Wanaka

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Wanaka Regional Information

Wanaka is situated at the southern end of Lake Wanaka and marks the gateway point to the Mount Aspiring National Park, a mountainous and remote area that is a paradise for walkers and mountaineers. Wanaka is viewed by many as a less commercial destination than the busy holiday resort of Queenstown. With its stunning lake and mountain views, fine dining and varied accommodation choices, Wanaka has just as much to offer as its sister resort town.

Originally settled at the time of the region's gold rush in the 1860's, Wanaka was known by the name Pembroke until 1940. At that time, the name Wanaka was given to the town, echoing the original Maori name of the settlement, Oanaka.

Wanaka is a popular winter holiday destination, with two quality ski fields, Treble Cone and Cardrona, within easy reach. Combined with a range of adventure activities such as mountain biking, watersports, climbing, hiking, fishing and paragliding, Wanaka is the outdoor enthusiast's dream holiday destination.

The biannual Warbirds Over Wanaka event spans three days and showcases classic aircraft and modern jets in action in the skies over the town. As one of the largest warbird airshows in the Southern Hemisphere, the event attracts close to 100,000 visitors to the town.

Just out of Wanaka, the unique Puzzling World has to be experienced to be believed. Set on seven acres of rolling countryside, this unusual attraction features a maze, rooms full of illusions and a puzzle centre. It is guaranteed to entertain and amaze people of all ages.

Navigate with our great Wanaka map to stay on the right track and find what you're looking for when traveling in the region. While you're on the road, be prepared for all seasons with weather forecasts, reports and current information on Otago weather.

For further information on Wanaka, visit the Lake Wanaka information site.