You guys. It’s been a scorching minute since I’ve written about Wānaka.
I’ve been right here for a decade minus a number of years the place I used to be in Lyttelton. Even although it’s wildly lovely and extremely common with vacationers, I’ve discovered that I don’t usually write about it or share a lot as a result of it’s my dwelling. And once I’m dwelling, I’m chilling greater than exploring.
But now that tourism is again on the playing cards, and our empty parking spots are filling up once more with campervans, it’s time for considered one of my most requested posts – essentially the most lovely and Instagrammy picture spots in Wānaka. Ask, and also you shall obtain – even when it’s years later. Hey, I’m human.
Sometimes I mirror again on my arrival to Wānaka practically a decade in the past and the way Instagram wasn’t actually a lot of a factor again then. But as soon as phrase received out, Wānaka turned extremely common largely to only how rattling photogenic of a spot it’s.
With iconic views, a shiny blue lake, and customarily improbable climate, it ought to shock nobody how common Wānaka is. It’s laborious to take a foul picture right here. But in fact, what makes Wānaka further particular is the story of the place and the individuals behind it. Beyond the epic views and enjoyable adventures, Wānaka is dwelling to among the most extremely inventive and gifted individuals. It’s a little bit of a magnet!
Here are my picks for the ten most Instagrammable spots in Wānaka – take pleasure in!
1. Check out the long-lasting Cardrona swing
Exploring New Zealand mountain cities is in contrast to the remainder of the world. Our populations are tiny in comparison with Europe and North America, which suggests mountain visitors typically is the prerogative of sheep. If you wish to rise up the hills, you gotta use your individual two toes. Or go in a helicopter.
That being mentioned, we’ve among the most unbelievable ski fields on this planet proper on the doorstep of Wānaka – Cardrona and Treble Cone. Once the snow melts away within the hotter months, Cardrona turns right into a summer time paradise. With mountain biking tracks, mountain climbing trails, carting, and engaging meals, it’s a good way to get excessive up within the mountains by yourself with a automobile.
Head up for the day and take a look at the epic views in summer time – and don’t skip out on the long-lasting swing on the prime of McDougall’s Express Chondola. Overlooking each Queenstown and Wānaka, the views are epic.
2. Take a photograph of the long-lasting Wānaka tree
A location that wants no introduction is the very well-known Wānaka tree – an exquisite willow tree within the lake -that sits close to the highest of essentially the most Instagrammable spots in Wānaka. The legend goes that the willow tree grew out of an previous fence pole left over from a inventory fence. With its lovely silhouette, leaves that change coloration with the seasons, and beautiful mountain backdrop, it’s no surprise it makes for an ideal picture.
Just keep in mind that should you go to throughout dawn or sundown, it could possibly usually be crowded with photographers and folks in search of the right seize. Though with time and endurance, I’m certain you could possibly get a pleasant picture.
I’ve had a protracted love-hate relationship with this explicit tree. I don’t love the thought of individuals coming to Wānaka to get this particular picture (which individuals do). It’s additionally not even a local tree. To me, Wānaka is an extremely dynamic place with a lot to supply guests. Be certain to construct in additional time to soak all of it in totally.
3. Spend a day mountain climbing out to Rob Roy Glacier
The first hike I took once I moved to Wānaka was to Rob Roy Glacier in Mt. Aspiring National Park. Ever since I’ve tried to get out right here yearly.
You must drive out to the Raspberry Flat carpark which is about an hour from city, on a street that sometimes has fords you need to cross. But it’s so value it. You climb alongside a surprising mountain river gorge by way of the beech forest earlier than coming out beneath the Rob Roy Glacier. If you keep for lengthy sufficient, the kea may go to you.
I usually see ice avalanches tumble down from the glacier. It’s a spectacular place.
4. Relax and unwind on the native lavender farm
I can nonetheless keep in mind when locals opened up the Wānaka Lavender Farm, and it was such a superb addition to a city most individuals concentrate on for snowboarding or mountain-based adventures.
As somebody who loves flowers and crops, I feel it’s distinctive attending to expertise locations like this.
Over the years, I’ve watched it develop into an epic vacation spot spot, the right place to deliver your family and friends and hand around in the gardens. And I by no means go away with out getting lavender ice cream, which is wonderful.
5. Take an enormous mountain tiny human picture on Roys Peak
If we needed to decide one of the best out of essentially the most Instagrammable spots in Wānaka, it’s completely Roys Peak. With panoramic views of Wānaka and Mt. Aspiring National Park, it’s well worth the hype for the view. For years, {couples} would fly up right here in a helicopter (to close by Coromandel Peak, which has the identical view) to take marriage ceremony images. With the rise of visible social media, it rapidly took over the ‘gram too.
Two-thirds of the way in which up the Roys Peak monitor, an offshoot runs alongside a ridge the place everybody takes their picture. But be ready to get in line, actually. Everyone desires photos at this explicit spot, and the views are even higher should you stick with it to the highest.
But so far as tracks go, I discover Roys Peak to be kinda lame. It’s an previous farm 4WD monitor that zigzags up the mountain. There’s no water or shade; the downhill will wreck your knees, so prep accordingly.
6. Road journey out to the Blue Pools
On the Haast Pass, an hour out of Wānaka in your technique to the west coast, you’ll go by the Blue Pools.
An excellent chill brief stroll by way of the native beech forest will deliver you out to the Blue Pools, a surprising ravine lower by way of by the Makarora River. Here the water is tremendous clear and infrequently displays neon blue. Freezing, it comes straight down from the Southern Alps. A swim is value it, however don’t count on it to be heat.
Brave folks usually leap off the massive swing bridge over the Blue Pools within the summertime, however clearly, do your analysis beforehand.
7. Hang out by Lake Hāwea
It’s been seven months since I settled into a bit of home in Hāwea, a small lakeside suburb 20 minutes from Wānaka. And I adore it right here, and it’s positively underrated as probably the most Instagrammable spots in Wānaka.
Many of my associates have moved out to Hāwea to construct their houses and cool down, so I’m in good firm. With its alpine lake encircled by large mountains, it’s an amazing place to soak in some epic views. Trails and tracks dot alongside the ridges and slopes right here, making it the right spot to calm down in nature by yourself.
While the lake in Hāwea is a bit colder than Wānaka, it will get deeper a lot faster and is tremendous clear and blue. It could be similar to swimming within the Caribbean if it have been 20 levels celsius colder.
8. Splurge on an epic keep at Mahu Whenua
The end-all-be-all of epic luxurious lodging with a strong conservation story needs to be Mahu Whenua, simply outdoors Wānaka. ‘Mahu Whenua’ in te reo Māori means ‘healing the land.’
Stretching from Lake Wānaka to Arrowtown, Mahu Whenua is New Zealand’s largest personal conservation venture, protecting 136,000 acres of land.
Over the previous decade, Mahu Whenua’s proprietor has labored laborious to revive the land to its pre-farmed state, guaranteeing it’s going to final the ages with Crown Covenants positioned on it. Undertaking intensive analysis, they started planting thousands and thousands of native timber, eradicating predators and pests, which has resulted in rising numbers of native birdlife within the space.
9. Tackle the epic Gillespie Pass
One of essentially the most epic tramps with wonderful views round Wānaka needs to be the Gillespie Pass Circuit close to Makarora. A tramp for the skilled, it’s a virtually 60-kilometer monitor by way of the Southern Alps.
Last summer time, I lastly tramped the entire Gillespie Pass over a few days, by which my ass was kicked, however you understand, like, in a great way. Who wants all their toenails in any case?
The facet journey as much as Lake Crucible is an absolute must-do, so ensure you construct in time for it. You can shorten the journey and make it safer by skipping the river crossings (which might be unsafe) by jetboat or helicopter with Wilkin River Jets.
10. Soak within the unbelievable starry evening sky
While the close by Mackenzie Basin will get all the eye for the biggest darkish sky reserve within the southern hemisphere, do you know that Wānaka additionally has unbelievable stargazing?
The South Island typically has nice stargazing as a result of it’s not very populated, and bigger populations imply a number of mild air pollution, which blocks the celebs. Almost anyplace round Wānaka at evening can have unbelievable stargazing except it’s cloudy or you’re by the rugby pitch throughout a nighttime recreation when the spotlights are on.
Head someplace darkish and search for. And look south. You may get fortunate and see the Southern Lights twinkling alongside the horizon.
Do you will have a favourite view in Wānaka? What do you reckon are essentially the most Instagrammable spots in Wānaka? Spill.
