The Lake House is in Lake Hawea township, 12 minutes drive from Wanaka. There is a store, restaurant and bar within easy walking distance.The public tennis courts (racquets & balls are available) and bowling green are just down the road. A 9 hole golf course is 5 minutes drive away. The lake can be seen from the house and is a great place for fishing and scenic walks along the lakeshore. Wanaka has many first class restaurants, lake cruises, vineyards, ski hire, a scenic 18 hole golf course and excellent shopping. A car is essential to get around the area. It takes 40 minutes from the door to the top of the mountain at three quite different ski resorts, and slightly further afield there is every adventure activity imaginable in the environs of Queenstown. Trout fishing is popular on Lake Hawea, equipment & licenses can be bought at the local store, and there are wonderful hiking trails in nearby Mount Aspiring National Park. Information about longer hikes, such as the famous Rees-Dart tramp, is available at the Park Headquarters in Wanaka.

Cardrona Ski field is an excellent family resort with good snowboarding and ski lesson packages for children. Treble Cone caters to experienced skiers and boarders. The Snow Park has terrain parks specifically for snowboarders and cross country skiers. All these fields are an easy 40 minute drive from the Lake House to the top of the mountain. Queenstown has the Coronet Peak and Remarkables skifields, and plenty of night life, less than an hour from Lake Hawea.

The Lake Hawea store carries a good selection of food and wine; there is a small restaurant upstairs, and the Lake Hawea hotel has a large lounge with spectacular views of the lake and mountains and a good selection of food and wine. The supermarket and wholesale food outlet in Wanaka stock a wide variety of supplies. There are many excellent restaurants in Wanaka. Most of the wineries provide a delicious lunch in scenic surroundings. The local pinot noir wine is world class.