We eventually took to walking along Beacon Point Road itself, which was mostly devoid of traffic, until Beacon Point and then joined the lakeside trail there.

The Kāti Māmoe settlement as the site of modern Wanaka was named Para karehu. It begins with the landscape...it breathes, there’s an energy, a feeling, that sets Wānaka apart. The original Māori name Oanaka means 'The place of Anaka', a local tribal chief. Mountain Biking

or not. [9] In 1836, the Ngati Tama chief Te Puoho led a 100-person war party, armed with muskets, down the West Coast and over the Haast Pass: they fell on the Ngāi Tahu encampment between Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea, capturing 10 people and killing and eating two children.

To the south is the historic Cardrona Valley, a popular scenic alpine route to neighbouring Queenstown. (Otago Witness, 1889-04-25)", Briefing to the incoming Minister of Conservation 2011 – containing information about Statutory bodies, including the Guardians, "Wanaka's famous Instagram tree attacked with a saw", "New Zealand's most famous tree, 'That Wanaka Tree,' vandalized", "The Lord of the Rings Location: Tarras & Wanaka", "Witherspoon, Winfrey and Kaling in Wanaka and Lake Hāwea", "Facebook billionaire Peter Thiel a Kiwi citizen, owns Wanaka estate", "Thiel's Wanaka estate reportedly left 'neglected, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lake_Wānaka&oldid=958482118, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, Articles using infobox body of water without alt, Articles using infobox body of water without pushpin map, Articles using infobox body of water without alt bathymetry, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 24 May 2020, at 01:43. However he was stricken by dysentery, so his guides returned him down the Clutha in a reed boat. It’s a short, scenic 60-minute drive to Wanaka from the closest international airport, where you will find all major rental car companies and scheduled bus services that provide transport to Wanaka throughout the day. The Haast Pass gave access to the West Coast and its pounamu; the Cardrona Valley led to the natural rock bridge "Whatatorere", which was the only place that the Kawarau River and Clutha River / Mata-Au could be crossed without boats. It was to be our base for 24 nights before we could get flights back to the UK and with restrictions on driving beyond the immediate area we had plenty of opportunity to explore our surroundings on foot.

As our stay was extended into early Autumn it was interesting to see snow on the surrounding mountain tops, gradually creeping down the slopes as the days went past.

Located in the stunning alps of the South Island, New Zealand, visitors from around the world are drawn to the Wanaka region by its outstanding beauty.

The first known map of Lake Wānaka was drawn in 1844 by the southern Ngāi Tahu leader Te Huruhuru. And, of course, the outdoor activities: walks, hikes, skiing, biking—all against the backdrop of Mt Aspiring National Park. Lake Wānaka (also spelled Lake Wanaka) is New Zealand's fourth-largest lake. Lake Wanaka 1-Hour Cruise Including Wine and Cheese Board. You will journey through three distinct winemaking sub regions and visit boutique wineries off the beaten track on this great value wine tasting experience. Its widest point, at the southern end, is 10 kilometres.