Cardrona Distillery

Skip the usual Wānaka tourist traps. Cardrona Distillery isn't just pulling pristine alpine water for their mash—they are plating up some of the most dynamic, hyper-seasonal cuisine in Aotearoa. Epicurean travelers constantly trade whispers about Chef Jake Foster’s "trust the chef" tasting menu. Think textural, beautifully plated masterpieces championing sustainable local fare. Perfectly paired cocktails—like a vibrant Red Rabbit margarita cutting through rich kahawai—elevate the whole affair. Beyond those stunning little glasshouse dining rooms, the copper stills are working absolute magic. Spirits aficionados routinely point friends toward the $35 guided tours. You get a proper deep dive into their botanicals and barrel-aging, a flight of whiskey and gin at the finish line, and that tasting fee knocked right off a bottle purchase. Drop in for a quick dram. Book the full sensory chef’s journey. Just don't drive past this valley without stopping.