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The Insiders' Weekend Guide to Lake Hāwea

A view from above The Camp at Lake Hāwea in Wanaka.
Story Wānaka
No longer Wānaka's lesser-known neighbour, Lake Haweā is an outdoor lovers' paradise that's evolved into a well-rounded holiday destination, thanks to its hospitality offerings and activities to match its intense beauty and monstrous mountain range.  With a secret sauna, surrounding peaks, jaw-dropping walks and hikes, coffee caravans and outdoor bars, here's our guide to what the locals have kept under wraps for some time.

Kamino

The brick and glass exterior of Kamino cafe in Wanaka.
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If you don’t know where Kamino is in the Star Wars galaxy, never fear.

Paloma

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

Hāwea Hotel

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

hello RANGER

A plate of lamb koftas, flatbreads and tzatziki on a table at hello RANGER with a pint of beer and other plates in the background.
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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.

Curbside Coffee & Bagels

The courtyard of the Curbside cafe with festoon lights strung in the sky.
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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.

Muttonbird

Enclosed balcony dining area at Muttonbird, Wānaka.
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It’s a seabird you can eat that smells like fish and tastes like mutton.

arc

High angle view of a person cutting into a fish and citrus dish, wine and other dishes on the table at arc, 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

People walking down the alleyway.
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A stylish, shared complex in Wānaka with a range of alluring retail and hospitality stores.

Scroggin

A milky coffee, pastries and savoury dish on the table at Scroggin, Wānaka.
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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 for a while.’

Ground Up

Glass of beer on the table.
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A brewery and taproom in one, this local favourite continues to grow and impress.

b.social

Outdoor area with a bike parked up at b.social, Wānaka.
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The b.social taproom and eatery 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.

Hāwea Store & Kitchen

Exterior view of Hawea Store & Kitchen.
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A community hub that combines a grocer, café, restaurant and bar overlooking the lake.

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.

Urban Grind

A man holding a plate of food.
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An all-day neighbourhood eatery that's been providing locals with delicious fare since 2011.

FuDog

A dragon print on a wall inside the restaurant.
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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.
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Fast becoming ‘the thing to do in Wānaka’, Hook provides a unique lake-to-plate experience of catching your own Chinook salmon from spring-fed waters.

Dripping Bowl

A staff member holds two bowls, made from coconut husks, of acai topped with crunchy coconut, cacao nibs and buckwheat groats.
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Well known for acai bowls, smoothies, divine soups and a niche coffee menu, Dripping Bowl has nutrition and sustainability at its heart.

Pinnacle Pints in Wānaka: Where Craft Beer Meets Mountain Peaks

People dining inside Rhyme x Reason.
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Wānaka craft beer, mountain scenery and outdoor activities meet to create a community of followers who thirst for adventure.

Pembroke Pâtisserie

Female staff member behind the counter at Pembroke Pâtisserie, Wānaka.
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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 are artistically prepared macarons and tiny tarts.

Bistro Gentil

A birds eye view image of a plate of food from the Bistro Gentil restaurant.
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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.
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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.

Kai Whaka Pai

Customers sitting on tables outside the bar.
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An absolute town institution, this place is humming with people Monday to Sunday, winter through to summer.

Red Star Burgers

Two tall burgers, a plate of salad and basket of hot chips on the table at Red Star, Wānaka.
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A Wānaka institution, Red Star has been filling hungry bellies with burgers since 2004.

Rhyme x Reason

People waiting and staff working behind the timber-clad bar and ordering area at Rhyme and Reason, 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.

Kika

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

Fedeli

The-entrance-to-fedeli
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A deli with a difference, Fedeli speaks volumes about creating an aesthetically pleasing space that offers up salads, pastries and coffee done well.

Federal Diner

Staff member making a Chemex coffee.
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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.

Cork Bar

Brown leather booth seating at Cork, 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 who truly do know their stuff, it’s likely you’ll develop an infatuation with this bar very quickly.

Big Fig

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

Black Peak Gelato

The exterior of Black Peak Gelato with tables and chairs and beanbags for customers.
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With the cheery motto ‘handcrafted happiness,’ Black Peak makes sure gelato treats are nothing short of exceptional.

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

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

Cardrona Distillery

A distillery tour taking place.
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Stop by for a tour and tasting session at Cardrona Distillery and set your eyes on the magnificent copper stills responsible for turning grain into spirits.

Burrito Craft

Close up of a person's hands holding a taco.
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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

Historic cream and maroon weatherboard frontage of Cardrona Hotel with a vintage cream 1968 Chrysler Model 62 parked in front.
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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.