn game or hang out in the sand pit.

Prefer to get out on the lake? Catch a Fish offers guided trout and salmon trips on Wānaka, Hāwea and Queenstown’s alpine waters. Step aboard a custom-built boat, cruise quietly with an electric motor, and cast a line against a backdrop of soaring peaks. With an experienced skipper to show you the ropes, it’s a chance to connect with nature, reel in dinner, and soak up the serenity of the Southern Lakes.

Keeping kids entertained in Wānaka is surprisingly straightforward. Puzzling World is the obvious starting point: illusion rooms that mess with your head, a giant 3-D maze that’ll have them (and you) completely turned around, and the famous Leaning Tower that defies all logic. It’s open year-round and works brilliantly on those drizzly days when you need somewhere proper to explore.

The National Transport & Toy Museum just down the road brings out the kid in everyone. Hundreds of vintage vehicles sit alongside shelves packed with toys from every era. Kids can clamber into fire engines, gawk at actual tanks, and discover treasures they’ve only seen in old photos. Perfect for little ones obsessed with anything that moves.

Crossfire sorts out competitive families nicely. Clay bird shooting, rifle ranges, mini-putt, and golf driving ranges let everyone test their aim in a completely safe setting. Most of it’s under cover too, so it’s ideal when the weather’s playing up.

At Basecamp Adventures, kids can tackle Clip ‘n’ Climb walls lit up with UV lights, race each other to the top, or take on the Dark Tower. It works for all ages and confidence levels, and it’s another brilliant indoor option when you need to burn some energy.

SITE Wānaka handles the proper energy release: Olympic trampolines, skate bowls, and slacklines that work rain or shine. Perfect for travel days when everyone’s a bit restless.

For something completely different, the Realm Virtual Reality Centre lets families dive into digital worlds together. Solve puzzles, explore galaxies, or take on zombies side by side. It’s particularly good when you want something unique that doesn’t depend on the weather.

The best bit? You can sit back and watch, or better yet, get stuck in yourself.

Whether it’s to skate, bike or play, a visit to a park in a must. The Wanaka Dinosaur Park has been entertaining kids of all ages for years and the nearby skate park is also a great place to visit. Lismore Jump Park and Sticky Forest are also great places to take the mountain bikers in the family to ride the tracks and improve their skills. And let’s not forget Bike Glendhu where kids can play in the sandpit and try the pumptrack (the park has free balance bikes), check out Velo Cafe or hit the mellow green trails (for the ones that are feeling steady enough to head up to the big kid trails!)

In the middle of Lake Wānaka is Mou Waho Island – a predator-free island, home to the native Buff Weka. Wally and Sally have been on the island for over ten years and love meeting new people. Take a a powerboat shuttle with either Wanaka Watertaxi, Eco Wanaka Adventures or Paddle Wanaka. Maybe you’d like to opt for a catamaran with Lake Wanaka Cruises? Or maybe add some high-octane with a jet-ski or boat rental with LakeLand Wanaka!

Wanting the farm experience? Take the one-hour, immersive behind-the-scenes farm tour at Kind Farm Animal Sanctuary in the Cardrona Valley. On this tour, you’ll have the chance to meet animals up close and learn about their individual stories.

Hire a kayak, paddleboard or pedal boat and head out on the lake for some fun. Paddle Wanaka and Lakeland Wanaka can hire you gear for an hour or a day.

Paddling with kids is brilliant for more than just wearing them out (though that’s a bonus). It’s one of those moments where you realise you’re actually teaching them to care for this place without it feeling like a lecture. WAI Wānaka will tell you it’s the simple stuff that counts: chuck your rubbish in the bin, keep the soap for back home, only water is to go down storm drains, and help kids understand why our lake stays so clear. Plenty of families end up at WAI Wānaka’s monthly clean-ups where the little ones love getting properly involved. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon, really.

Discover this very special World Heritage Area. Choose one of the walks in the park, take a jet boat trip, overnight in a backcountry hut or try the Siberia Experience or Siberia Wilderness Adventure.

In summer, there’s plenty of great spots to take them for swim. Roy’s Bay in the middle of town has the diving pontoon and the wharf – both of which are favourites with the local kids. Bremner Bay is shallow, safe and warm for the littlies, while for a challenge try the Blue Pools. The Wanaka Pool is open all year and a great option as well.

What kid doesn’t love a treat. Take them to the movies, then try an ice cream from Black Peak Gelato or Patagonia Chocolates, doughnuts and custard squares from Pembroke Patisserie, or a crepe from Charlie Brown Crepes.