You guys. It’s been a scorching minute since I’ve written about Wānaka.
I’ve been right here for a decade minus a couple of years the place I used to be in Lyttelton. Regardless that it’s wildly stunning and extremely common 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 after 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 certainly one of my most requested posts – essentially the most stunning and Instagrammy photograph 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 practically a decade in the past and the way Instagram wasn’t actually a lot of a factor again then. However as soon as phrase obtained out, Wānaka grew to become extremely common largely to only how rattling photogenic of a spot it’s.
With iconic views, a shiny blue lake, and usually implausible climate, it ought to shock nobody how common Wānaka is. It’s exhausting to take a nasty photograph 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 a number of the most extremely inventive and proficient individuals. It’s a little bit of a magnet!
Listed here are my picks for the ten most Instagrammable spots in Wānaka – take pleasure in!
1. Take a look at the enduring Cardrona swing
Exploring New Zealand mountain cities is not like the remainder of the world. Our populations are tiny in comparison with Europe and North America, which suggests mountain visitors usually is the prerogative of sheep. If you wish to stand up the hills, you gotta use your individual two ft. Or go in a helicopter.
That being mentioned, now we have a number of the most unbelievable ski fields on this planet 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 enduring swing on the high of McDougall’s Categorical Chondola. Overlooking each Queenstown and Wānaka, the views are epic.
2. Take a photograph of the enduring Wānaka tree
A location that wants no introduction is the very well-known Wānaka tree – a wonderful 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 stunning silhouette, leaves that change colour with the seasons, and gorgeous mountain backdrop, it’s no surprise it makes for an ideal photograph.
Simply keep in mind that when you go to throughout dawn or sundown, it could typically be crowded with photographers and other people in search of the proper seize. Although with time and persistence, I’m positive you can get a pleasant photograph.
I’ve had an extended love-hate relationship with this specific tree. I don’t love the concept of individuals coming to Wānaka to get this particular photograph (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. You’ll want to construct in additional time to soak all of it in totally.
3. Spend a day mountaineering out to Rob Roy Glacier
The primary hike I took after I moved to Wānaka was to Rob Roy Glacier in Mt. Aspiring Nationwide Park. Ever since I’ve tried to get out right here yearly.
It’s a must to drive out to the Raspberry Flat carpark which is about an hour from city, on a street that sometimes has fords it’s a must to cross. However it’s so price it. You climb alongside a shocking mountain river gorge by way of the beech forest earlier than coming out under the Rob Roy Glacier. When you keep for lengthy sufficient, the kea may 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 wonderful addition to a city most individuals concentrate on for snowboarding or mountain-based adventures.
As somebody who loves flowers and vegetation, I feel it’s distinctive attending to expertise locations like this.
Over time, I’ve watched it develop into an epic vacation spot spot, the proper place to deliver your family and friends and hand around in the gardens. And I by no means depart with out getting lavender ice cream, which is wonderful.
5. Take a giant mountain tiny human photograph on Roys Peak
If we needed to choose the very best out of essentially 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 marriage 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 monitor, an offshoot runs alongside a ridge the place everybody takes their photograph. However be ready to get in line, actually. Everybody needs photos at this specific spot, and the views are even higher when you keep on to the highest.
However 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. 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 Swimming pools.
A brilliant chill quick stroll by way of the native beech forest will deliver you out to the Blue Swimming pools, a shocking ravine lower by way of 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 leap 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 somewhat home in Hāwea, a small lakeside suburb 20 minutes from Wānaka. And I adore it right here, and it’s positively underrated as one of the crucial Instagrammable spots in Wānaka.
A lot of my pals have moved out to Hāwea to construct their properties and cool down, so I’m in good firm. With its alpine lake encircled by large mountains, it’s an important place to soak in some epic views. Trails and tracks dot alongside the ridges and slopes right here, making it the proper 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 will be identical to swimming within the Caribbean if it have 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 strong conservation story must 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 venture, overlaying 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, guaranteeing it would final the ages with Crown Covenants positioned on it. Endeavor in depth analysis, they started planting hundreds of 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
One of the vital epic tramps with wonderful views round Wānaka must be the Gillespie Cross Circuit close to Makarora. A tramp for the skilled, it’s an almost 60-kilometer monitor by way of the Southern Alps.
Final summer season, I lastly tramped the entire Gillespie Cross over a few days, by which my ass was kicked, however you recognize, like, in a great way. Who wants all their toenails in any case?
The aspect journey as much as Lake Crucible is an absolute must-do, so be sure to construct in time for it. You possibly can shorten the journey and make it safer by skipping the river crossings (which could be unsafe) by jetboat or helicopter with Wilkin River Jets.
10. Soak within the unbelievable starry night time 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 unbelievable stargazing?
The South Island usually has nice stargazing as a result of it’s not very populated, and bigger populations imply a lot of gentle air pollution, which blocks the celebrities. Virtually wherever round Wānaka at night time could have unbelievable stargazing except it’s cloudy or you might be by the rugby pitch throughout a nighttime sport 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 may have a favourite view in Wānaka? What do you reckon are essentially the most Instagrammable spots in Wānaka? Spill.
