Summer is here, and there’s no better time to soak up the sunshine, explore Lake Hawea, and enjoy everything our incredible region has to offer. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning for another unforgettable holiday season, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your summer stay at The Camp.

The Food Truck is Back!

Take your family to The Camp Food Truck for breakfast and dinner! We’re thrilled to announce that our food truck is in action. Our hours have extended for the peak season, which means that we are now open from Wednesday to Sunday, 8-11am and 3-8pm, from October through April.

We have a vibrant crew running the food truck this year and they are here to keep you fuelled for all your adventures.  Serving up fresh, locally sourced bites, you’ll find Kiwi-inspired flavours alongside mouth-watering vegan and gluten-friendly options. From quick breakfast fixes to hearty sunset dinners, there’s something for everyone. Don’t forget that we have ice, drinks, ice creams available on site at The Camp Shop.

Stay in the loop by following us on Instagram, and don’t forget to check out our breakfast menu and dinner menu.

The Secret Sauna – Growing to Meet Demand

After an incredible first year, The Secret Sauna is expanding! Nat has added an additional sauna to accommodate larger groups, so you can relax and unwind in this serene lakeside retreat. Everyone is raving about the health benefits! Nestled in the natural beauty of Lake Hawea, the sauna is the perfect way to recover from a big year or a long hike/bike ride. The sauna will be exclusively available to our guests up until 10 January 2025, so make sure to book your spot in advance.

What’s New in Lake Hawea?

Fresh Choice Supermarket

A brand-new Fresh Choice supermarket has opened in Lake Hawea, just minutes away from The Camp. Stocked with all your essentials and local goodies, it’s perfect for grabbing last-minute picnic supplies, fresh ingredients, or snacks for your adventures.

New Gym Opening

Fitness enthusiasts will love this addition to Lake Hawea’s offerings. The new gym in Hawea features 24 hour access, modern facilities and a convenient location, providing a fantastic way to stay active during your stay. Whether you’re maintaining your routine or unwinding after a day of exploring, the gym is ready to welcome you.

Plan It: Your Personal Travel Assistant

Make your trip to Lake Hawea truly unforgettable with Plan It, an app that connects you to a team of personal travel assistants. They’ll guide you to the best experiences and help you craft the trip of a lifetime – it’s the ultimate booking tool for adventures like jet boating, bungy jumping, and more.

Use code “THECAMP” to receive exclusive discounts on activities all across New Zealand. Whether it’s booking outdoor adventures, dining experiences, or local events, Plan It ensures you don’t miss a thing!

Local Events and Activities

Lake Hawea is buzzing with excitement this summer! Here are some highlights to add to your itinerary:

Live Music Nights

Catch live music on Sundays from 4.30-7.30pm by The Food Truck at The Camp through the summer months. We hosted the Dirty Money Duo a few weeks back, and have plenty more talent to keep you entertained! Keep an eye on our social media for updates on dates and artists.

Bike Hire & Outdoor Adventures

Leave your bike at home! We now offer bike rentals in conjunction with NZ Bike Trails so you can explore the area with ease. Explore on a regular bike or ebike the Dunstan Trail (with shuttles to the trail included) or choose a trail close to the camp. You can book bikes to hire through Plan It or by coming into the office at The Camp.

Use code THECAMP for exclusive deals. Experiences make great Christmas gifts, so plan ahead.

Yoga Classes

Yogis, rejoice! Don’t lose your progress over the silly season. You can sign up for a drop in yoga class while you’re staying at The Camp. Head down to the Lake Hawea Community Centre (located in the main township) for yoga classes with Danni on Thursday nights, from 6.30-7.45pm.

Learn More Here 

Surfing in Hawea

The newly launched YourWave is an exciting addition to the region. Perfect for surfers of all levels, this innovative wave pool allows you to catch the perfect wave, no matter the conditions. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner looking to try something new, YourWave offers a thrilling experience for everyone. Book your session online and get ready to ride! You can book this through Plan It to make your trip arrangements streamlined. Don’t forget to use the code “THECAMP” when starting your journey with Plan It.

Hawea is also home to its own purpose-built wave, which can be found at the Camphill Bridge. The Hawea Wave is great for white water kayak, bodyboarding and surfing, but be warned – this is not for the faint hearted or beginners!

Lake Hawea Disc Golf

Lake Hawea’s disc golf is probably one of the most beautiful courses in the country (but we might be bias). Play a 18-hole round (par 57) while taking in the serene lakeside views, located at the corner of Lakeview Terrace and Muir Road. All you need is a disc (frisbee) to play a round – it’s the perfect afternoon activity while you’re staying at The Camp with the family or your friends. You can find the map at the beginning of the course, online from the Hawea Community association or on the free app UDisk.

Hiking Trails Nearby

There’s plenty of walking and hiking trails catered for a variety of ability levels. If you fancy a stroll, the Gladstone Track is a fantastic walk along the lakefront and will get you to the disc golf course. For those after a bit more elevation, the Isthmus Peak Track boasts panoramic views of Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka – skip the crowds of Roy’s Peak and get an even better view.

Summer at The Camp Hawea is all about making memories, exploring the outdoors, and enjoying the best of what our region has to offer. Don’t forget to stay updated about news and everything else happening in the region through the Wanaka App. We can’t wait to welcome you and help make your stay unforgettable. See you soon!

Wanaka is often overlooked by the uninitiated when it comes to wine and vineyards, playing a second fiddle to the more famous Central Otago wineries. However, Wanaka punches well above its weight in the world of wine and is known by those in the know as a spectacular location to produce exceptional wines.

With multi award-winning wineries, Wanaka is the northernmost sub-region of Central Otago in New Zealand’s South Island. The area’s position at the edge of the lake means that Wanaka has a cooler, wetter climate than the rest of Central Otago. It is also the most temperate – the lake provides a temperature-moderating effect that helps to reduce the risk of frost in the surrounding vineyards.

Most rainfall takes place during the springtime, and the hot, dry summers and extended autumns mean that the growing season here is sufficiently long for the development of ripe fruit complexity without the loss of precious acidity.

While Pinot Noir is grown well here, some vineyards have branched out, creating some top notch drops of Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Rose and Riesling.

Here’s our top five Wanaka wineries you must checkout next time you’re here:

1. Rippon

Set against the stunning backdrop of Lake Wanaka and the Southern Alps, the views will attract you to this stunningly-situated winery and vineyard, but it’s the award-winning wines that will make you stay. The Mills family invite guests into their land to share in their history, community, story and wines.

The Cellar Door is currently open for wine tastings, by appointment, Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm-5pm.  These wine tastings are free of charge and can be booked online here. 

Our pick: Rippon Osteiner

2. Maude Wines

Maude is a family-owned wine company, created by experienced winemaking couple Sarah-Kate and Dan Dineen. Producing hand crafted wines from their custom build winery amidst the stunning back drop of Lake Wanaka in Central Otago, New Zealand. The family estate vineyard, Mt Maude, was planted in 1994 on the steep north facing slopes of the sheltered Maungawera Valley just outside of Wanaka, Central Otago.

Situated directly above the picturesque Wanaka township, the Maude Wines Tasting Room, in close proximity to our vineyard and winery, provides the perfect place for wine lovers to experience Maude Wines. For details on tastings click here.

Our pick: Maude Poison Creek Pinot Noir 2016

3. Aitken’s Folly

This family run vineyard is the passion and love of Ian Percy, Fiona Aitken and their children Johnny and Isobel.  Ian is the dreamer who dreamed up the idea of a vineyard and the wonderful lifestyle it would provide for raising a family.  It is a dream of twenty years and many miles. Both are trained geologists with many years of experience and when they started the vineyard had not a jot of viticulture experience between them which is why they enlisted the help of James Dicey, who still keeps them on track with good advice and guidance. Located just on the outskirts of Wanaka, this family-owned winery offers an intimate tasting experience. To find out more and for correct opening hours click here. 

Our pick: 2018 Chardonnay

4. Paddon’s Paddock

The newest kid on the Wanaka wine block, Paddon’s Paddock is a family-run winery in Wanaka, located near Albert Town on the way to Wanaka Airport. Producing only the best wines from their Central Otago vineyards, the first vines were planted in just 2014 with the classic Central Otago Pinot Noir, then they continued planting their white varieties the following year. To read more about their journey click here. 

Our pick: 2019 Rose

5. Nanny Goat

Nanny Goat Vineyard is named after the wild goats that roam the mountainous terrain of Central Otago. Located in Queensberry and is located around 15 minutes’ drive from Wanaka. Since the inaugural release of their Pinot Noir in 2005, Nanny Goat Vineyard has strived to produce wines with elegance, concentration and balance whilst allowing each individual parcel of fruit to tell its unique story. Click here to find out more about their tasting room.

Our pick: Super Nanny Pinot Noir 2019

We work with a number of local operators to choose the perfect wine tour for your stay. Stay local with the above wineries or explore more with a visit to Bannockburn, Gibbston Valley and Queenstown. Ask the friendly lodge team when you arrive about their pick of the bunch winery wise or let us arrange a winery trip you’ll never forget.

Autumn is a perfect time to visit the Southern Lakes region with warm days, cool nights and the stunning autumn colours, so it’s no surprise that a lot of our most spectacular events are held over this period.

If you needed a reason to come visit us at The Camp over the next two months, and really you need no reason to come, we’ve rounded up our highlights of the best “must-do” events in Hawea and Wanaka. From adventure races, to vintage cars, wine, food and agriculture, there’s something for all tastes. So, what are you waiting for? Book your Lake Hawea camping or glamping adventure now and explore your backyard this Summer and Autumn.

Adventure:

Aside from Challenge Wanaka, held in February, the Motatapu Adventure Race and the Lake Hawea Epic Bike Race are a must for anyone fond of a bike, run or swim. Pitched at levels from beginner to advanced, each event offers something unique.

Motatapu – 6 March – The iconic Motatapu returns in 2021 with four iconic races, the 47km Mountain Bike Race, 15km Miners Trail, 42km Marathon and 51km Ultra Run. Held on one epic day, it is your one chance a year to experience the breathtaking high country terrain and traverse the Motatapu, Soho and Glencoe Stations between Wanaka and Queenstown. www.motatapu.com

Lake Hawea Contact Epic – 17 April – Choose one of the three circumnavigations of Lake Hawea at 160, 125 or 95 km and enjoy the 100% pure South Island High Country Station scenery and remoteness on a ride you will never forget.

Or as an introduction, head in the other direction and complete the 35km Traverse riding through private farmland, traversing the mighty Clutha and Hawea Rivers, and back to the Lake Hawea Hotel.  A great option for beginners and intermediate riders as an introduction to the Contact Epic Experience. https://www.lakehaweaepic.co.nz/

Lifestyle:

The Wanaka A+P Show – 12-13 March 2021 – Wanaka Showgrounds – The Wanaka A&P Show is one of the South Island’s largest and most popular agricultural and pastoral shows. Set against the magnificent backdrop of Lake Wanaka and the majestic Southern Alps, the Show brings together the very best of town and country. www.wanakashow.co.nz

NEW for 2021 – Ripe Food & Wine Festival – March 21 – Corbridge Estate – Central Otago’s acclaimed wine and food will take centre stage in Wānaka next year with the launch of Ripe, a new festival for the region. World class wine & food will be supported by entertainment including Nadia Lim and The Jordan Luck Band. www.ripewanaka.nz

Wheels at Wanaka – April 2 – Wheels at Wanaka, Easter 2021 If it’s got wheels or tracks it will be on show! Anyone can enter their unique set of wheels. Buzzing with energy, Wheels at Wanaka is a huge history in motion experience not to be missed. https://www.wheelsatwanaka.co.nz/

Festival of Colour – 12-18 April – The Festival of Colour is an arts and ideas festival with a packed week-long programme featuring an exciting mix of theatre, dance, music, visual arts and conversation to take place in April in Wānaka. Known as ‘the best little arts festival www.festivalofcolour.co.nz

To view accommodation options, click here.