You guys. It’s been a scorching minute since I’ve written about Wānaka.
I’ve been right here for a decade minus just a few years the place I used to be in Lyttelton. Regardless that it’s wildly stunning and extremely well-liked with vacationers, I’ve discovered that I don’t typically write about it or share a lot as a result of it’s my residence. And once I’m residence, I’m chilling greater than exploring.
However 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 one in all my most requested posts – probably the most stunning and Instagrammy picture spots in Wānaka. Ask, and also you shall obtain – even when it’s years later. Hey, I’m human.
Generally I replicate again on my arrival to Wānaka almost a decade in the past and the way Instagram wasn’t actually a lot of a factor again then. However as soon as phrase bought out, Wānaka turned extremely well-liked largely to only how rattling photogenic of a spot it’s.
With iconic views, a vibrant blue lake, and customarily implausible climate, it ought to shock nobody how well-liked Wānaka is. It’s exhausting to take a nasty picture right here. However in fact, what makes Wānaka further particular is the story of the place and the individuals behind it. Past the epic views and enjoyable adventures, Wānaka is residence to among the most extremely artistic and gifted individuals. It’s a little bit of a magnet!
Listed below are my picks for the ten most Instagrammable spots in Wānaka – get pleasure from!
Table of Contents
1. Take a look at 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 implies mountain site visitors typically is the prerogative of sheep. If you wish to rise up the hills, you gotta use your individual two ft. Or go in a helicopter.
That being mentioned, we’ve among the most unimaginable ski fields on the earth proper on the doorstep of Wānaka – Cardrona and Treble Cone. As soon as the snow melts away within the hotter months, Cardrona turns right into a summer season paradise. With mountain biking tracks, mountaineering trails, carting, and attractive 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 season – and don’t skip out on the long-lasting swing on the high of McDougall’s Categorical 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 – a stupendous willow tree within the lake -that sits close to the highest of probably the most Instagrammable spots in Wānaka. The legend goes that the willow tree grew out of an outdated fence pole left over from a inventory fence. With its stunning silhouette, leaves that change colour with the seasons, and beautiful mountain backdrop, it’s no surprise it makes for an ideal picture.
Simply keep in mind that in case you go to throughout dawn or sundown, it will possibly typically be crowded with photographers and folks in search of the right seize. Although with time and persistence, I’m certain you would get a pleasant picture.
I’ve had an extended love-hate relationship with this specific 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 sure you construct in additional time to soak all of it in completely.
3. Spend a day mountaineering out to Rob Roy Glacier
The primary hike I took once I moved to Wānaka was to Rob Roy Glacier in Mt. Aspiring Nationwide Park. Ever since I’ve tried to get out right here annually.
You need to drive out to the Raspberry Flat carpark which is about an hour from city, on a street that often has fords it’s a must to cross. But it surely’s so price it. You climb alongside a surprising mountain river gorge by the beech forest earlier than coming out under the Rob Roy Glacier. For those who keep for lengthy sufficient, the kea would possibly go to you.
I typically see ice avalanches tumble down from the glacier. It’s a spectacular place.
4. Calm down 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 deal with for snowboarding or mountain-based adventures.
As somebody who loves flowers and crops, I believe it’s distinctive attending to expertise locations like this.
Over time, I’ve watched it develop into an epic vacation spot spot, the right place to carry 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 superb.
5. Take an enormous mountain tiny human picture on Roys Peak
If we needed to decide the very best out of probably the most Instagrammable spots in Wānaka, it’s completely Roys Peak. With panoramic views of Wānaka and Mt. Aspiring Nationwide Park, it’s definitely 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 wedding ceremony photographs. With the rise of visible social media, it shortly took over the ‘gram too.
Two-thirds of the way in which up the Roys Peak observe, an offshoot runs alongside a ridge the place everybody takes their picture. However be ready to get in line, actually. Everybody needs photos at this specific spot, and the views are even higher in case you keep it up to the highest.
However so far as tracks go, I discover Roys Peak to be kinda lame. It’s an outdated farm 4WD observe that zigzags up the mountain. There’s no water or shade; the downhill will wreck your knees, so prep accordingly.
6. Street journey out to the Blue Swimming pools
On the Haast Cross, an hour out of Wānaka in your method to the west coast, you’ll cross by the Blue Pools.
A brilliant chill brief stroll by the native beech forest will carry you out to the Blue Swimming pools, a surprising ravine lower by by the Makarora River. Right here the water is tremendous clear and infrequently displays neon blue. Freezing, it comes straight down from the Southern Alps. A swim is price it, however don’t anticipate it to be heat.
Courageous folks typically soar off the massive swing bridge over the Blue Swimming pools within the summertime, however clearly, do your analysis beforehand.
7. Hang around by Lake Hāwea
It’s been seven months since I settled into just a little home in Hāwea, a small lakeside suburb 20 minutes from Wānaka. And I adore it right here, and it’s undoubtedly underrated as probably the most Instagrammable spots in Wānaka.
A lot of my pals have moved out to Hāwea to construct their houses and calm down, so I’m in good firm. With its alpine lake encircled by massive mountains, it’s an ideal place to soak in some epic views. Trails and tracks dot alongside the ridges and slopes right here, making it the right spot to loosen up in nature by yourself.
Whereas 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 identical to swimming within the Caribbean if it had been 20 levels celsius colder.
8. Splurge on an epic keep at Mahu Whenua
The top-all-be-all of epic luxurious lodging with a robust conservation story needs to be Mahu Whenua, simply outdoors Wānaka. ‘Mahu Whenua’ in te reo Māori means ‘therapeutic the land.’
Stretching from Lake Wānaka to Arrowtown, Mahu Whenua is New Zealand’s largest personal conservation undertaking, protecting 136,000 acres of land.
Over the previous decade, Mahu Whenua’s proprietor has labored exhausting to revive the land to its pre-farmed state, making certain it would final the ages with Crown Covenants positioned on it. Enterprise in depth 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. Sort out the epic Gillespie Cross
Probably the most epic tramps with superb views round Wānaka needs to be the Gillespie Pass Circuit close to Makarora. A tramp for the skilled, it’s an almost 60-kilometer observe by the Southern Alps.
Final summer season, I lastly tramped the entire Gillespie Cross over a few days, wherein my ass was kicked, however you understand, like, in a great way. Who wants all their toenails anyhow?
The facet journey as much as Lake Crucible is an absolute must-do, so ensure you construct in time for it. You’ll be able to shorten the journey and make it safer by skipping the river crossings (which may be unsafe) by jetboat or helicopter with Wilkin River Jets.
10. Soak within the unimaginable starry evening sky
Whereas 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 unimaginable stargazing?
The South Island typically has nice stargazing as a result of it’s not very populated, and bigger populations imply a lot of mild air pollution, which blocks the celebrities. Virtually anyplace round Wānaka at evening could have unimaginable stargazing until it’s cloudy or you’re by the rugby pitch throughout a nighttime sport when the spotlights are on.
Head someplace darkish and search for. And look south. You would possibly get fortunate and see the Southern Lights twinkling alongside the horizon.
Do you’ve gotten a favourite view in Wānaka? What do you reckon are probably the most Instagrammable spots in Wānaka? Spill.
