Wanaka

Wanaka is just one hour’s drive from Queenstown, that is if you drive non-stop along the most direct route

Because the drive was so short, we decided to first travel for a few kilometres along the shore of Lake Wakatipu towards Glenorchy to see some of the scenery along the lake further on from Queenstown.

We travelled along a winding road around the lake foreshore. At one stage, we could look across Lake Wakatipu to see the Walter Peak Station where the TSS Earnslaw travels to. It sits below a very high peak of the same name.

We decided to go as far as Bennetts Bluff Lookout (about half way to Glenorchy) where there is a stunning view along the lake.

Glenorchy sits among soaring peaks, pristine lakes, glacial rivers, and ancient beech forests. It is close to the starting point of the famous Routeburn Walking Track that I completed some years ago. It’s a four day walk and on some ways is more spectacular than the Milford Track Much of this track is along mountain ridges rather than in deep glacial valleys. The views are much broader and more interesting. The local scenery has formed the backdrop for films like Narnia, The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings – and the Kiwis milk them strongly.

One of the sights from Bennetts Bluff is a view of Mount Aspiring. It is one of NZ’s highest peaks and is a stunning, classic horned peak, often referred to as the “Matterhorn of the South.”

After leaving the lookout, we returned through Queenstown and its dreadfully slow traffic towards Cardrona. The Crown Range Road climbs steeply to an alpine area through eight hairpin bends. The stopping points along the way provide good views along the valley back towards Lake Wakitapu.

The road continued to climb up the Crown Range Road through some snowfields and areas that were once mined for gold.

Eventually, we came to the village of Cardrona. During the late 1800’s Cardrona was at the centre of the Otago gold rush which saw the township grow quickly to accommodate the influx of miners. Cardrona is quieter today, but you can still experience the history of the gold rush with a visit to the iconic Cardrona Hotel.

Built in 1863, the Cardrona is among New Zealand’s oldest hotels. It has passed through about as many hands as elusive flecks of gold headed downstream, and yet the hotel still bears its original facade—even though the town it served has all but vanished.

Our overnight stop at Wanaka was only about half an hour away. When we arrived, we were surprised to find roads closed and crowds of people every where. Unknowingly, we managed to time it just right for one New Zealand’s larger triathlon festivals, involving over 2,000 participants.

Athletes from all over the globe come to compete in this most scenic middle distance triathlon course with a 1.9 km swim in crystal clear waters, a 90 km bike alongside an alpine lake and a 21.1 km run around Lake Wānaka’s stunning landscape.

Fortunately, after lunch, some of the roads were reopened and we could get to a couple of places that we wanted to see.

The first was the Wanaka willow tree. It started off more than 80 years ago as a fencepost made from the branch of one of the nearby willows which wasn’t quite dead, and it took root on the edge of the lake.

Somehow, in the cold water of the bay it continued to grow – growing slowly to this day. It is the most photographed tree in New Zealand. Sadly, it has been recently vandalised and is now just a shadow of its former self.

In summer, the water level in the lake drops so at the moment, the tree is not immersed in water – the iconic view of the tree in so many photos.

We followed a road around the western side of the lake that had been closed for the triathlon before lunch. We found some spectacular scenery as we travelled towards Mount Aspiring.