About Paddle Wanaka
Paddle Wanaka is a friendly, progressive adventure company based on the beachfront at 151 Ardmore Street in central Wanaka. Positioned right on the shores of Lake Wanaka with direct water access, they offer both guided kayak and SUP tours and self-service equipment hire, making them the most accessible paddling operator in the region.
Their guided experiences include the Bay Explorer tour — a three-hour paddle through the sheltered bays of Roys Bay and beyond — and The Mission, a self-guided remote kayak adventure that drops paddlers at a secluded section of the lake for a full day of exploration. Equipment hire ranges from single and double kayaks to stand-up paddleboards, available in one-, two-, and three-hour blocks. They also run a dedicated Paddle School for beginners and school group programmes for young adventurers.
What sets Paddle Wanaka apart is their prime lakefront location and genuinely knowledgeable team. The guides are passionate paddlers who share local ecology and Maori history during tours, and the rental operation is seamless — turn up, grab a board or kayak, and be on the water within minutes. Open daily from October through March, they are the quintessential Wanaka water experience.
