Best Hotels in Wānaka for Every Budget — 20 Real Picks From £81 (2026)

Our top pick in this lake-and-mountain town is Edgewater Hotel, a well-established 4★ resort on the shore of Lake Wānaka with over 2,100 reviews — but the honest headline here is that Wānaka is a small, pricey alpine resort town, and we're not going to pretend otherwise. This is a deliberately compact guide: 20 real, distinct, currently bookable hotels, from around £81 a night at the budget end. We haven't padded the list — a town this size simply doesn't have hundreds of hotels, so every property below is verified and linked to a live-price page. UK visitors need an NZeTA (plus the IVL levy) before flying, and the nearest airport is Queenstown (ZQN), about an hour's scenic drive away.

Jump to your budget: Best-rated stays · Budget stays from £81 · FAQs

Scout's 3 best-value picks right now: 🌊 Edgewater Hotel — Wānaka, from ~£181, a lakeside 4★ resort with 2,100+ reviews, the guide's most-trusted address. 🏡 Fairway Motel & Apartments — Wānaka, from ~£107, a hugely reviewed 4★ motel-apartment that's the best comfort-for-money mid pick. 🛏️ WanaHaka - Lake Wanaka & Town at your door — Wānaka, from ~£81, the cheapest verified bed here, near the lakefront and town. From-prices are live rates pulled while writing — tap any hotel for today's price on your dates.

Wānaka sits on the shore of its namesake lake on New Zealand's South Island, ringed by the peaks of Mount Aspiring National Park. It's the laid-back, more relaxed cousin of Queenstown, about an hour away over the Crown Range — quieter, more family-friendly, and built around the outdoors. The famous lone #ThatWanakaTree stands in the shallows just off the lakefront, the classic Roys Peak hike climbs to one of the country's most photographed viewpoints, and there's Rippon winery, Puzzling World, easy lakefront strolls, and the Treble Cone and Cardrona ski fields in the southern-hemisphere winter (June-August). Remember the seasons are reversed and they drive on the left — an easy self-drive for Brits. For wider trip planning, New Zealand's official tourism site is a solid starting point, and it's worth reading the UK Foreign Office's New Zealand travel advice for the latest entry rules before you fly. Compare live hotel prices or search flights to Queenstown (ZQN) to start planning.

The Best-Rated Stays in Wānaka

These are the nine best-reviewed, most comfortable stays in town — mostly well-established 4★ lakeside hotels, motels and lodges. Wānaka has no big luxury-resort belt; it's a small alpine market, so "best-rated" here means genuine quality and strong review counts rather than five-star glitz. Prices reflect an in-demand resort town, so they're honestly on the higher side. From-prices are live rates pulled while writing — tap any hotel for your dates.

1. Edgewater Hotel — Wānaka · 4★ · 2175 reviews · from ~£181/night. Wānaka's flagship and the most-reviewed hotel in this guide by a wide margin — a full-service 4★ resort set right on the lakeshore. With over 2,100 reviews behind it, it's the reliable, comfortable choice for travellers who want a proven lakeside base with room to relax after a day on the trails.

2. Fairway Motel & Apartments — Wānaka · 4★ · 2122 reviews · from ~£107/night. A hugely popular 4★ motel-and-apartment complex with over 2,100 reviews, and the best comfort-for-money in the top tier — from around £107. The apartment layouts and kitchens make it a natural pick for families and groups who want space without a resort price.

3. Alpine Motel — Wānaka · 4★ · 1629 reviews · from ~£187/night. A well-established 4★ motel with more than 1,600 reviews, close to the town centre and lakefront. A dependable, walkable base for exploring Wānaka on foot, with the strong review record you'd want when booking a smaller alpine town from afar.

4. Bella Vista Motel Lake Wanaka — Wānaka · 4★ · 1270 reviews · from ~£148/night. A tidy, well-reviewed 4★ motel from around £148, part of a trusted New Zealand chain and a comfortable middle-of-the-road choice. Roomy units and an easy in-town location make it a solid family and couples pick.

5. Te Wanaka Lodge — Wānaka · 4★ · 1049 reviews · from ~£137/night. A characterful 4★ lodge with over 1,000 reviews, from about £137 — a cosier, more boutique feel than the motels, and a short walk from the lakefront and town centre. A warm choice for couples who want a lodge atmosphere in the heart of Wānaka.

6. Wanaka Springs Lodge — Wānaka · 4★ · 593 reviews · from ~£170/night. A boutique 4★ lodge with nearly 600 reviews, from around £170 — a quieter, more intimate base with a good reputation for hospitality. Well suited to couples wanting a relaxed, personal stay close to the action but away from the bustle.

7. Alpine View Lodge — Wānaka · 4★ · 400 reviews · from ~£118/night. A 4★ lodge from about £118 — one of the better-value top-tier picks, with mountain-town character and a solid review base. A comfortable, affordable choice for travellers who want quality without stretching to the flagship lakeside rates.

8. Oakridge Resort Lake Wanaka — Wānaka · 4★ · 372 reviews · from ~£150/night. A 4★ resort-style stay from around £150, with the extra space and facilities that suit families and longer stays. A good pick if you want a resort feel and room to unwind between hikes and ski days.

9. Wanaka Homestead Lodge & Cottages — Wānaka · 4★ · 209 reviews · from ~£185/night. A boutique 4★ lodge-and-cottages set-up from about £185, offering a peaceful, homely alternative to the motels with self-contained cottage options. The choice for travellers who want privacy and a countryside-lodge mood near town.

Prices are from-rates pulled on live searches while writing; weekends, peak summer and ski season run higher. See all Wānaka stays · search flights to ZQN.

Cheap Hotels in Wānaka — 20 Real, Bookable Options From £81

Here's the honest reality: Wānaka is a small, in-demand alpine resort town, so even the budget tier starts higher than in most destinations — from about £81 a night — and the whole guide tops out around £297. Every property below is a real, currently operating stay we verified as distinct, with live rates on its JetMeAway page. We'd rather show you 20 genuine options than pad the list, so this is a compact but completely real picture. From-prices were pulled on live searches while writing; your dates will differ.

10. Aspiring Lodge Motel — Wānaka · 3★ · 109 reviews · from ~£130/night. A straightforward 3★ motel from around £130, a walkable base in town with over 100 reviews. A no-fuss, well-located choice for travellers who want the essentials sorted and their budget saved for the mountains.

11. West Meadows Motel — Wānaka · 3★ · 129 reviews · from ~£152/night. A tidy 3★ motel from about £152, with self-contained units that work well for couples and small families. A reliable, review-backed option a short way from the lakefront.

12. WanaHaka - Lake Wanaka & Town at your door — Wānaka · unrated · 208 reviews · from ~£81/night. The cheapest verified bed in this entire guide, from around £81, and genuinely central — near both the lake and the town, as the name promises. With over 200 reviews behind it, it's the safe budget default for travellers who want to keep costs down in a pricey town.

13. Art Glass Studio — Wānaka · unrated · 264 reviews · from ~£104/night. A characterful studio stay from about £104, and the best-reviewed budget option here with over 260 reviews. A distinctive, well-liked perch for couples who want something a bit different at the affordable end.

14. Alpine Junction Townhouse Apartments, Lodge & Hotel — Wānaka · unrated · 1406 reviews · from ~£119/night. From around £119 and, with over 1,400 reviews, by far the most-reviewed property in the budget tier. A flexible mix of townhouse apartments, lodge and hotel rooms that suits everyone from solo travellers to families. Strong proof rather than a promise at this price.

15. The Willows Wanaka — Wānaka · unrated · 854 reviews · from ~£124/night. A well-reviewed stay from about £124, with over 850 reviews — a dependable budget-band choice with a strong track record. A comfortable, proven base for exploring the lake and trails.

16. Wanaka Lake Studio (New) — Wānaka · unrated · 226 reviews · from ~£130/night. A newer studio stay from around £130, already carrying 200+ reviews. A compact, self-contained option for couples who want their own space near the lake at the affordable end of the market.

17. Tasman Holiday Parks - Wanaka — Wānaka · unrated · 563 reviews · from ~£173/night. A holiday-park stay from about £173, with over 550 reviews — a relaxed, outdoorsy option with cabins and family-friendly facilities. A good pick for travellers who like the campground-community feel with the convenience of a fixed unit.

18. Golf Course Road Chalets — Wānaka · 3★ · 12 reviews · from ~£174/night. Self-contained 3★ chalets from around £174, offering more privacy and space than a standard room. A quieter, house-style option for travellers who want their own chalet — check the live page for the latest, as reviews are still building.

19. Downtown Delight - Wanaka Holiday Home — Wānaka · unrated · 14 reviews · from ~£250/night. A central whole-home holiday rental from about £250 — near the top of this guide's range, but you get an entire house in town rather than a single room. The pick for families or groups who want to spread out and self-cater in the heart of Wānaka.

20. Bull Ridge Escape - Wanaka Holiday Home — Wānaka · unrated · 5 reviews · from ~£297/night. The priciest stay in this guide, from around £297 — a whole-home escape for a group or family wanting space, privacy and their own base. A newer listing still gathering reviews, so tap through to check current details and rates on your dates.

Budget tier summary: cheapest overall — WanaHaka - Lake Wanaka & Town at your door, from £81; best-reviewed at this end — Alpine Junction Townhouse Apartments, Lodge & Hotel, from £119; best-reviewed studio — Art Glass Studio, from £104; top of the range — Bull Ridge Escape - Wanaka Holiday Home, from £297. Prices are from-rates; your live price shows on each hotel's page. Compare all Wānaka hotels with live prices → or search flights to ZQN.

Explore more of New Zealand

Planning a full South Island trip? Wānaka pairs naturally with its livelier neighbour and the Fiordland gateway. See our companion guides: Best Hotels in Queenstown — the buzzy adventure capital an hour away over the Crown Range — and Best Hotels in Te Anau, the calm gateway town for the Milford and Doubtful Sounds further south.

Wānaka Hotels FAQs

Do UK citizens need a visa for New Zealand? Not a full visa, but you do need an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) before you fly, plus you'll pay the IVL (International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy) at the same time. UK passport holders can then visit for up to six months as a tourist. The NZeTA is applied for online, is valid for two years, and is quick and inexpensive — sort it well before departure rather than at the airport.

What is the cheapest hotel in Wānaka? In this guide the cheapest verified bed is WanaHaka - Lake Wanaka & Town at your door, from around £81 a night, right in town near the lakefront and with 200+ reviews. Art Glass Studio follows from about £104. Both are real, currently bookable properties, not placeholders. Wānaka is a genuinely pricey alpine resort town, so even the budget floor sits higher than in most destinations.

What's the most expensive hotel in this guide? The top of this guide is around £297 a night at Bull Ridge Escape - Wanaka Holiday Home, a whole-home stay, with Downtown Delight - Wanaka Holiday Home close behind at about £250. Wānaka is a small, high-demand alpine market, so prices run higher than you might expect for a town this size — that's the honest picture.

Which airport do I fly into for Wānaka? Queenstown Airport (ZQN) is the nearest airport, about an hour's drive from Wānaka over the scenic Crown Range Road — New Zealand's highest sealed public road. There's no commercial airport in Wānaka itself. From the UK there are no direct flights; you'll connect through Auckland or Christchurch, or via a hub in the Gulf, Asia or the US, then take the short domestic hop to Queenstown.

How do I get from Queenstown to Wānaka? It's roughly an hour by car. The quickest and most scenic route is the Crown Range Road, a winding alpine pass that climbs high before dropping into the Cardrona valley and on to Wānaka. In winter the pass can need chains or ice caution, in which case the longer valley route via Cromwell is the alternative. Hire cars and shuttle services both run between the two towns.

Is Wānaka better than Queenstown? They suit different moods. Queenstown is the buzzy adventure capital with nightlife, big-name attractions and crowds; Wānaka, about an hour away, is quieter, more laid-back and family-friendly, built around its beautiful lake and mountains. Many visitors do both — Queenstown for the energy, Wānaka for the calm. If you want a relaxed alpine base rather than a party town, Wānaka wins.

What is #ThatWanakaTree? It's the famous lone willow tree growing right in the shallows of Lake Wānaka, just off the lakefront near the town centre. Instantly recognisable from Instagram, it's one of New Zealand's most photographed trees, especially at sunrise and sunset. It's a free, easy stroll from town — one of the simplest and most rewarding things to do in Wānaka.

What is the Roys Peak hike? Roys Peak is Wānaka's signature day hike — a steep, roughly 16 km return climb that rewards you with the classic panorama over Lake Wānaka and its islands from a photogenic ridge viewpoint. It's demanding and takes most of a day, so bring water, layers and sun protection. The famous viewpoint photo spot often has a queue in peak season.

What else is there to do in Wānaka? Plenty for a small town: lakefront strolls and swimming, Rippon winery with its lake-and-mountain vineyard views, the quirky Puzzling World with its illusion rooms and maze, boat trips on the lake, and easy walks and cycle trails. In winter the nearby Treble Cone and Cardrona ski fields draw snow crowds. Wānaka is a relaxed base for both summer hiking and winter skiing.

When is the best time to visit Wānaka? It depends what you want. Remember New Zealand's seasons are reversed from the UK — summer is roughly December to February (warm, long days, lake swimming, hiking) and winter is June to August (cold, snow, skiing at Treble Cone and Cardrona). Autumn (March-May) brings golden colours and fewer crowds. For the classic green-and-blue lake photos, the warmer months are ideal.

Can you ski near Wānaka? Yes. Wānaka is one of New Zealand's best ski bases, with Treble Cone (known for wide, uncrowded terrain and lake views) and Cardrona (family-friendly, on the road toward Queenstown) both close by. The ski season runs roughly June to early October — the southern-hemisphere winter — so it's the opposite of the UK's calendar. Many hotels here fill fast in ski season, so book ahead.

What currency is used in New Zealand? The New Zealand dollar (NZD). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including contactless, so you'll rarely need cash. We quote all hotel prices in pounds as rough from-rates for UK readers; your live price on your dates is shown when you tap through to each hotel, converted at the current rate.

Do they drive on the left in New Zealand? Yes — like the UK, New Zealand drives on the left, which makes it an easy self-drive country for British visitors. The roads around Wānaka are scenic but can be winding and, in the mountains, subject to ice and snow in winter. The Crown Range pass to Queenstown in particular needs care in cold conditions. Take your time and enjoy the views.

How much does a hotel in Wānaka cost per night? In this guide, real bookable stays start from about £81 a night at the budget end and run up to around £297 for a whole-home rental, with plenty of well-reviewed motels and lodges in the £100-£190 band in between. Wānaka is a small, in-demand alpine resort town, so nightly rates sit higher than in many places — we've been upfront about that rather than promising bargains that don't exist.

Is Wānaka good for families? Very much so. Wānaka is more relaxed and less party-focused than Queenstown, with a swimmable lake, easy walks, Puzzling World, and roomy motel and apartment stays that suit families. Places like Fairway Motel & Apartments, Bella Vista Motel Lake Wanaka and Oakridge Resort work well for groups who want kitchen space and room to spread out.

Do I need a car in Wānaka? The town centre and lakefront are walkable, but a car makes a real difference for reaching Roys Peak, Rippon winery, the ski fields and the wider region — and for the drive to and from Queenstown Airport. Public transport is limited in this rural alpine area, so most UK visitors hire a car, which is straightforward given New Zealand drives on the left.

Why is this guide only 20 hotels? Because Wānaka is a genuinely small alpine resort town, not a big city, so there simply aren't hundreds of hotels — and we'd rather show you 20 real, distinct, currently bookable properties than pad the list with duplicates or placeholders. Every stay below is verified, labelled and linked to a live-price page. It's an honest, compact picture of a small market.

How far is Wānaka from Queenstown? About an hour's drive, roughly 70 km via the Crown Range Road, the scenic alpine pass that's New Zealand's highest sealed public road. An alternative valley route via Cromwell takes a little longer but avoids the mountain pass, which is useful in icy winter conditions. The two towns are an easy pairing for a South Island trip.

Is Wānaka expensive? Honestly, yes — by the standards of a small town. It's a sought-after alpine lake resort with limited accommodation and high seasonal demand, so nightly rates and dining cost more than you might expect for its size. This guide is upfront about that: real beds start around £81 and climb from there. The scenery and calm, though, are a big part of what you're paying for.

Wānaka or Te Anau for a South Island trip? Both are relaxed alternatives to Queenstown. Wānaka is the lake-and-mountain town with skiing, Roys Peak and #ThatWanakaTree, closest to Queenstown. Te Anau is the gateway to Fiordland and the Milford and Doubtful Sounds, further south. Many visitors combine all three. See our companion Te Anau and Queenstown guides to plan a full South Island loop.

How do I book these exact hotels at the prices shown? Every hotel name in this guide links to that hotel's live page on JetMeAway, with real-time rates, taxes shown, and a date picker for your trip. The from-prices quoted here were pulled on live searches while writing, so your dates will differ — tap through for today's number. No booking fees either way.

Every hotel above links to its own live-price page — real rates and taxes shown, book in under 90 seconds. Search all Wānaka hotels → or find flights to Queenstown (ZQN) →.