I booked this hotel through the Delta Stays portal using a $200 credit from an Amex Delta Reserve card. I think the total price was $207 all-in. There’s no chain hotels in Wanaka except for an Accor Vacation Club which is a bit outside of town. The good thing about Edgewater is that it is right on the lake but also walking-ish distance to town on the Lakeside Trail.

The room we were given was not that great. It was on the second floor and had two double beds instead of a king. It was also on the older side and had no air-conditioning. The weather during the day was warm and we asked for an extra fan, which the hotel provided. Also there was no elevator, so make sure you request a ground floor room if you have mobility issues.

The view from the small balcony was nice.

When we checked in, I asked for an extra plug converter as we needed to charge my wife’s laptop. They provided one for us and I returned it when we checked out. The front desk staff were also very helpful when I asked about fly/cruise/fly Milford Sound options and gave me some good recommendations. There was also free parking. We ended up leaving our car outside the reception building as we were in the building adjacent to it.

The hotel is a resort-type facility with several buildings spread out over a large property. There’s a restaurant and bar in the main building. After we had a late afternoon snack in town, I ended up stopping by for a beer and an appetizer when my wife wasn’t hungry and was resting her ankle. I brought back ice cream for dessert to share in the room afterwards. Sitting outside at a lakefront table was very nice.

We decided not to have the breakfast buffet at the hotel for NZ$32 and headed into town instead after checking out of the hotel early. We stopped at Federal Diner in town before our fly/cruise/fly tour for a great breakfast.

If you need a decent place to stay in Wanaka, the Edgewater Hotel fits the bill. It’s a bit on the older side (although they did say some rooms have been renovated), it’s walkable to town and close to Roy’s Peak, the premier hike in Wanaka. The hotel also has bikes you can borrow at no charge.

Up Next: Southern Alps Air Fly/Cruise/Fly Milford Sound Review

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