Wanaka Area Travel Guide
Wanaka Area accommodation, Wanaka Area activities and attractions, Wanaka Area maps, transportation to and around Wanaka Area - the ALL NEW Jasons Wanaka Area Destination Travel Guide is your complete visitor guide for Wanaka Area.
At the heart of
Otago, the Wanaka area is a beautiful place to be at any time of the year, with the rich golds and rusty hues of nature's colours in autumn, clear frosty nights with fresh white snow on the mountains in winter, a riot of blossoms in spring, and hot, dry days in summer. Lake Wanaka’s striking crystal clear blue waters reflect dramatic mountain landscapes. Cruises visit the various arms and bays around the southern end of Lake Wanaka, and the long list of outdoor activities means you can try just about everything, from fishing, waterskiing, hiking and horse trekking through to hang-gliding, golf and goldpanning.
You can get adventurous with flightseeing and skydiving from
Wanaka airport, or tackle the region’s rivers and go kayaking, jetboating, canyoning, whitewater sledging and rafting. Walkers exploring Otago’s Wanaka area will find one of the best collections of half-day walks anywhere. During winter, there is superb
skiing and snowboarding at
Wanaka's ski areas of
Treble Cone,
Cardrona Alpine Resort,
Snow Farm NZ and
Snow Park NZ. While you are in the Wanaka area, don’t miss the chance to explore the alpine wilderness of Mount Aspiring National Park – a World Heritage Area famous for its glaciers and its magnificent hiking and climbing. En route to the park, the spectacular lakes,
mountains and forests surrounding
Lake Hawea and
Makarora boast some wonderful walks and fishing spots.
Linking Wanaka with the resort town of
Queenstown is the magnificent Crown Range Road. This 45-minute drive is New Zealand's highest public road, offering stunning views of the mountains and lakes. State Highway 6 from Wanaka leads to
Cromwell and the recently created Lake Dunstan. This pleasant town provides easy access to the
Central Otago region, steeped in goldmining history.
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