Wanaka

We reached Wanaka after a long previous day and traverse of the Lindis Pass. The 53 mile day prayed heavily on our legs and the final ride into Wanaka via Albert was via a trail more suited to a mountain bike. Safe to say we were both pretty ‘gubbed’ by the time we arrived at the AirBnB. We looked forward to a couple of days off the bikes and to replenish our energy levels.
Wanaka has a resort feel and sits on the edge of the lake of the same name. It seems to cater for the outdoor type but seems a bit more relaxed and tranquil compared to Queenstown. We’d imagine that it’s banging on the summer with boating, water ski and other water based pursuits and also in winter with skiing, snowboarding, such is its proximity to Mount Aspiring National Park - an area of mountains, lakes and forest, with many walking trails and peaks to climb and frolic upon.
We arrived in shoulder season month, so it was ticking over with camper van tourists but not massively busy. We rented a small house up the hill out of town, nice and quiet and perfect to base ourselves at.
The lake is surrounded by hills and with mountains in the distance offers spectacular views. Unfortunately, due to the time of year and climate, it often experiences cloud inversions and the low formed cloud obscures the tops as it did while we were there - only teasing views of the snowy caps.
It has a famous tree, which has probably been photographed and Instagrammed a million times. Apparently it grew from a sapling seeded in a fence post. It sits on its root island on the shoreline and offers us all a tree ‘money shot’ with its delicate bonsai pose and serene backdrop. You can easily find it. Just look along the shore to the west side of the lake for a largish gathering of people* and that’s your tree location!
*yes - we went to it to photograph it too. How could we not. It is one of those things you have to do for fear of missing out!

Ode to Mount Aspiring National Park:
O’ Mount Aspiring,
Thou art so inspiring,
That you would cause us much perspiring!
Our thighs, our knees and buttocks, the muscles all firing.
The long roads, gradual ascents and hills hidden behind corners,
Make us wish a car, we were hiring.Leia mais