Lake Wanaka 1-Hour Cruise Including Wine and Cheese
Badge of Excellence
Wanaka, New Zealand
- 1 hour (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Take a break from busy sightseeing and sail around serene Lake Wanaka on this late-afternoon cruise with a complimentary beer, wine, or soft drink. Enjoy views of the Southern Alps and local landmarks including the lakeside Lone Tree while relaxing with a cheese and cracker board. Purchase extra drinks from the fully licensed bar, if you wish. The short cruise is easy to fit in before dinner plans in Wanaka.
- Enjoy included cheese and crackers for a pre-dinner snack
- Cruise departs from the easily accessible Wanaka waterfront
- Rest your feet after a busy day on Wanaka's hiking or biking trails
- A romantic way to start an evening out in Wanaka
What's Included
- One complimentary wine, beer, RTD or soft drink
- Cheese & Crackers for nibbles
- GST (Goods and Services Tax)
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Further drinks can be purchased on board
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Lake Wanaka CruisesAt the lakefront 100 Ardmore Street, Wānaka 9305, New Zealand
You will board your vessel from the Wanaka Lake Front. In between the Old Town Jetty and the Dinosaur Park. Please be at the departure point before 5:15pm. If you are not present at 5:15pm, you may not be able to join the cruise. Parking may or may not be available depending on the season.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.5:30 pm
Itinerary
Lake Wanaka (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund.
- Gluten & other allergens may be present
- Cheese & crackers are communally served
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Missy_D
Better with friends, but the crew were great. We only had a small group due to Easter.
Tim and Cam were lovely. Had. Achat and shared some island info. Lovely wine also. Cheese platter was simple but effective. Would do again 😊
Reviews
4.4
based on 102 reviews
Lynn_S, Mar 2026
Friendly crew and fun to meet other travelers. Fun to see another part of the lake. Good wine and yummy cheese board.
Emily_L, Mar 2026
This a relatively small boat and there aren’t enough seats for all the passengers! There were not enough clean glasses or plates for the shared cheese platters. Not as we had imagined!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Emily. Dual Image is the largest vessel on lake Wanaka and is licensed for 49 guests. We only allow 42 on this cruise. I'm sorry that you found there was not enough plates? Did you speak to the crew as they are always happy to oblige?
Mimi_H, Feb 2026
Nice quick way to meet new people and taste wine. Great scenery and have the option to sit in shade or out in the balcony.
Alison_M, Feb 2026
A lovely hour on Lake Wanaka. Cam had lots of local information to share as we went along. The cheese board and complimentary beverage were a very nice touch.
It just went too fast !! We all agreed two hours would have been even better !
Barbara_B, Feb 2026
This was a lovely cruise on Lake Wanaka. Tim the captain was charming and had great info about the lake and history of NZ. Emily was the perfect hostess! We enjoyed time on the bough taking in the beautiful scenery all while sipping a glass of wine, perfect!
Stephen_P, Dec 2025
Well organised and good communication the day of the sailing. Just a shame the weather was not so good
Brenda_M, Dec 2025
It could be cool because after all, you are on the water! Bring a jacket and expect a good time.
The narrative was great, not too long and not too short.
Heinz_Z, Nov 2025
We had a nice and relaxed evening
Cruise around the bay. It was rather windy but the boat held its course. The buffet was gone in ten minutes:-)
Bianca_W, Aug 2025
The sunset cruise was fantastic and great value for money. The views were stunning and the hosts on the boat did a great job. Would happily do this again.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thanks a lot Bianca.
Missy_D, Apr 2025
Better with friends, but the crew were great. We only had a small group due to Easter.
Tim and Cam were lovely. Had. Achat and shared some island info. Lovely wine also. Cheese platter was simple but effective. Would do again 😊
John_L, Mar 2025
The cruise and staff were nice and it was a relaxing way to end our day. The cheese boards were served community style rather than one per group, which is what we were expecting. Any cheese boards in open areas lost most of their crackers to the wind when the boat started moving.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thanks for your feedback John.
Sorry the crackers are not outdoor rated but it has been an isolated incident due to the exceptional Summer we have had here.
Anne_D, Mar 2025
Lovely start to the evening. We met nice people. Wine and cheese good. Views over the lake and surrounding mountains superb
A bit of commentary would have added to the experience
Fiona_M, Mar 2025
This is more like a booze cruise. You just get your drinks, cheese and biscuits and chat to people. There is no talk from the skipper about what you can see etc
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thanks for your comments Fiona. We do have longer cruises through out the day that go to three of the four islands in Lake Wanaka with extensive commentary. However this is our most popular cruise. People just love to get out on the lake and have a drink before dinner. As mentioned in the briefing, the crew are always happy to chat to you about your questions.
Jacqueline_M, Feb 2025
This is a relaxing cruise around lake Wanaka. Don't expect lots of food, just nibbles..a pre cursor to eating in Wanakas bars and restaurants.
Howard_L, Feb 2025
Boat was absolutely packed. People hogged best spots and didn't move, so we had no place to sit where there was a view. Food also placed on tables whre people were sitting it was difficult to get to.
Should have done 2 runs, with about half the amount of people in each. Would have been much much better that way.
David_P, Feb 2025
Nice boat, amazing lake to tour around and good to talk to some other people over a drink. Only issue was that although it was just a drink cruise they could have made a couple of announcements about the locations around the lake we actually visited.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Hi David.
Thanks for that. We are now doing a commentary on this trip.
Many folks feel it destroys the ambience of music playing in the background and people chatting but some others have asked for it so we have done it.
Wendy_Q, Feb 2025
Nice boat ride on Lake Wanaka with beverages and snacks. Not much narration of the journey unless you sit near the Captain and ask questions.
Jonathan_B, Jan 2025
Small group, skipper was great, cheese good, barman great, scenery/views amazing
Weather was fantastic, absolutely loved it
Keshani_W, Jan 2025
Excellent cruise
Our captain Toby was very accomodating, polite and professional. Drinks were very well priced
KM_M, Jan 2025
Lovely cruise on the Lake. First drink is free and then you pay $7 for each one after that. Great cheese board. Left right on time and took an hour. Captain was great
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thanks very much and glad you enjoyed the cruise. Just a heads up that extra drinks are just $6. It may have to be $7 next year. Safe travels and all the best for 2025.
Bhavisha_K, Jan 2025
This is a nice little boat tour especially on a sunny day, some cheese and a glass of wine and the booze on board is very reasonably priced if you want more!
VijayB, Dec 2024
Relaxing cruise and outstanding views of the hills around the lake. This is a lovely way to enjoy the surroundings of the lake
Jeanette_D, Dec 2024
How relaxing the cruise was looking at Wanaka from a different view point. The crew were pleasant and welcoming
Duncan_R, Dec 2024
Disappointing- skipper and mate barely spoke and it ended up being just a little plod round the lake to the peninsula and back. Cheese board was also very limited in choice.
Would have welcomed a bit of chat about the area and different parts of the lake
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Hi Duncan,
Thanks for your feedback. That's really not like our crew at all so I'll find out why immediately. I can only think that they were tired. We do get pushed a lot at this time of year. Note there is not any official commentary on this cruise but the crew are always usually willing to chat about the area. Please contact me for a free trip on one of our other cruises if you are back this way.
Finlay_l, Dec 2024
Great relaxing trip with excellent views, the wine and cheese was top notch and there was plenty to go around. The amount of people on the trip is just right so that you can meet others while also having enough space to explore the boat, soak in the views and enjoy your drinks and cheese.
Christina_J, Dec 2024
Really lovely way to relax and see the lake and surrounding scenery .
Crew were really welcoming .
Wine and cheese was great .
Deborah_B, Nov 2024
Great social cruise. Captain was very friendly, funny and informative. Cheese and wine were a great touch to get strangers talking
David_M, Oct 2024
We had a fabulous time on the cruise. The staff and crew were really lovely, very friendly. There was plenty of food and wine to round and the views were beautiful. We met some lovely people on board and spent most of our time chatting, it was brilliant.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
So good to hear thanks David. That is exactly what we want this experience to be!
Andrew_L, Oct 2024
Got upgraded to the 2 hour Stephensons Island cruise due to weather so great start. Staff were great. Stunning scenery.
2344WoodlandCir_H, Sep 2024
Island stop had a great view. Would have loved to hear more about the history of the island, and lake.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Hi, Sorry to hear you didn't get the most from the Happy Hour Cruise. It does not have any stop at an island though so I'm wondering if you were actually on one of the other cruises (that do have island walks). The Happy Hour Cruise is the only cruise which does not have a commentary because we have music playing and guest like to chat. The other Island cruises do have a commentary so if you were on one of them and you didn't get that then we have certainly under performed. My apology - please contact me for a free trip if you are back this way again.
From $40.55
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Lake Wanaka 1-Hour Cruise Including Wine and Cheese
102
1 hour
Free Cancellation
From
$40.55
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Attractions in Wanaka, New Zealand
More attractions near Wanaka, New Zealand