Jazmin Li
Yes, there is an airport in Wānaka, New Zealand. Wānaka Airport (IATA: WKA, ICAO: NZWF) is located 9-10km south-east of the township and is a popular hub for scenic flights, skydiving, and helicopter rides. The airport is also a base for mountain flight training, recreational flying, and flightseeing experiences. While Wānaka Airport does offer scheduled commercial flights, it is not the closest commercial airport to the town, with Queenstown Airport being the closest for both international and domestic visitors.
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What You'll Learn
Wānaka Airport's location and history
Wānaka Airport is located 9km or 10km south-east of Wānaka, a rural town in Otago, New Zealand. It is positioned at 1,142ft above sea level, beside State Highway 6, on a plateau above the small village of Luggate. The airport is surrounded by Mount Aspiring and the glaciers of the Southern Alps, and it is close to Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea.
The original airport at Wānaka was located near Mount Iron and was used by several owners of fixed-wing aircraft. In the 1950s, Southern Scenic Air Services Ltd became one of the first commercial companies to use the strip. However, due to its proximity to Wānaka Township and concerns about aircraft noise, it was decided that this site would not be suitable as a municipal airport. The present site near Luggate was chosen as a more practical alternative. This site has a history in aviation as well; it was used by the Gore Aero Club for pilot training around 40 years ago and hosted what is believed to be the first private airshow at the airport in the 1960s.
The new Wānaka Airport opened in early 1983 with an initial sealed strip 15m wide. Over 3,500 people attended the open day, with 80 aircraft flying. In 1985, the airport became the main commercial airport for Wānaka, offering a seven-day-a-week service to Queenstown in conjunction with Newman Air. In 1986, the runway was lengthened to 1200m with a grass-seeded extension, but this was unsuccessful. So, over the next two years, the airport underwent upgrades, receiving a new sealed runway and taxiway at a cost of $750,000.
Today, Wānaka Airport is a popular base for mountain flight training, recreational flying, and flightseeing experiences. It is also a hub for scenic and charter flights to destinations such as Milford Sound and Mount Aspiring National Park. The airport is home to various attractions, including the Warbirds & Wheels Museum, the National Transport and Toy Museum, and the Wānaka Beerworks boutique brewery.
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Airlines and flights
Wānaka Airport is located 9km southeast of Wānaka and operates 365 days a year. It is a popular base for mountain flight training, recreational flying, and flightseeing experiences. The airport is also home to several visitor attractions, including the Warbirds & Wheels Cafe and the National Transport & Toy Museum, which houses a large collection of vintage aircraft, vehicles, and toys.
While Wānaka Airport caters to scenic and charter flights, the closest commercial airport to Wānaka is Queenstown International Airport (ZQN), located 50 miles from downtown Wānaka. Queenstown Airport is the best place for both international and domestic visitors to fly into. International flights are serviced by Air New Zealand, Qantas, Jetstar, Emirates, Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, China Southern, China Airlines, and Fiji Airways. Domestic flights are serviced by Air New Zealand and Jetstar.
From Queenstown, it is a 60-minute drive to Wānaka over the Crown Range Road or via the Kawarau Gorge. There are also two other airports in close proximity to Wānaka: Dunedin Airport, 98.84 miles away, and Christchurch Airport.
Sounds Air provides daily scheduled flights between Wānaka and Christchurch. One-way flights to Wānaka can start as low as $40, while round-trip flights range from $79 to $1,178. It is recommended to book in advance as prices typically rise closer to the departure date.
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Attractions and activities
Wānaka Airport is located 9km southeast of Wānaka, New Zealand, and is surrounded by Mount Aspiring and the glaciers of the Southern Alps. The airport is a hub for aviation enthusiasts, offering scenic flights, helicopter rides, and flight training. For those seeking a thrill, skydiving and aerobatic flights are available, while those looking for a more relaxed experience can opt for a vintage 1940s Tiger Moth biplane ride. The airport also houses the National Transport & Toy Museum, featuring a collection of vintage aircraft, vehicles, and toys, as well as the Warbirds & Wheels Cafe and the retro-style diner, offering a unique dining experience.
The town of Wānaka itself is an adventure hub, offering a range of outdoor activities. The region is known for its distinct areas, including Wānaka and Albert Town, Lake Hāwea, Makarora, Matukituki Valley, Cardrona, and Luggate. The lakeside town provides opportunities for hiking, with popular trails leading to Roy's Peak and Rocky Mountain, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding lakes and peaks. Wānaka is also home to Wildwire Wanaka, featuring the world's highest waterfall cable climb, "Lord of the Rungs," which challenges adventurers to climb 450 meters of vertical terrain.
For those seeking a more relaxed experience, Wānaka offers scenic drives, with quiet roads and stunning scenery. The town also has a dinosaur park on the waterfront and is known for its vineyards and wine tours. The region's distinct seasons allow visitors to explore the diverse flora and fauna, with lesser-known hikes offering a personalised experience. Wānaka is also a great place for indoor activities, including the Warbirds & Wheels exhibit, featuring classic cars and aviation memorabilia, and Crossfire, an activity centre offering target shooting, clay bird shooting, and archery.
Wānaka provides a range of dining and accommodation options, from cosy cafes to dreamy places to stay, ensuring a memorable visit to this picturesque region of New Zealand. The closest commercial airport to Wānaka is Queenstown Airport, which offers stunning drives to Wānaka and is well-served by domestic and international flights.
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Transport options
Yes, there is an airport in Wānaka, New Zealand. Wānaka Airport (IATA: WKA, ICAO: NZWF) is located 9-10km south-east of Wānaka township, beside State Highway 6. The airport is a popular hub for scenic and charter flights, mountain flight training, recreational flying, and flightseeing experiences.
Wānaka Airport is served by Sounds Air, which operates daily scheduled flights between Wānaka and Christchurch. The airline utilises a PC-12 aircraft for these flights. Previously, Air New Zealand offered scheduled services to Christchurch through its subsidiary Eagle Airways, but these services were discontinued in 2013.
The closest commercial airport to Wānaka is Queenstown Airport, which is a 60-minute drive away via Crown Range Road or Kawarau Gorge. Both routes offer stunning scenery. Queenstown Airport is served by domestic and international flights from various airlines, including Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia, and more.
For those seeking a more scenic arrival, helicopter flights and fly-and-cruise options are available to and from Wānaka Airport. These flights offer breathtaking views of the Southern Alps, including Mount Aspiring, and the glaciers. Additionally, the airport is a popular base for mountain flight training and recreational flying.
Wānaka is also accessible by road, with relatively quiet roads and picturesque scenery. Car and campervan hire companies are available at Christchurch, Dunedin, and Queenstown airports, as well as within Wānaka itself.
The Warbirds over Wanaka airshow, held biennially at Wānaka Airport since 1988, attracts crowds of over 50,000 people. This event showcases classic aircraft and provides entertainment for aviation enthusiasts.
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Airport facilities and infrastructure
Wānaka Airport is located 9km or 10km south-east of Wānaka, New Zealand, at 1,142ft above sea level. The airport operates all year round and is served by Sounds Air, which provides daily scheduled flights between Wānaka and Christchurch. Wānaka Airport is a small airport with basic passenger facilities. Its terminal size limits passenger capacity, and it is not designed to handle a large number of passengers.
The airport is a popular base for mountain flight training, recreational flying, and flightseeing operations. It is also home to several visitor attractions, including the Warbirds & Wheels Cafe, which exhibits a collection of restored classic cars and aviation memorabilia, and the National Transport & Toy Museum, which houses one of the world's largest private collections of vintage aircraft, vehicles, and toys. Wānaka Beerworks, a boutique brewery offering tours and tastings, is also located within the museum.
Wānaka Airport is also known for its scenic flights, with Mount Aspiring and the glaciers of the Southern Alps nearby. Visitors can enjoy helicopter flights, fly-and-cruise options to Milford Sound, and year-round glacier landings. Thrill-seekers can skydive from 15,000ft over the Southern Alps and Lake Wānaka, or experience an aerobatic flight. For those seeking a more relaxed experience, flights in a vintage 1940s Tiger Moth biplane are also available.
In addition to its role in aviation, Wānaka Airport also supports agriculture activities across the country. The airport has been at the centre of controversy in recent years, with a community group, the Wanaka Stakeholders Group Inc, challenging the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) over an alleged illegal airport lease and plans to develop a jet airport at the site. The group argued that the lease allowed for unlimited airport expansion and the introduction of jet aircraft without proper community consultation. In April 2021, the High Court ruled in favour of the community group, declaring the lease illegal and returning control of the airport to the QLDC.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there is an airport in Wanaka, New Zealand.
The airport is a popular base for mountain flight training, recreational flying, and flightseeing experiences. It is also home to several visitor attractions, including the Warbirds & Wheels Museum, the National Transport and Toy Museum, and the Warbirds over Wanaka air show, which takes place biennially.
Yes, Sounds Air offers daily scheduled flights between Wanaka and Christchurch.
