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Wānaka Businesses Making Waves in a Sustainable Way

Two people in a hot tub at Cross Hill in Lake Hawea.
Story Wānaka
Wānaka is the home base for a bunch of game-changing businesses, with offerings as diverse as the terrain that surrounds them. Beneath the surface, however, there are commonalities that go beyond their root environment. They are committed to sustainability, prioritising the land, locals and longevity of the planet.

Paloma

Four plates of Mexican food from Paloma Wanaka on a wooden table.
Place Wānaka
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Creators of authentic Mexican fare, Paloma has a simple (but by no means easy) mission: to make the best tacos in Wānaka possible using New Zealand ingredients.

Hāwea Hotel

Inside the restaurant where people are dining and looking out the windows over the lake.
Place Wānaka
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How does the idea of enjoying your morning coffee from a private balcony, with uninterrupted views of mountains encircling one of the country’s largest lakes, sound in...

Curbside Coffee & Bagels

The courtyard of the Curbside cafe with festoon lights strung in the sky.
Place Wānaka
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If the timber letters spelling out ‘Coffee & Bagels’ overhead aren’t an obvious enough announcement of your arrival at Curbside then the aroma of freshly ground coffee and the sounds of a busy barista working the machine will certainly grab your attention.

hello RANGER

The interior of hello RANGER where people are sitting at tables dining.
Place Wānaka
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Just like any good park ranger, hello RANGER is the heart of its community, there to take care of adventurous people before and after their journeys.

Muttonbird

Ceviche on a table with other dishes at Muttonbird, Wānaka.
Place Wānaka
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It’s a seabird you can eat that smells like fish and tastes like mutton.

arc

Dining room with wooden table and chairs at arc, Wānaka.
Place Wānaka
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Owners of Wānaka restaurant arc, James Stapley and Sam Cooper, know a thing or two about what makes a good eatery.

The Precinct

View of the alleyway at The Precinct.
Place Wānaka
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The Precinct came on the Wānaka scene in late 2020 as a stylish, shared complex with a range of alluring retail and hospitality stores.

Kamino

Barista making coffee.
Place Wānaka
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While Kamino is known first and foremost as a coffee shop and milkbar, this place is no one trick pony.

Scroggin

Man ordering at the till at Scroggin, Wānaka.
Place Wānaka Editor's Pick
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With a Scandinavian-inspired fit out to match the mountains and adventures to be had in Wānaka, you'll quickly understand why this coffee and eatery’s tagline is ‘Gather, feast, stay a while.’

Ground Up

Glass of beer on the table.
Place Wānaka
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A brewery and taproom in one, this local favourite continues to grow from the ground up.

b.social

Outdoor area with bikes parked up outside at b.social, Wānaka.
Place Wānaka Editor's Pick
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The b.social Brewery and Bar is a great spot for eating and drinking that is worthy of a visit (or many), whether you’re just in town for the weekend or call this beautiful region home year round.

Urban Grind

Workers chatting behind the counter.
Place Wānaka
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An all day neighbourhood eatery poviding locals with delicious daily fare since 2011.

A Foodie's Guide to Queenstown and Wānaka

Close up of Cheese Burger and Fries
Story Wānaka
It’s easy to mention the great outdoors when talking about Queenstown and Wānaka, but what about the incredible food scene? All that adventuring requires some serious fuel and these two Lakes District towns do not disappoint.

Hāwea Store & Kitchen

A fireplace and tables and chairs.
Place Wānaka
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A community hub that combines a grocer, café, restaurant and bar overlooking the lake.

FuDog

A dragon print on a wall inside the restaurant.
Place Wānaka
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While their techniques are worthy of fine-dining, this restaurant likes to keep dinnertime fuss-free and fun.

Hook Wānaka - Lake to Plate

Fishing rods on display.
Place Wānaka
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Fast becoming ‘the thing to do in Wānaka’, the Hook restaurant provides a unique lake-to-plate experience where locals and visitors can catch their own Chinook...

Pembroke Pâtisserie

Man standing in the kitchen behind the counter at Pembroke Patisserie, Wānaka.
Place Wānaka Editor's Pick
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Pembroke Pâtisserie offers hot pastries for your picnic, sweet pastries galore, or for those who like the finer things in life there’s artistically prepared macarons and tiny tarts.

Tour Your Tastebuds Around Wānaka's Flourishing Food and Drink Scene

Someone holding tray of freshly baked pastries.
Story Wānaka
Wānaka is full of local food and drink entrepreneurs ready to bring you the region’s bounty.

Dripping Bowl

A bowl of healthy food sitting on a table alongside colourful smoothies.
Place Wānaka
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Well known for their acai bowls, smoothies, devine soups and niche coffee menu, Dripping Bowl has nutrition and sustainability at its heart.

Bistro Gentil

The interior of the Bistro Gentil with a big roll of brown paper with a hand written lettering on the wall.
Place Wānaka
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A fine-dining restaurant boasting a love affair with French cuisine, Bistro Gentil serves excellent meals in a beautiful, sultry interior.

The Coffee Shack

A woman waiting in line at The Coffee Shack.
Place Wānaka
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Proof that good things come in small packages, The Coffee Shack serves up some of the best coffee in town from its pocket-sized converted garage interior.

Maude Wines Tasting Room

An employee behind the bar.
Place Wānaka
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Set on beautiful grounds above the picturesque Wānaka township, Maude Wines Tasting Room has a million-dollar view and the fantastic wines to go with it.

Kai Whaka Pai

Diners sitting outside the bar.
Place Wānaka
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An absolute town institution, this place is humming with people Monday to Sunday, Winter through to Summer.

Red Star Burger

A close up of a woman holding burger.
Place Wānaka
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A Wānaka institution, Red Star has been filling hungry bellies with burgers since 2004.

Kika

Flatlay of plates of food from Kika.
Place Wānaka Editor's Pick
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Dark and elegant, Kika is an award-winning restaurant tucked away from Wānaka's main street.

Rhyme and Reason

Graffiti on the wall at Rhyme and Reason, Wānaka.
Place Wānaka
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A brewery slash tasting room and bar, visit this sunny spot for a pint or fill up a rigger for takeaway.

Francesca's Italian Kitchen Wānaka

Table settings ready for diners.
Place Wānaka
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Expect to see all things Italian on the menu here including risotto, ragù, gnocchi and wood red pizza.

Cork Bar

Brown leather booth seating at Cork, Wānaka.
Place Wānaka
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The place to go for evening drinks, Cork has an impressive array of wines, beers, fine spirits and cocktails. Served by bartenders that truly do know their stuff, it’s likely you’ll develop an infatuation with this bar very quickly.

Federal Diner

People eating in the cafe.
Place Wānaka
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Hidden down an alleyway, Federal is a Wānaka best kept secret and a favourite with the locals thanks to its great food, speciality coffee and relaxed atmosphere.

Fedeli

A male employee holding a pie on a plate.
Place Wānaka
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A deli with a difference, Fedeli speaks volumes about creating an aesthetically pleasing space and offering up salads, pastries and coffee done well.

How To Spend a Snowy Weekend in Wānaka

Tree in the Lake Wānaka with snowy mountains in the background. Photograph by Casey Horner.
Story Wānaka
Wānaka's winter appeal doesn’t stop on the hill. The Otago town offers more than meets the eye.

Big Fig

A flatlay plate of food on a table at Big Fig in Wānaka.
Place Wānaka
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Operating by the motto ‘slow food served fast’, Big Fig dishes up meals with a Middle Eastern twist.

Burrito Craft

Person ordering at the Burrito Craft food truck in Wānaka.
Place Wānaka
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Easygoing vibes make this permanent food truck a non-pretentious spot to park up and enjoy some food al fresco style.

Cardrona Hotel

Entrance to Cardrona Hotel.
Place Wānaka Editor's Pick
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Rumoured to be the most photographed building in the country, Cardrona Hotel was built in 1863 as first and foremost a place to stay for hardworking gold miners.

Cardrona Distillery

A distillery tour taking place.
Place Wānaka Editor's Pick
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Stop by for a tour and tasting session at Cardrona Distillery, and set your eyes on the magnificent copper stills that are responsible for turning grain into spirits.

Beyond the Eggs Bene, Here's Where to Get Your Brunch Fix in Wānaka

Barista making coffee at Kamino.
Story Wānaka
With plenty of beautiful fit-outs, premium roasted coffee and health-and earth-conscious brunch places, you’re sure to find the one that suits you.

Black Peak Gelato

A man pouring M&M's into the gelato tub while gelato is falling out of the machine.
Place Wānaka
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With the cheery motto ‘handcrafted happiness’, Black Peak makes sure gelato treats are nothing short of exceptional.