A big day on Cardrona or Treble Cone deserves a good wind-down, and this is where Wānaka shines – especially in spring. The days are longer, the sun’s got its warmth back, and that soft spring snow makes for mellow afternoons and sunny decks. If you’re here for some spring skiing with the kids over the school holidays, even better: Wānaka does après its own way, and there’s something for every crew – whether that’s a lakeside pizza with the whole family, a quiet pint by the fire, or a well-earned night out once the kids are tucked in.
First things first, though: peel off the wet layers and pull on something warm and comfy (that’s where we come in – more on that below). Then work your way through our pick of where to après in Wānaka.
Image credit: Lake Wānaka Tourism
Après with the kids
Bringing the whole crew off the hill? These spots are relaxed, welcoming and happy to have the kiddos in tow.
• Cardrona Hotel – it’s an icon, and a great family stop. Just a couple of minutes up from the Cardrona ski resort entrance, the 1863 pub has a roaring fire, honest pub food and a big garden for the kids to run off the last of their energy. There’s the Cardrona famous mulled wine for the grown-ups, too.
• Kai Whakapai – a lakeside local favourite for years and a safe bet for kids with the dinosaur park just across the road. Grab a table in the spring sun for classic pizzas everyone will eat, with a crisp local lager or wine for you as the evening rolls in.
• Wānaka Brew Bar – perched above Ardmore Street with a balcony over the lake. Come early for the sunset and a slice from Sal’s pizza next door – easy with kids in the afternoon before it fills up in the evening.
• Hook Wānaka – now the clocks have changed and the afternoons are long, this one’s a winner if you come down off the hill a tad early. Catch your own salmon from the spring-fed lakes, then let the team cook it up alongside wood-fired pizza. Mini-golf, lawn games and a sandpit keep the kids busy while you lounge in the sun.
• Rhyme & Reason Brewery – a colourful, dog-friendly garage-style brewery with family-style long tables, live music and a game of giant Jenga to keep everyone entertained. This is a nice, relaxed afternoon spot in a classic industrial style brewery before the dinner rush.
Après without the kids
Got a night off? A local babysitting service like Lake Wanaka Babysitting can come to your accommodation, leaving you free to enjoy a proper grown-up après.
• Cork Bar – the pick for a night out: 60-plus whiskeys, 50-plus gins, seasonal cocktails and a semi enclosed courtyard. It’s also where things get lively later on, with DJs and live music on the weekends.
A few more spots worth a look: Verve for wine and craft beer in a cosy, intimate setting, and lakeside Lake Bar and Water Bar for a social afternoon that rolls into evening.
Image credit: Lake Wānaka Tourism
Recovery: the wholesome après
Not every wind-down comes in a glass. If your legs are cooked, Wānaka does recovery properly – and a sauna session is a lovely way to spend an hour:
• The Sauna Wānaka – a wood-fired Finnish sauna with a cold plunge into the lake down on the Outlet track, the kind of reset that suits the town’s relaxed rhythm.
• The Secret Sauna – two spots worth the short drive: a barrel sauna on the shore of Lake Hāwea, and a mountain sauna up at Cardrona with creek-fed cold plunges, handy on the way down off Cardies.
• The Hideaway – a private sauna and cold plunge for two, a short walk from town, if you’d rather have the place to yourselves.
Dress the part
Half the joy of après is getting warm and comfy the moment you’re off the hill. Swing by the Racers Edge Clothing & Footwear store at 99 Ardmore Street and our Gear Guides will sort the whole family with cosy midlayers, merino and lifestyle pieces to wind down in. Sorting the rest of your trip? Our 2026 Wānaka ski season guide covers where to ride, rent and shop. Or shop our merino clothing collection to get set for the season.
