Lakeside Apartments Wanaka
by the TopOfHotel team
Lakeside Apartments is the most upscale stay in Wanaka — right on the lakeshore, with wide, fully-equipped apartments.
Lakeside Apartments is the most upscale stay in Wanaka — right on the lakeshore, with wide, fully-equipped apartments.
In-Depth Review
Lakeside Apartments Wanaka has held the top spot in town for years, and it keeps guests happy with a 9.6/10 score on both Agoda and Booking.com. The location is the trump card — the building sits right on the Lake Wanaka shore, and it is under a 2-minute walk out the door to the gravel beach and the line of Southern Alps along the horizon.
Rooms and decor
Each unit is a two-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen, a wide lounge and two bathrooms — one of them spa-style. Guests praise the high-quality bedding, the soft towels and the careful cleaning. The private balcony opens onto the full lake view, good for morning coffee and for the sunset later on.
Food and amenities
The outdoor pool and spa are what guests bring up most often. Because Wanaka itself runs cold, both are heated year-round. There is also a BBQ area for poolside meals, and a private garage for parking — not something you find easily this close to the town centre.
Location and getting there
It is a 5–8 minute walk to the restaurants, cafés and supermarket in the Wanaka town centre. For skiers, both Treble Cone and Cardrona are a 30–35 minute drive away. Wanaka Airport is about 3 km out, handy for flights connecting through Queenstown or Christchurch.
Things to know before booking
This is the priciest stay in Wanaka, with rates starting around $230 a night and climbing further in peak season. The most popular units sell out fast — high season fills 2–3 months ahead, so plan early. And while the pool and spa are heated, they are open-air, which is worth weighing if you come in winter.
Our take
If your budget stretches to it, this is the best stay in town: a real lakefront address, apartments big enough for a family, and a guest score that backs it up. Book well ahead and cook a few meals in the kitchen, and the price starts to make more sense.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Right on the lakeshore — open the door and you are straight onto lake and Alps views, a 2-minute walk from the gravel beach.
- Each unit is a wide two-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen, a large lounge and two bathrooms, so families have real room to spread out.
- The outdoor pool and spa look onto the lake and give the place a private-resort feel.
- A 9.6/10 score from real guests, who single out the cleanliness, the service and the location.
- A private garage for parking and a BBQ area by the pool — both hard to find this close to the town centre.
- It is the priciest stay in town, and rates climb further in peak season.
- The most popular units sell out fast, so you need to plan weeks ahead — high season fills 2–3 months out.
- Wanaka has cold weather, so the outdoor pool and spa are heated year-round, but this is still an open-air setup rather than an indoor one — worth knowing if you are visiting in winter.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Wanaka
Day tours, attraction tickets and experiences around Wanaka — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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Insider Tips
- Book 2–3 months ahead for high season — the best units go first.
- You are a 5–8 minute walk from the supermarket, so use the full kitchen to cook in and save on meals over a longer stay.
- If you are here to ski, Treble Cone and Cardrona are both a 30–35 minute drive, so the on-site garage parking is worth using.