Wanaka Things to Do

Wanaka is a superb spot for doing some mountain biking.

There are a variety of different trails, from beginner to experienced, take your pick. Or you can simply bike around the town and lake edge. There is a walking / biking track that loops right around the Lake edge from the Wanaka township thru to Albertown some 6-10kms down the track.

A good spot is the Sticky Forest area which is on the right from the Lakeside track.

The local sports shop by the supermarket can rent you bikes as can a number of places in town.

This interesting Museum has a number of rare and unusual aircraft, cars, trucks, motorcycles, fire appliances, military vehicles and tractors, as well as automobiles. It is also jammed full of toys, more than 25,000 in fact. Come & visit, you will be amazed.

A quad bike safari is a great way to see some spectacular scenery and have a lot of fun. If you haven't ridden a quad before , they will give you time and enough turns around the paddock to feel you have more than got the hang of it, and then you're off. Up and up you go, over sheep trails and along ridges until you may even be above the cloud line. The views are wonderful, the air is clear and clean, there's plenty of time to stop and stare, taking it all in, before you head back.

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This hugely popular airshow is a biennial event - the next one is Easter 2012 - taking place over three days. Friday is practice day - with public admission at a reduced cost.. Saturday and Sunday see a full day 's programme of flying.

It's a great weekend with classic aircraft such the Hurricane, Messerschmit, Kittyhawk, Catalina and Mustang showing their stuff, but here are lots of other interesting aircraft - historic and modern - on display both on the ground and in the air. Yaks flying in formation, the New Zealand Air Force aerobatic team, tiny Polikarpovs (my favourites) from Russia's WWII airforce, Harvards, WWI Sopwith Camels, Tiger Moths, one year a vintage Bleriot - built in 1918 and still flying - this year an F1-11 as well as world champion aerobatic aces Jurgis Kairys , were all part of the show.

The planes are all parked on the field in very close proximity to the vistors when they're not flying, so it's really easy to get a good look at them - particularly on the Friday practice day when the number of attendees is relatively small.

The setting is glorious - snow-capped mountains in the background and - this being New Zealand - there's a terrific, relaxed and easy-going atmosphere. The whole town is caught up in the show and really buzzes all weekend.

El monte Aspiring , que no Aspirina como lo traducen algunas guías , lo llaman los Maories Tititea , tiene una altura de 3003 m y es parte del Parque Nacional Mount Aspiring
Es el sitio ideal para hacer montañismo , esquí ...pero nosotros tuvimos que dejarlo para el "próximo" viaje

Mount Aspiring, which is wrongly translated as Aspirin in some guides , it is called Tititea by the Maori , has a height of 3003 m and is part of Mount Aspiring National Park
It is the ideal place for mountaineering, skiing ... but we had to leave it for the "next" trip

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Decidimos hacer la ruta del Lago Diamond y Rocky Mountain
Es un circuito de tres o cuatro horas . Desde el parking se sube hasta el Diamond Lake y después se llega llega a una plataforma desde donde se ve una panorámica excelente del Lago Wanaka y sus islas.
Puedes seguir el circuito de nivel superior, que serpentea hasta la cima de 775 metros de las Montañas Rocosas. Las vistas desde aquí son los Alpes del Sur / KA Tiritiri o te Moana y el Monte Aspiring / Tititea ... (Geniales!)

We decided to go make the Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountain tramp
It is a circuit of three or four hours . From the car park you go up to see the Diamond lake , then go up and you reach a platform that is a viewpoint of the Wanaka Lake with great views of both the lake and its Islands.
You may continue to the upper level circuit that winds its way to the top of 775-metre Rocky Mountain. The views from here include the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana and Mount Aspiring/Tititea... ( Great !!!)

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Cinema Paradiso is a small movie theatre where you will find comfy old sofas and an old Morris Minor as your seating. It's a bit like watching the big screen from the comfort of your own home.

At half time we had a short interval and everyone went outside to the adjoining cafe for freshly baked cookies or some homemade ice cream.

I settled for pizza and beer which was ordered before the movie started and ready for intermission. What I didn't finish was put on a tray to take back into the theatre to enjoy while watching the rest of "Is Anybody There?" starring Michael Caine.

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Puzzling World is an attraction for puzzlers and the curious. It was started 35 years by a local, Stuart Landsborough, but is now run by one of his daughters.

There are mind boggling illusion rooms and an outdoor maze if you have the time and energy to find your way out.

There is also a shop selling all kinds of puzzles to stimulate creative thinking for young and old alike.

Open from 8.30am every day (open Christmas Day 10am to 3pm).

Last admission times are 5.30pm in Summer and 5.00pm in Winter.