Wanaka

The Central Otago region is one of the most stunning landscapes in New Zealand, featuring rugged mountains, flat plains, and beautiful lakes and rivers. The climate lends itself well to agriculture – large stone fruit orchards are common in the area, and the number of wineries is increasing steadily.

The town of Wanaka is set on the edge one of New Zealand’s deepest lakes, fed by snow from the surrounding mountains and chilly even in summer! The town is a very popular place for local visitors and becoming better known internationally, in summer for the watersports, and in winter for the big range of skiing and snowboarding opportunities that are available on the nearby skifields.

A number of events regularly take place in Wanaka, such as the Southern Hemisphere’s largest airshow, Warbirds over Wanaka, the international world Heli-Challenge, and Race to the Sky, a 13km motor race along the Waiorau Snow Farm access road.

Wanaka is a fantastic place to relax and enjoy the idyllic scenery, but there is also a whole range of activities to choose from. Puzzling World is a great place to stretch your mind and your legs by trying out the maze and being impressed by all of the unusual exhibits on show. If you are keen, the Wanaka airport offers not only the base to the New Zealand Fighter Pilot’s Museum, but also skydiving and scenic flights!