Wanaka is serviced by the Wanaka Airport as well as by roads over the Crown Range, from the West Coast and to the north via State Highways 6 and 84. There is at least one flight daily to Christchurch by Air New Zealand. Bus services to Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown, Invercargill and Greymouth operate daily.
During the early 20th century an unsuccessful proposal was made for the Otago Central Railway, then terminated at Cromwell, to be extended to Wanaka and onward to Hawea. The main reason for NZR's reluctance was having to cross the Clutha river twice. A more direct route to Hawea was planned but dropped due to cost
