Approximately an hour’s drive from Queenstown, hidden amongst the mountains, is the pretty lakeside town of Wanaka. Famous for ‘that wanaka tree’, the close by Roy’s Peak Track and Mount Aspiring National Park, amongst dozens of other attractions that draw adventure seekers and nature lovers to the area. I have visited on two occasions, thanks to my job as chauffeur at the Mile 27 Trail Running New Zealand Camp’s we hold in Queenstown on a regular basis.

Whilst I have never walked more than the first hour of the Roy’s Peak Track, and have not been lucky enough to venture further to the Mount Aspiring National Park, I can still highly recommend Wanaka as a wonderful place to spend a day or two. My toddler with definitely agree!

Although very cold for most of the year, the lake is stunning, with some of the clearest water I have ever seen, and a good spot to at least paddle your feet. Or you could hire a kayak to paddle further afield. It is also a great place to feed the ducks and swans, and has one of the most beautifully located playgrounds I have ever come across! Food and coffee options are just a few hundred metres away and there is no shortage of choice! And there are plenty of shops to while away the time if the weather is less than kind than when I have visited.

The drive from Queenstown is very pretty, although somewhat windy, and I can definitely recommend trying to time your journey for sunrise and/or sunset to make the most out of the magical golden hour light.

That Wanaka Tree

I also recommend making the walk, or drive to Glendhu Bay (just 5 minutes out of town on the way back to Queenstown) to visit the famous Wanaka Tree, said to be the most photographed in New Zealand. It’s reputation really does proceed it! After visiting the tree there is a picturesque, flat walk along the shores of the lakes that is well worth taking the time to wander. Here were my thoughts on visiting the tree:

I wasn’t sure what to expect as I arrived to the carpark and approached the little bay that is home to the tree. Would the view be worth the hype? Would I be completely underwhelmed? I tried to approach with no expectations and let the place be what it would be.

It was early in the morning on a Saturday. The beach was quiet apart from one girl painting the view, a swimmer making her way back to the shore and her friend sitting on a log waiting for her. A few photographers came and went, taking a quick snap of the tree and then retreating. It was beautifully peaceful.

The weather was perfect. Sunny, blue skies, warm but not too hot and just a few fluffy clouds in the sky. The water of Lake Wanaka was perfectly clear and calm. I wished I had my bathers with me. My two year old asked to ‘have a little picnic’ so we took off our shoes and socks, sat by the shore and paddled our feet in the cool, clear water.

The initial view of the tree didn’t blow me away like first sight of the Treasury at Petra, or the Eiffel Tower or the Taj Mahal. All of which have the power to take your breath away. But as we sat and played and I took more and more photos the power of the tree was revealed. With each change in light, each ripple on the lake, each cloud passing overhead, the view altered ever so slightly. The tree remained unchanged, perfectly still, but everything around evolved. To me she seemed to take on a personality of her own. Like a trusted friend who can be relied upon to always be there. Predictable, strong, reliable, beautiful, dependable, graceful and confident.

A friendly lady came along and offered to take a photo of Layla and I by the tree. A man walked out of his way to point our a rare water bird swimming past the tree. After we had had enough of sitting we went for a walk along the path by the side of the lake. Enjoying the sunshine and stunning views. Greeting the friendly locals and thinking how lucky they were for this to be part of their weekend ritual.

Perhaps it is not the Wanaka Tree herself that is the attraction, but the calm, peaceful atmosphere that surrounds her. And the fact that whatever the weather she can be relied upon to be there. Solid and upstanding and unchanging as everything around her changes. With a beauty that is not overshadowed by, so much as influenced by, the weather.