wanaka lake cruise

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Wanaka Cruises’ guides will take you to the top of one of New Zealand’s most remarkable bird sanctuaries with a natural glacial lake on top. Drink in the bird song as you scan the panoramic views of the Southern Alps. The Mou Waho Island cruise and guided nature walk is a ‘must-do’ for everyone that visits the region.

The Stevenson’s Island cruise every afternoon is two hours and takes you through panoramic mountain scenery to a secluded island beach. The guided walk is just fifteen minutes on an easy grade for more outstanding views and a photo opportunity. Cruise back with afternoon tea and enjoy the company of your fellow travelers and the local crew.

Do not forget the Happy Hour Cruise every evening for a sociable pre-dinner cruise with wines/beers and cheese boards included.

Of course, if you are visiting in a group you can ask about a private charter and create your own adventure! Wānaka Cruises offer packages for parties, BBQ lunches or dinners, hens and stags, birthdays, conferences, reunions, tour groups and locals.

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Lake Wanaka Cruises

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Lake Wanaka 1-Hour Cruise Including Wine and Cheese Board

Mou Waho Island Cruise and Nature Walk from Wanaka

1-Hour Ruby Island Cruise and Walk from Wanaka

Stevensons Island Cruise and Nature Walk from Wanaka

LAKE WANAKA CRUISES - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

• Freephone 0800 800 090
• Mobile +64 21 307 104

Thank you :fname :lname for your booking – we look forward to welcoming you!

Please be at the Wanaka waterfront jetty (next to the Log Cabin) 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. Please note that cruises always leave at the scheduled time.

Please check the booking confirmation we have emailed you on :email for where to board and what to bring.

Mou Waho Island Cruise & Nature Walk - 3 Hrs

Duration 3 hours (9am-12pm)

Adult ($159 Guided Option Available) $ 119.00 NZD

Child (5 - 15 yrs) $ 19.00 NZD

Group (Spring Special 10+ Guests) $ 109.00 NZD

Carbon positive trip (We are Wanaka's first carbon positive operator. Every trip plants native forest in NZ)

SELF GUIDED OPTION -Enjoy two hours on Mou Waho Island to explore at your own pace. Our friendly crew will give you all the tips you need to get the best from your visit!

GUIDED OPTION - Our knowledgeable guide will accompany you on the island walk and share insights on the geology, history, flora and fauna and local culture of the region. A truly immersive experience! (Adult $159 Child $29)

Our new fast & comfortable vessel and a knowledgeable crew - Lets Go!

Take the whole family on a cruise to the remote Mou Waho Island nature reserve, home of the lake, on an island, in a lake (on an island). Enjoy a velvet smooth ride as you cruise among the majestic mountains of Lake Wanaka.

We are contracted to the Department of Conservation and every guest contributes to funding the conservation work on Mou Waho Island! Mou Waho Island is a predator free Department of Conservation nature reserve with a natural glacial formed lake at its summit. Here you can see first-hand results of conservation efforts including the rare flightless Buff Weka (extinct on the mainland since 1920), the Mountain Stone Weta and many other native birds.

Wanaka Cruises are a Department of Conservation Concession holder for Mou Waho Island. Fees are paid to DOC for each visitor to the island and this contributes to the ongoing conservation efforts.

A two hour guided nature walk is included for those that choose the guided option. This will take you up to the natural glacial lake right on top of the island and magnificent mountain and lake scenery in every direction. This is rated as one of the top activities by visitors to Wanaka and rated among the best Wanaka walks and hikes.

From there our guide will take you even higher to the lookout rock for some of the regions most spectacular views and the outstanding photo opportunities.

Our guides have extensive knowledge of the local flora and fauna, geology and both colonial and Maori history.

Please note this cruise has a minimum of 4 adult guests to run. Infants under 5 years are always free.

Whats Included

Fast 30 minute cruise to Mou Waho Island

Commentary along the way

Guided or self-guided nature walk on Mou Waho Island

Knowledgeable local guide

Kids under 5 are free

Department of Conservation Park fees

All taxes, fees and handling charges

GST (Goods and Services Tax)

What to Bring

Please bring your own bottled water & snacks, camera, hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

A warm jacket is advised as cool temperatures can occur at any time of the year.

Additional Information

This cruise has a minimum of 4 adult guests to run. A refund (less bank charges) will be provided if the cruise does not reach minimum numbers.

The Island walk is 1 km in total length and rises 150 m above the beach on an average track. An above average level of fitness and mobility is advised for this experience.

Please wear rugged soled outdoor shoes or boots with a good tread for grip.

The Island walk is not compulsory. You may remain on the boat, at the beach on the island or complete part of the walk.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Subject to favorable weather conditions. If cancelled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund.

Due to uneven surfaces and boarding of the vessel, this experience is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair.

A young Scottish couple enjoys the summit of Mou Waho Island on Lake Wwanaka NZ

The views from Mou Waho Island are always oustanding

Emma from Auckland Zoo was able to film a young and shy Weka feeding for 10 minu...

The beauty of Spring on Mou Waho must be sen to be appreciated. Here are blooms ...

Quiin and the Weka present their profiles

Guests enjoy the views from the top of Mou Waho Island in Lake Wanaka

An alpine species of Weta that normally lives above 1000 m and can be frozen dow...

An Attenborough moment

Gravity is weaker on Mou Waho Island!

The island in a lake, on an island in a lake, on an island!

Arathusa Pool on Mou Waho Island. A calm day in Spring is an unforgettable exper...

Guests just cannot stop taking photos of the views and the birds on Mou Waho Isl...

Young ladies from Auckland Zoo amazed by their close encounter with the rare Buf...

Enticing a shy Buff Weka to the camera on Mou Waho Island.

A fifteen thousand year old natural scenic attraction, Aruthusa Pool is a glacia...

Island Top Rendezvous

Wanaka Cruises fast water taxi Moutimu. 28 seats of smooth sailing.

The extraordinary scenery never gets old. The Mou Waho Island experience is ofte...

Lake Wanaka Cruises

• See all photos

Lake Wanaka 1-Hour Cruise Including Wine and Cheese Board

Mou Waho Island Cruise and Nature Walk from Wanaka

1-Hour Ruby Island Cruise and Walk from Wanaka

Stevensons Island Cruise and Nature Walk from Wanaka

Lake Wanaka Cruises: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Mou Waho Island 1/2 day Adventure ~ Eco Wanaka Adventures

Meet the Wekas! and plant a Tree! Our swift, comfortable, enclosed cabin boat will get you there with ease. Direct bookings only, by phone or email.

Discover More Come and see what Mou Waho Island has to offer. See the Lake on the top of an Island on your walk to the top of the island! Stunning 360 degree views. Meet the Wekas and help us plant a tree on Mou Waho island to enhance our beautiful backyard. A half day tour with refreshments supplied. A great trip for families.

– Minimum of 2 Adults (Children 0-3 years are free of charge) – Maximum 8 persons can be inside the cabin. (can take 4 more persons seated outside the cabin).

Trip Description

A visit to Mou Waho Island offers the perfect combination of a lake cruise, nature walk, wildlife encounter & outstanding panoramic views. Thirty minute cruise takes us to this nature reserve, situated in the middle of Lake Wanaka surrounded by stunning alpine vistas.

Once on Mou Waho Island your eco guide points out the varied native plant and birdlife including the rare Buff Weka, a very inquisitive flightless bird, (extinct on mainland NZ since 1920)

A one hour return guided bush walk is included, which takes you up to reveal the island’s secret – a serene lake right on top of the island! Unique and very photogenic (Optional). Or you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the birdlife at the beach and shelter at the island base with your own morning or afternoon tea.

We have “High Tea” on top of the island overlooking both of these lakes, where you can drink in the vibrant birdsong and the panorama of the Southern Alps spread out before us.

Plant a native tree as part of your eco-experience. Mou Waho is a place we love dearly, and are we are proud to say that we have planted over 8000 trees on Mou Waho Island over our our 14 years of operation. This is a unique opportunity to give back to this special island and New Zealand’s environment.

Chris Riley and the Eco Wanaka team have been exploring, restoring and taking guests touring on magical Mou Waho Island for well over a decade. Join Us!

Trip Information

• Trips depart: 9am or 1.30pm from the Jetty next to the Marina, see the Meeting Place Map below (Or by arrangement)
• Trip duration: 3.5 to 4 hours
• Total walking time: 1 hour
• Refreshments: morning or afternoon tea provided
• Requirements: good walking shoes/boots, suitable layers of clothing, waterproof jacket
• Grade: average fitness
• Season: all year
• EWA Cancellation Policy
• Adults $265 (Minimum 2 Adults) Children $180 (4-14 years) Infants 0-3 years are free of charge
• Prices are valid: 1 October 2023 – 30 September 2024

Mou Waho Island Tour & Nature Walk

Boat cruise to the remote and magical Mou Waho Island nature reserve, which is predator–free and home to the rare flightless Buff Weka (extinct on the mainland since 1920).

Meeting Place

Click here  or on map to download large view on pdf for viewing or printing

Trip Gallery

(+) click on thumbnail below for larger image and slideshow

"First Rate! Cracker of a trip! We grew up holidaying on Lake Wanaka and have visited Mou Waho previously, We had no idea of the incredible nature & history that the island had to offer. Our Guide brought all that to life in the most entertaining and engaging way. Add to that the fact that Chris and his team are responsible for much of the planting that is bringing back the amazing birdsong to Mou Waho, and we can't recommend Eco Wanaka highly enough." Wayne & Claire, Lincoln, NZ

Eco wanaka adventures, p: 03 443 2869 freephone: 0800 926 326 e: [email protected].

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Our "high tea" spot where we meet some of the friendly locals - the flightless Buff Weka - and enjoy the panoramic views of Lake Wanaka and the Southern Alps

A trip for the whole family. Take some time to rest and take in the views on the leisurely nature walk to the lake on Mou Waho Island, Lake Wanaka

Natures infinity pool – one of the many view points of Arethusa Pool along the nature walk on Eco Wanaka Adventures Lake Cruise and Island Nature Walk.

A Gecko amoungst the Manuka flowers on Mou Waho Island on Lake Wanaka

Lake on the Island on the Lake…. The gorgeous Arethusa Pool – the secret at the top of Mou Waho Island on Lake Wanaka.

"High tea' with local characters and panoramic lake and mountain views, with Eco Wanaka Adventures.

These Buff Weka had been extinct on Mainland NZ since 1920, this predator free island is the only place you can see these birds in numbers on the Mainland.

Take it all in on Mou Waho Island. Experience these panoramic views for yourself from the island in the middle of Lake Wanaka.

Is this the best seat in the country?! Outstanding views with not a house in site, from the West side of Mou Waho Island on Lake Wanaka.

We plant a tree on the island on every trip to Mou Waho, giving back to the island and enhancing it's beauty.

Eco Wanaka Adventures - Lake Cruise & Island Nature Walk

Lakeside Road , Wanaka town , New Zealand .

Boat cruise to magical Mou Waho Island Reserve on Lake Wanaka and enjoy a unique nature walk exploring the island and it’s wildlife. Discover the island's secret – a Lake on the Island on the Lake – a serene and incredibly photogenic piece of NZ.

Pricing and Conditions

This tour needs a minimum of two people booked in to operate. FOC for accompanying guide minimum 2 pax.

For full refund 24 hours notice of cancellation must be given, less than 24 hours will be charged the full amount. In case of bad weather the duration and content of some activities may be altered. In such cases Eco Wanaka Adventures will ensure that the clients receive their best possible service.

Travel safe with the COVID Clean Approved programme

COVID Clean Approved shows a Qualmark awarded business has declared it aligns with health and hygiene measures derived from government guidelines to help protect against COVID-19

A visit to Mou Waho Island offers the perfect combination of a lake cruise, nature walk, wildlife encounter & outstanding panoramic views. Thirty minute cruise takes us to this nature reserve, situated in the middle of Lake Wanaka surrounded by stunning alpine vistas. Your eco guide points out the varied native plant and birdlife including the rare Buff Weka, a very inquisitive flightless bird, (extinct on mainland NZ since 1920) on the 30 minute walk up to the island's secret - a lake on top of an island - the serene Arethusa pool. We have 'high tea' on the summit overlooking the two lakes below with a panorama of the Southern Alps - geologically unique and very photogenic. Plant a native tree & give back to NZ & this special island.

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