A Gorgeous town in Stunning Landscape-Wanaka New Zealand

Wanaka New Zealand

Wanaka is a popular ski and summer resort town in the Otago region of New Zealand. The stunning mountain and lakes with the proximity to Mt Aspiring National Park, a Unesco World Heritage Area, make it the ultimate destination for outdoor activities. Located in the spectacular Alps of the South Island, the place has drawn visitors worldwide by its outstanding beauty. Breath-taking mountain scenery, spectacular glaciers, lush rainforests, alpine meadows and crystal-clear lakes and rivers are simply mindblowing. Wanaka is an Adventure paradise that has an extensive network of walking and biking trails to suit all abilities. A walk is the Roys Peak Track provides alpine vistas of Lake Wanaka and the Southern Alps. Lake Wanaka shoreline to picturesque Glendhu Bay, the Hawea River Track and the Upper Clutha & Newcastle Tracks combine to make a great loop for mountain biking.

Geography and Geology

The town of Wanaka is situated at the southern end of Lake Wanaka, surrounded by mountains. Very close to Lake Wanaka is Lake Hawea, in a parallel glacial valley. The Glendhu Bay leads into the Matukituki River valley which gives access to Mount Aspiring National Park. Parts of the town have expanded into the hills surrounding the centre and around Roy’s Bay in both directions. The lakeside area of the town is prone to occasional flooding in spring when heavy rain and snow melt. The Rock of Wanaka Formation is exposed around Mt. Aspiring and Lake Hawea. It is composed almost entirely of mica-schist.

Wanaka Weather

Wanaka New Zealand is one of the few areas in the country to enjoy a semi-continental climate. Wanaka is a year-round destination with 4 distinct seasons. Summer’s are hot and dry and perfect for water sports, hiking and biking. The average temperature in summer maximum of 24 °C. Winter’s are cool with great skiing areas offering great options for skiers and snowboarders. Spring is a great time to explore the lakeside tracks and trails. Annual rainfall is 682 mm which is half the national average.

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Wanaka New Zealand things to do

Wanaka is a genuine alpine town and is the ultimate hub for outdoor adventures, with Mount Aspiring National Park located close by it’s the perfect destination for exploring the Southern Alps. Adventure seekers can go skydiving, canyoning, climbing or mountaineering and there are hundreds of kilometres of tracks for hiking or biking. The crystal-clear water of the lakes and rivers is ideal for kayaking, fishing, lake cruises and boating. One can also get an aerial perspective of the region with a scenic flight and you can even land on a glacier. Wanaka is a vibrant centre for skiers and snowboarders in winter with four ski areas just a few distances from the town.

 

Attractions in Wanaka New Zealand

In winter, Wanaka is an excellent place to see the Southern Lights. A number of mountains surrounding Wanaka can be climbed, including Roys Peak, Mount Iron, Mount Grand and the Pisa Range, all of which provide views of the surrounding area. The Haast Pass Highway between Wanaka and the West Coast is a spectacular scenic drive through the Southern Alps with numerous scenic viewpoints and short walks. A stop along the way, including Lake Wanaka, the Blue Pools, Fantail Falls and the Gates of Haast.

The Blue Pools

The Blue Pools are part of the Makarora River that runs down from the nearby mountains in Mt Aspiring National Park. The Blue Pools are one of the most beautiful places in the country. It gets its colour from the nearby glaciers. Follow the boardwalk to a viewing platform over the Blue Pools then cross the Blue Pools bridge for great views up the river gorge.

Lake Wanaka

Lake Wanaka is New Zealand’s fourth-largest lake and the seat of the town of Wanaka in the Otago region. The lake is 278 meters above sea level, covers 192 km², and is more than 300 m deep. The Wanaka town sits in a glacier-carved basin on the shores of the lake and is the gateway to Mt Aspiring National Park. Lake Hawea is a 15-minute drive away, en route to the frontier town of Makarora. The lake is a U-shaped valley formed by glacial erosion during the last ice age more than 10,000 years ago. It is fed by the Matukituki and Makarora Rivers and is the source of the Clutha River. The lake is 42 kilometres long and its widest point, at the southern end, is 10 kilometres.

Wanaka tree

That Wanaka Tree, also known as the Wanaka Willow, is a willow tree located at the southern end of Lake. Wanaka tree sits alone in the water and is a popular destination for tourists to take Instagram photos. That Wanaka Tree derives its name from the hashtag “#ThatWanakaTree”, which is used on Instagram. The tree has been described as “New Zealand’s most famous tree” and one of the most photographed trees in all of New Zealand.

Mt Aspiring National Park

Mt Aspiring national park consists, of one of New Zealand’s highest peaks. The park is a dreamland of mountains, glaciers, river valleys and alpine lakes. Mount Aspiring National Park offers a large number of short walks that are mostly concentrated at the end of the park’s access roads. Shorter walks include Routeburn Nature Walk, Haast Pass Summit, Lake Sylvan near the lower dart River and the Blue Pools Walk. Longer hikes consist of beautiful valleys, with options to traverse mountains including the Routeburn, the Rees River circuit, Greenstone/Caples and the Wilkin Valley tracks. Mt Aspiring national park has a massive area of wilderness – glaciers, snowfields, mountains, valleys and wildlife habitats that require days of hiking to reach.

How to Reach Wanaka New Zeaand

There are 3 international airports in relatively close proximity to Wanaka- Queenstown Airport, Dunedin and Christchurch. The most convenient one is Queenstown as it is the nearest. From Queenstown airport, one can rent a car and self-drive to Wanaka. It is 103 km away from Queenstown via the main state highway.