Adventure Awaits: A Guide for Our Littlest Eco Explorers 

Before you begin your adventure, let’s talk about taoka – all things prized and valued. Our natural taoka are the plants, animals and natural resources that are important to us, and that hold value for Māori as the traditional peoples of this land.  

By exploring gently and getting hands-on with environmental activities, your family helps protect these places and the treasures they hold so they can be enjoyed for generations to come. 

Backpacks on? Explorer hats ready? Here are some of the highlights waiting for you: 

• Spot Tuna at the Wharf. Begin your adventure at the Wānaka Wharf to meet our famous tuna kuwharuwharu (longfin eels). Purchase tuna food from the Wānaka iSite before you arrive and watch your children’s faces light up as these graceful giants glide through the water to greet them. 

• Refill at the Wānaka Spring. Stop at the bubbling spring to sip fresh alpine water straight from the ground. The perfect spot to refill reusable bottles and recharge like true explorers. 

• Grebe Nesting at the Marina. Stroll the boardwalk and spot pūteketeke (great crested grebes), NZ’s Bird of the Century and of our favourite local celebrities. From October–March, pairs dance, dive, and nest on floating platforms – a quirky show little ones won’t forget. 

• Become a Citizen Scientist. Snap a photo at Aotearoa’s first fluker post! With one click, kids can become citizen scientists, helping shape Wānaka’s future through valuable data that tracks environmental changes over time. 

• Look for Pest Traps. Keen little eyes might just spot a pest trap (or two!) along the lakefront trails. These traps protect native birds and lizards from pests like rats. Spot them on the ground or around the trees, but remember, hands off! 

• Give Native Plants a Drink. Dive into Te Kākano’s blue water drums along the lakefront and give thirsty seedlings a much-needed drink. A small act that helps baby trees grow into future forests. 

• Explore the Bullock Creek Wetland. End your journey in this stunning spring-fed wetland. Spot freshwater critters in the stream, learn about the history of the site, and support the community-led restoration programme. Better yet, roll up your sleeves and volunteer at a wetland restoration session. 

Each stop mixes free family fun with hands-on eco action, giving kids a chance to feel like true guardians of the land. 

If your little explorers want to go further, Wānaka has plenty more family-friendly eco activities: 

• Join a Te Kākano Nursery Session. Every Tuesday and Wednesday, the local community nursery welcomes families to help propagate and nurture native seedlings. Kids love getting their hands in the soil, spotting tiny plants as they sprout, and seeing how important these seedlings are for the future of our forests. After some mahi (work), share kai and a cuppa with the Te Kākano whānau – it’s as heartwarming as it is hands-on. 

• Visit Grow Wānaka Community Garden. Tucked away at the Lake Wānaka Outlet, this vibrant garden is full of buzzing bees, colourful veges, and friendly locals. Families can join a working bee, learn about composting, and help turn food waste into healthy soils. Hop on your bikes, pedal out for a visit, and discover how the community grows kai in harmony with the land. 

• Treasure Hunt at Wastebusters. Voted Wānaka’s favourite shop time and again, Wastebusters is a wonderland of pre-loved treasures. Kids can rummage for books, toys, dress-ups, and quirky finds, while parents browse clothes, gear, and homewares. Every purchase gives something a second life instead of going to landfill, and families can bring items to donate too – showing kids that reuse and recycling protect our environment. A visit feels like a treasure hunt of its own, with eco-friendly fun guaranteed! 

Exploring Wānaka sustainably makes the adventure even better: 

• Pack waste-free snacks. Fill up at the Wānaka spring along the lakefront or head to Refill NZ for a map of restaurants and eateries that will happily give you a top-up. Freshlink Grocer have bulk-bins and a great selection of fresh produce to keep you fueled up without the waste.

• Walk, scoot, or bike. Wānaka has an extensive bike trail around town, making it easy to explore the local spots without a car. It’s fun, planet-friendly, and a great way to get some fresh air. Don’t have your own set of wheels? Pick up a bike from Racers Edge or go for a guided option with NZ Bike Trails.

• Get hands-on with local conservation. From planting trees to stream clean-ups, there are plenty of volunteering opportunities for young and old. Check out Love Wānaks’s Volunteer Calendar to see what’s on, when. 

The best part of the Love Wānaka Treasure Map? It’s not just the tuna, the grebes, or the wetlands, it’s all about shaping those little minds. Every clue, every stop, and every action helps them connect with the land, understand why it needs protecting, and discover their power to care for it. 

By taking part, families become more than just visitors. You become temporary kaitiaki (guardians) of Wānaka’s environment – creating memories, learning together, and leaving a positive impact. 

Ready to begin? Collect your free Love Wānaka Treasure Map from the Wānaka iSite Visitor Centre today and set off on your family’s eco adventure!