Neat People: Alice & Fionn's Guide to Wānaka
Meet Alice & Fionn, the duo behind Heatwave, Wānaka's beloved outdoor lifestyle store.
Photos by: Anna Briggs & Supplied
As well as offering a curated selection of equipment and apparel designed to enhance your time in nature, these two have created a space where people can connect, engage, and find inspiration.
We asked them a few questions about how they spend their days in wonderful Wānaka.
Introduce yourselves!
We’re Alice and Fionn, we run Heatwave, a small outdoor lifestyle store and coffee shop here in Wānaka. We've been here going on 7 years now and loving every minute of it.
What’s your go-to coffee spot?
When we've got time to relax, we head to The Good Spot for coffee and a bagel, it's an awesome space to chill. Our go-to in town is definitely Alleyway!
How do you usually spend your downtime in Wānaka?
You'll usually find us out on the trails or at the lake, just enjoying everything Wānaka has to offer. Alice loves to spend time in her studio (making shoes) and I'll usually be out on a run in my free time.
It's notoriously hard to pick a favourite activity here. Alice loves to get out climbing with friends. If we want to walk or run up a mountain, Breast Hill is a favourite for us, and for a ride we'd likely head out on the Millennium Track and stop at one of the many beaches along the way for a dip.
Friends and family are visiting! What does a dream day's itinerary in Wānaka look like?
We'd start off with a coffee then head out to one of our favourite local tracks, Rocky Mountain, followed by a dip in the lake and a picnic at Glendhu Bay, a bike to Hāwea in the afternoon and dinner at Muttonbird!
A spot in Wānaka more people need to know about?
Mowgli! They're not in a secret spot but are pretty new to town and we can not get enough of their food. Definitely try the Chola Mama, it's beyond delicious!
What's a place beyond Wānaka you love returning to, and one spot you always visit when there?
We headed down to Dunedin recently and loved the food scene, Beam Me Up Bagels and Big Lizard were top picks and we're definitely looking forward to going back there. Checking out all the second hand stores along the way is also always such a highlight.
What’s your favourite thing about living in Wānaka?
Our community. We're super lucky to have friends, old and new, and so many visitors frequenting the shop each day for a coffee and a yarn. It's something we're super grateful for and we've met the most amazing people.
What Heatwave product are you loving most at the moment?
Our Sealson packs have stolen our hearts. They're a taiwanese bag studio and make beautiful, functional lightweight crossbodys and hiking packs. I'm slowly adding all of them to my own stash!
More Wānaka Stories
The Insiders' Weekend Guide to Lake Hāwea
The Workroom Caravan
Beyond the Eggs Bene, Here's Where to Get Your Brunch Fix in Wānaka
With plenty of beautiful fit-outs, premium roasted coffee and health- and earth-conscious brunch places, you’re sure to find one that suits you.
A Conversation with Jayden Klinac of For The Better Good
3 Wānaka Creatives & The Places That Inspire Them
A landscape that would give Monet and Van Gogh something to paint about, it’s hardly surprising that Wānaka is home to a rich community of artists and big thinkers, feasting off its beauty to fuel their own creative ideas.
Neat Wānaka Places
Heatwave
Located on Dunmore Street in Wānaka, Heatwave is a community hub as much as it is an outdoor lifestyle store.
Black Peak Gelato
With the cheery motto ‘handcrafted happiness,’ Black Peak makes sure gelato treats are nothing short of exceptional.
Cardrona Hotel
Rumoured to be the most photographed building in the country, Cardrona Hotel was built in 1863 first and foremost as a place to stay for hardworking gold miners.
Sofi
Showcasing the best of Wānaka from its perch on Ardmore Street, Sofi is a Mediterranean dream near the shores of the lake.
The Workroom
Aesthetic is what The Workroom does best, so it’s not surprising walking in here is a pleasure in itself.
