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Lake Wanaka, New Zealand

Just 50 minutes’ drive from Queenstown over the magnificent Crown Range road, Wanaka perfectly complements neighbouring Queenstown.

The name 'Wanaka' translates from Maori as ‘renewal of the soul’. This is a beautiful year-round destination, set against the alpine backdrop of Mount Aspiring National Park.

Plan your Lake Wanaka escape with the information and links below.

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Visit Lake Wanaka

Wanaka township is set on the southern shore of Lake Wanaka and is the gateway to the beautiful Mount Aspiring National Park.

Downtown Wanaka is home to a pretty shopping village with a variety of ambient areas to eat and relax. The fishing is superb, there’s a multitude of adventure activities on offer and anywhere you walk you’ll find breathtaking scenery and wide open spaces.

Winter

In winter, snow lovers flock to the steep slopes of Treble Cone Ski Area or the snowboarder’s mecca of Cardrona Alpine Resort. Those seeking a more relaxed mountain pace head for New Zealand’s only Nordic ski area at the Waiorau Snow Farm. There is also the specialist Snow Park offering terrain parks and half pipes while some of the world’s finest heli-skiing is just a phone call away.

Alpine adventures

In spring, summer and autumn, Wanaka attracts hikers, mountaineers, parapenters, canyoners, kayakers, helibikers, rock-climbers and day walkers from around the world who revel in the area’s natural attributes.

Summer

A favourite playground for New Zealand families, Lake Wanaka is home to sun-seekers and boating enthusiasts throughout the long, hot Central Otago summer. Lakeside camping grounds provide get-away holidays for all ages. Cruises, windsurfing, wakeboarding and water skiing are favourite lake activities, while closer to the village you can experience horse trekking, skydiving, 4WD motor-biking or eco rafting.

Attractions

Wine tasting, an eccentric puzzling attraction and viewing classic warplanes are among other popular adventures offered in Wanaka. Make sure you attend the biannual Easter Warbirds over Wanaka air show which attracts fighter planes from around the world for a fascinating three day spectacular.

More information

Visit the Lake Wanaka website: www.lakewanaka.co.nz
Email the Lake Wanaka information centre: info@lakewanaka.co.nz