Just a short drive from Wānaka, you’ll find the Diamond Lake Conservation Area which is home to this beautiful and not-too-long hike. The Lake Wanaka Lookout Track doesn’t just take you above Lake Wanaka but also to the smaller Diamond Lake which is a bit of a gem!
Even though the hike isn’t that long (5 km return) it’s still a proper hike with a good amount of elevation – so get ready for a bit of a workout and breathtaking views (no pun intended) of the epic mountains near Wanaka.
This little conservation area is one of the lesser-visited hiking areas near Wanaka and the fact that there are two amazing viewpoints in such a short distance makes this hike worthwhile!
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Everything you need to know about Lake Wanaka Lookout Track
The Lake Wanaka Lookout Track is located in the Diamond Lake Conservation Area which is a short 20-minute drive from town. It gets you out of the busyness of downtown Wanaka and into a little pocket of stunning mountains and nature close to town.
The track is quite easy to follow and pretty well-maintained. It’s a lot less popular than some of the main hikes like Roy’s Peak or Mount Iron Track – and it is a very beautiful hike if you want to get away from the crowds and hike up to some nice viewpoints!
Just a quick heads up! There’s not one but three awesome viewpoints on this hike. It’s a short but sweet hike in Wanaka that is well worth a visit and one of the best hikes we’ve done in Wānaka!
Practical information about Lake Wanaka Lookout
Distance: 5 km return / 3.1 miles return
Elevation: 275 m / 902 ft. elevation gain
Type: In-and-out trail
Length: 1.5-2 hours return (doing the full hike)
Difficulty: Moderate (some ascent but not very technical)
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Click here to see a trail map for Lake Wanaka Lookout
Hiking Tip: Look up the trail on AllTrails before starting your hike 🗺️. You can find important trail information such as recent wildlife sights and trail closures. Check out the free version here or get a 7-day free trial of AllTrails+ here.
Here’s a picture of the beginning of Lake Wanaka Lookout
Starting at the Diamond Lake Conservation area
There is a fairly big parking lot next to the Lake Wanaka Lookout trailhead. There is a sign right at the trailhead that gives you some information about the hike, plants, and wildlife in the area and that’s where you’ll start your hike.
You’ll have to step over a few stairs over a little fence and then you’ll be on your way. Getting to Diamond Lake doesn’t take long since it’s relatively flat to get there and once you get to the lake there’s a fork in the road where you can go either left or right.
Both trails lead to the same spot on the other side of the lake from where you can make your way towards the Diamond Lake Viewpoint. We recommend going left as it is the quicker and better-maintained trail (you can always go around the other side of the lake on the way down).
From Diamond Lake up to Diamond Lake Viewpoint
Now the fun part of the hike starts! After Diamond Lake, the elevation starts to pick up. There is a bit of incline but it is relatively short lived and the trail is nice and well-maintained.
You kind of get into the bush for a little bit but the track is open so there’s room enough to hike in either direction. There are also a few stairs to help you get up, and you can see DOC (the Department of Conservation) has tried their best to make this trail as easy to walk on as possible.
You’ll continue along the trail through the forest and soon enough it will open up. Once it does, you’re getting closer to the Diamond Lake Viewpoint!
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Enjoy the view from the Diamond Lake Viewpoint
This is the first viewpoint on this hike and this is a great little rest stop after the first bit of incline! There isn’t really anywhere to sit but the viewpoint is awesome and it’s great to snap a few photos here.
This is the best spot to view Diamond Lake from and you also get a nice view of the beautiful landscape surrounding it as you can see in the picture above. It’s such a picturesque spot and it’s crazy how this viewpoint is so close and accessible from Wanaka.
We stopped here briefly to catch our breath and take in the view before continuing. Soon enough, you’ll get to the next viewpoint which is above Lake Wānaka (hence the name of the hike)! 😉
Make your way up to Wānaka Viewpoint
There’s one more bit of elevation to get to the Wanaka Viewpoint but it’s not long – and it’s worth it! This bit of the trail takes you out of the trees and onto a nice open trail with amazing views.
The whole way up, the view of Lake Wānaka slowly starts to open up – and soon enough you’ll see the viewpoint where you seriously get the best view of overlooking the lake! There’s a big flat area and a few benches here so this is a great spot to enjoy a snack or lunch.
We personally didn’t have too much time at the viewpoint as it started to rain shortly after we got there. If that’s not the case for you, you can continue to the third viewpoint via the Rocky Mountain Track.
We spoke to a few people who said the viewpoint from the top is very similar to the one below, so we were okay with turning around. That being said, though, we definitely would’ve continued if the weather allowed.
Back down to the Lake Wanaka Lookout trailhead
Give the trail map another look if you want because there are a few ways you can get back. Since it is an in-and-out trail you can easily go back the same way you came up (this is what we ended up doing because of the rain).
But you can also take a bit of a ‘detour’ and hike further up to Rocky Peak. It’s a bit more elevation but since this hike isn’t that long to begin with, this is a fun way to add a bit more distance to it (if you’re not too tired from all the other great hikes in Wanaka).
Going down felt super fast (probably because it was). It’s downhill the whole way and the trail is pretty nice so you can easily cruise down the mountain! We brought our hiking poles so that made it easy as well.
Soon enough you’ll be back at the trailhead where the hike started and you’ll have completed the Lake Wanaka Lookout. As we said earlier, this is a great hike if you’re looking for something easy that only takes up a few hours of your day.
Once you’re done, you can go enjoy a coffee or lunch at one of the great cafés in Wānaka.
What to bring on the Lake Wanaka Lookout hike
There isn’t anything near the hike (besides Wanaka) so you’ll want to make sure you pack everything you need before you head towards the trail.
It’s only a few-hour hike so there isn’t a whole lot you need to pack but, in our opinion, it’s always best to go over-prepared and pack a few extra things than missing something while you’re at the top of the mountain.
Packing list for the Wanaka Lookout Track:
- Water! We always fill up our LifeStraw bottles before hikes – and even during them when we can. On this hike, you’ll have to fill up your bottle beforehand as there’s nowhere to fill up on the trail.
- Sunscreen!! There’s been multiple occasions while we’ve been hiking in New Zealand or doing something outdoorsy and the UV index has shown 9.
- We usually bring our hiking poles when we go hiking in New Zealand. There is a bit of elevation on this track so poles will come in handy (especially if you go to the peak).
- A power bank is good to bring as well so you have enough battery both for photos and videos as well as the drive back to Wānaka.
- Definitely bring some snacks or lunch to enjoy at the Wanaka Viewpoint or at Rocky Peak.
- Any extra layers in case it gets a little chilly or rainy up at that higher elevation.
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Before you make your way up to the viewpoint
Check the weather near Wanaka
It’s always good to check the weather before hiking anywhere. On this hike in particular, we would say it’s less important than others as you’re not that high up – but it’s still good to know beforehand. If heavy rain is predicted, it’s best to find something else to do.
You can see the weather for Wanaka here.
Wear hiking shoes
As on most hikes in New Zealand, it’s a great idea to wear hiking shoes or trail shoes. This hike, in particular, can get pretty muddy and slippery so having the right footwear to not slip up or fall on your butt is a huge plus!
If you don’t have any hiking shoes, we highly recommend the Newton Ridge hiking shoes from Columbia. Jo just got these recently and she loves them!
Leave no trace
When you go hiking (and do other outdoor adventure activities), always remember to follow the 7 principles of leaving no trace.
This means:
- Plan ahead and prepare
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of others
Renting a car in New Zealand
We’ve had a car hire here in New Zealand for our whole trip and it’s been really nice and convenient – especially when getting to some of the different trailheads.
The car we booked was through DiscoverCars and we picked it up at Queenstown Airport (how to get from Queenstown to Wanaka). DiscoverCars works like a search engine that compares all the different cars from different rental companies and shows you the best price.
It’s so convenient and we managed to snag a really good deal for ours ($50 NZD per day including insurance during peak season).
The longer ahead you book your car, the more likely you are to find a good deal. You can find and hire your rental car for New Zealand here.
Another option is also to rent an SUV that’s big enough for you to sleep in (this is what we did here on the south island) if you want to save some money on accommodation or sleep in some more remote places! 😉
There are quite a few good paid and free campsites around Wanaka if you’re looking to camp around here. By camping near Wanaka you’ll also never be far from a good trail.
When is the best time to hike up Wanaka Lookout?
I’d say the Wanaka Lookout is perfect if you’re having one of those days where you want to go do something and see something beautiful but not hike all day.
It does give you a bit of a challenge but it’s short lived and it’s not a very long hike. You can easily still sleep in in the morning, go for coffee in Wanaka, and then go do this hike later in the day. The best part is that once you’re back from the hike, you’ll still have time to enjoy your day back in town!
How to get to Diamond Lake Conservation Area
The trailhead is a short 20-minute drive from Wanaka. You’ll be driving west in the direction of Glendhu Bay and a bit past that is where you’ll see the turnoff for this hike.
The parking lot is pretty obvious and depending on what time of day you come it may be slightly packed. There should always be some room for the car though so you’ll just need to find somewhere to squeeze in!
If you use the Google Maps directions we shared, it will lead you right to the parking lot and trailhead for this hike. There’s a big information sign with a bunch of information about the area and that’s exactly where the hike starts.
📍 Want to know about all the best spots in Aotearoa New Zealand?
Then check out our New Zealand Maps with +200 locations around the country that we have visited during our 8 months of living and travelling in NZ! 🗺️
You may also like…
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- The Ultimate New Zealand Packing List
- 7 Best Cafes in Wanaka You Need to Try
- The Best View of Wanaka – Mount Iron Track
Recap of hiking Lake Wanaka Lookout
The hikes and mountains around Wānaka are incredible! There’s so much outdoor stuff to do in the Otago region of the South Island that we could easily spend months here. Lake Wanaka Lookout is just one example of that!
We hope you get nice weather and some awesome views of Diamond Lake and Lake Wanaka. It’s a great short hike to do and just enjoy the nature surrounding Wanaka and everything this area has to offer.
If you have any questions about hiking near Wanaka, how to get there, what else to do in the area, or anything else, feel free to DM us on Instagram or leave a comment below!
We hope you have an amazing time in Wānaka and while exploring New Zealand. It’s one of our favourite places in the world and we hope you can see why!
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