In Wanaka you can saddle up a horse and embrace the great outdoors. If that sounds too energetic, slide into a café and absorb the lakeside scenery.
The lakeside town of Wanaka can provide you with an appealing mix of fine living, family fun and adventure. It has a high concentration of cafes, restaurants and interesting shops. It’s obvious that the Wanaka district is nicely obsessed with aviation.
At the airport you can arrange to go flightseeing or sky diving, and every two years the town hosts a spectacular airshow, Warbirds over Wanaka, revolving around classic miliary aircraft. Classed as one of the best warbird shows in the world it features historic aircraft, RNZAF jets, aerobatic formations and helicopters.
Winter is a busy time in Wanaka, as snow sports fans flock here for the excellent skiing and snowboarding. Local snow venues include Treble Cone, Cardrona, Snow Park and Snow Farm. Wanaka is also a handy base if you want to hike or climb in Mount Aspiring National Park.
Functional facts: Approx. population 5040, i-SITE Visitor Centre, wide range of accommodation.
Nearby towns: Cromwell (47 mins), Arrowtown (48 mins), Queenstown (60 mins)
