By Plane
Air New Zealand (tel. 0800/737-000 in NZ; www.airnewzealand.co.nz), provides daily service from Christchurch. Aspiring Air (tel. 0800/100-943 in NZ, or 03/443-7943; www.aspiringair.com) has three flights a day from Queenstown.
By Coach (Bus)
InterCity (tel. 09/623-1503) provides coach service linking Wanaka to the West Coast, Christchurch, Dunedin, Mount Cook, Queenstown, Te Anau, and Milford Sound. Kiwi Experience (tel. 09/366-9830) and Magic Travellers (tel. 09/358-5600) both include Wanaka on their routes. Wanaka Connexions (tel. 0800/244-844 in NZ, or 03/477-2224; www.time2.co.nz) runs between Wanaka and Queenstown several times a day, and also has a daily service to Invercargill, Dunedin, and Christchurch.
By Car
Wanaka is reached via the Haast Pass from the West Coast. It’s a 4-hour drive from the glaciers. State Highway 6 connects it to Cromwell and Queenstown, 1 1/2 hours to the south. State Highway 89, the Cardrona Road over the Crown Range, is a more direct and impressive route that takes around 1 hour (if you stop to admire the views). Once narrow, winding, and treacherous, it’s now fully paved and is, in fact, the highest tar-sealed road in Australasia. Keep in mind that if you travel the Crown Range Road in winter, you are now legally required to carry chains (available for hire from service stations). If you’re caught without them, you’ll get a NZ$150 fine. Wanaka is a 5-hour drive from Christchurch and 3 1/2 hours from both Dunedin and Te Anau.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
