Nearby are Treble Cone, Cardrona Alpine Resort and Snow Park, some of New Zealand's premier commercial ski fields. Wanaka is the main accommodation provider for these resorts and so is very busy in high season(July-September). It is also close to Snow Farm.
Treble Cone has a reputation among New Zealanders as having the best lift accessed terrain in the country and for this reason has developed a cult following, 'ConeHeads'. It also catches some of the better snow in the area, with its location and orientation getting more snow from NW storms. Cardrona is more attractive to families and beginners, though an attempt has been made at the park riding population in competition with SnowPark. Snowpark is a dedicated 100% man made terrain park for advanced riders.
It is mountainous island - the main band is from Southern Alps peaks Cook Top 3 764 m above sea level Tasma, and Top 3 497 meters
South Island (maorys. Te Wai Pounamu or Tavai Poenammoo ie "waters of emeralds", sometimes also These waka and Maui, Maui Lodz ") - one of the islands of New Zealand with an area of 150 523 square km. It is situated between the Tasman Sea and Ocean peaceful. From Northern Islands separated Enge Cook.
It is undulating island - are the main ridge of the Southern Alps peaks of Mount Cook 3 764 m above sea level and Mount Tasman 3 497 m above sea-level
The length of the coastline is 3 704 km.
Coming in from the village of Arrowtown to Queenstown is the Mirror Lake Hayes.
On the island there are caves shore Cathedral Caves.
Mount Aspiring National Park is very popular for the mountaineering and hiking options. Day trips are very common for most tourists and many people want to be found in the park for up to a week at a time. The other parts of the Matukituki Valley are popular for the rock climbing and walking opportunities.
Lake Wanaka itself is popular for water skiing, wakeboarding and sailing. This along with the local rivers provide many opportunities for fishing. There is a dedicated mountain biking area made by volunteers in some local plantation pine forest. [10] All the local ski resorts open for mountain biking and hiking in the summer.
Wanaka is one of the few areas in New Zealand to enjoy a continental climate, with four distinct seasons. The weather is fairly dry with spring (September-December) bringing the wettest months.
The lake was first seen by a European in 1853, Nathanial Chalmers, but he was guided by a sketch map from Chief Te Huruhuru at Waimate.
This area was first settled by Europeans in the 1850s, with initial settling focusing around Albert Town. This was the only spot to ford the Clutha River. First surveying of the current Wanaka site occurred in 1863 Settlement increased in Pembroke (the old name for Wanaka) in the 1870s because of the amount of time milling in the Matukituki Valley and the use of Lake Wanaka for transport. Tourism started in the town in 1867 with the opening of the first hotel, by Theodore Russell. The site proved very popular for tourism because of its temperate climate and easy access to snow and water.
Pembroke was renamed Wanaka in 1940.
Wanaka is a town in the Central Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is situated at the southern end of Lake Wanaka, adjacent to the outflow of the lake to the Clutha River. It is the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park. Wanaka is primarily a resort town but has both summer and winter seasons and is based around the many outdoor opportunities. Due to the growing tourism business and the increasing number of retirees in Wanaka, there is massive growth occurring, up to 50% in 10 years.
The town is part of the Queenstown-Lakes District and was originally settled during the gold rush excitement of the 19th century.
