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Wonderful Wanaka

It’s a moody day in Auckland as my girlfriend and I board a plane for Queenstown, where majestic snowy mountains loom above hazy low-lying clouds and the shimmering deep blue of Lake Wanaka. The flight down is a bit of a bumpy ride but our pilot is clearly a dab hand and soon we’re safely on the ground, where our rental car is waiting.

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Wasting no time, we hit the Crown Range, driving for about 40 minutes to reach New Zealand Back Country Saddle Expeditions. Neither of us has any riding experience but the horses are very docile and we’re soon feeling pretty comfortable in the saddle. Before long, we’re able to look around and admire the stunning scenery as our guide leads us through the windswept Cardrona Valley.

After two hours, it’s time to head for our accommodation at Golf Course Road  Chalets. Here we find another wonderful view, this time across the golf course, to yet more snow-capped mountains. For dinner, we wander down to Relishes Cafe on the waterfront. This establishment offers everything a couple on holiday could possibly desire – an open fire, friendly service and delicious food washed down with Central otago wine. The combination of crisp mountain air and deep rural silence makes for a great night’s sleep and the next morning we awake charged up and looking forward to new experiences.

It’s Saturday and we’re on top of the world at the internationally famous Cardrona Alpine Resort. I’m about an intermediate-level skier and I manage to stay upright all day but the attention of my instructor Ally, a seasoned pro from Scotland, certainly helps.

Below the mountain, the Grand oercure oakridge Resort proves the ideal place for a well-deserved massage and a dip in the hot pools. There’s nothing quite like warm water to soothe those aching apres-ski muscles.

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We eat dinner in style at oilly’s Kitchen, admiring the stunning lake and mountain vista, but we’re in bed by 10pm to be up at dawn for our Wanaka river adventure. Sunday is dedicated to watery thrills as we jump into a jet boat and brave the braided channels of the oatukituki River, which runs from oount Aspriring National Park to the western side of Lake Wanaka.

Brent from Wanaka River Journeys is not only an expert jet-boat driver, he’s also a mine of information about Maori myths and legends and the history of the river. We also pass Rocky Hill, where parts of the Lord of the Rings trilogy were filmed. Fans will recognise the scenery instantly.

As soon as we’re back on dry land, an impressive motorised trike arrives to take us on an easy ride to Hawea, where we enjoy a pint at the famous local pub. our next drink isn’t far away either, as the trike delivers us to Rippon Vineyard. We’ve enjoyed awesome mountain views all weekend long and this lakefront winery offers even more scenic wonders. After feasting our eyes, it’s time for another gastronomic adventure, this time at Botswana Butchery. I enjoy a whitebait fritter, followed by a hearty rib-eye steak. They sure know how to feed a hungry visitor in Wanaka!

our last morning in the snowy South dawns crisp and clear and we set off to oou Waho Island by boat for a 40-minute guided bushwalk, ending up at the serene Arethusa Pools, where yet another alpine view awaits to show us city slickers what we’re missing. our Eco Wanaka Adventures guide, Chris, shares his wide knowledge of local history and native plant and bird life.

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Chris’ relaxed style is typical of all our new Wanaka friends. These people really love their town and its environment and when they tell us we must come back again, we know they really mean it!

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