subject: Wanaka - The Outdoor Playground Of New Zealand [print this page] Wanaka is situated on the South Island of New Zealand in the Otago region and is part of the Queenstown Lakes District. The town was originally settled during the gold rush in the 19th century. However, with the gold rush well and truly over, the new gold rush of outdoor adventure sports is in full swing. Primarily a resort town that has a strong tourism industry in both winter and summer seasons, Wanaka is undergoing a massive growth phase.
Wanaka enjoys four distinct seasons, with temperatures ranging from high 30s in the summer months to highs of 10 degree Celsius in winter. This climate makes it perfect for lovers of snow sports up in the mountains that surround Wanaka to water summer adventure sports in the summer.
During the summer months, Wanaka is popular for some of the world's best hiking, mountain biking, mountaineering, paragliding, rafting, fishing, kayaking and if you are really after a thrill, you can go jetboating as well. If you want to relax on the lake at the foot of Wanaka, you can also go waterskiing, wakeboarding and sailing.
Winter brings Wanaka alive with snow enthusiasts from around the world converging on the small town. With a wide range of resorts and mountains within an hour's drive of Wanaka, such as Treble Cone, Cardrona Alpine Resort, Snow Park, Snow Farm and Coronet Peak it is no wonder many of the world's best skiers and snowboarders call Wanaka home for the winter. If you are after the ultimate winter adventure, heli skiing is the ultimate snow experience for any skier or snowboarder.
For more information on Wanaka and holiday accommodation, visit Wanaka Accommodation
