Wanaka Property Market and Real Estate Guide

(Wanaka, Otago, South Island, New Zealand)

Wanaka sits on the south shore of the expansive Lake Wanaka in south / central South Island and is an up-and-coming area in which to buy property. It only has a populace of a little over 5,000 and is well spread out, being backed by the Southern Alps, with the beautiful Mount Aspiring National Park ranking as a top attraction here.

Otago town is the next main centre up from Queenstown, although it is a lot more laid-back and less touristy than its larger counterpart. It is similar in beauty and appeal to Queenstown and is also popular in summer and winter, with the nearby Treble Cone being a top ski resort.


Property prices have been on the rise in the South Island and more and more foreigners are choosing to set up home here. There are essentially three main areas to own property in Wanaka - the downtown area behind the lake, along Wanaka Mount Aspiring Road to the west, and along Lakeside Road to the north. Prices don't deviate greatly between the three, although the latter sees the highest prices.

Renting Serviced Apartments

There are several holiday apartments set ups in Wanaka that are mostly overlooking the lake. Rentals are not that popular here, however, and the majority of places suited to long-term stays are unfurnished. Those that are fully furnished tend to charge by the day or week.

Facilities in the serviced apartments in Wanaka are generally excellent, with fitted kitchens and balconied living rooms that come with TV, DVD player, Internet connectivity and heating.

Buying Apartments and Houses

There are no restrictions on foreigners who want to buy apartments and houses in Wanaka, plus there is no stamp duty, and the procedure for registering property is straightforward. The buyer ends up forking out less than one percent, with the seller stuck with the real estate agent fees, which are typically four or five percent.

Property in Wanaka is cheaper than property in nearby Queenstown, which is a fair bit cheaper than property in Christchurch and a lot cheaper than property in Auckland (North Island).

Real Estate Agents

All real estate agents and realtors in New Zealand have to be licensed and have the sellers' and buyers' best interests in mind. Furthermore, buyers do not typically pay the agent fee, which is taken up by the seller. The best place to search for real estate agents in Wanaka is on the Internet, as many of them have a presence online.

A few examples of Wanaka real estate agents:

Harcourts Wanaka
Address: 17 Helwick Street, Wanaka, 9305, New Zealand, NZ
Tel: +64 03 443 7829
Email: wanaka@harcourts.co.nz
Website: www.harcourtswanaka.co.nz
Harcourts is one of the biggest real estate agents in the Australasia region and has a well-equipped office in this town.

Wanaka Wide Realty Ltd MREINZ
Address: 38 Ardmore Street, Wanaka, 9305, New Zealand, NZ
Tel: +64 03 443 7524
Email: info@profwanaka.co.nz
Website: www.professionalswanaka.co.nz
Wanaka Wide Realty Ltd MREINZ offers residential property in urban and rural settings, as well as property management.

Lake Wanaka Property
Address: 20 Ardmore Street, Wanaka, 9305, New Zealand, NZ
Mobile: +64 03 443 0043
Email: jossharris@actrix.gen.nz
Website: www.lakewanakaproperty.co.nz
Joss Harris of Lake Wanaka Property specialises in the Otago area - in particular in Wanaka and Queenstown.