Active Pursuits

Canyoning

Contact Deep Canyon Experience (tel. 03/443-7922; www.deepcanyon.co.nz), pioneers of the sport in New Zealand. You'll get a tobogganing, abseiling, and swimming adventure guaranteed to thrill. The 7 1/2-hour Niger Stream adventure costs NZ$215 (US$152/£78), which includes lunch. They operate November through April and offer a range of day trips from NZ$215 to NZ$860 (US$152-US$610/£78-£310) per person.

Climbing

There's a lot of excellent, stable climbing in the area. Wanaka Rock Climbing, 7 Apollo Place St. (tel. 03/443-6411; www.wanakarock.co.nz), can introduce you to all the best places. You'll pay from NZ$110 (US$78/£40) for a range of options.

Ecorafting

This is an easy adventure for less active people. It's all about learning as you paddle, and guides will enlighten you about flora and fauna along the way. From September to April, Pioneer Rafting (tel. 03/443-1246; www.ecoraft.co.nz) conducts half- and full-day excursions down the Upper Clutha. This is not white-water rafting, and the trip is suitable for anyone from ages 8 to 80. A half-day trip costs NZ$115 (US$82/£42) for adults and NZ$75 (US$53/£27) for children ages 5 to 15 (no kids under age 5).

Fishing

Opportunities abound in the Wanaka area, with plenty of guides operating on the rivers and lakes. Lakeland Adventures (tel. 03/443-7495; www.lakelandadventures.co.nz) charges from NZ$295 (US$209/£106) for guided trout fishing for three people. Southern Lakes Fishing Safaris (tel./fax 03/443-9121; www.southernlakesfishing.co.nz) specializes in fly-fishing for all levels of experience and charges from NZ$580 (US$411/£209) for a full day for one to two people.

Flying

Aspiring Air (tel. 0800/100-943 in NZ, or 03/443-7943; www.nz-flights.com) has a variety of scenic flights in the Mount Aspiring area from NZ$140 (US$99/£51) per person. Their Milford Sound flight with included boat cruise costs NZ$395 (US$280/£143) for adults and NZ$245 (US$174/£88) for children ages 3 to 13. Alpine Helicopters (tel. 03/443-4000; www.alpineheli.co.nz), can give you a scenic flight over Wanaka for NZ$170 (US$121/£61) per person; and Aspiring Helicopters, Cattle Flat Station (tel. 03/443-7152; www.aspiringhelicopters.co.nz), has a 50-minute Mt. Aspiring and Glacier trip with snow landing for NZ$400 (US$284/£144).

Golf

Wanaka Golf Club, Ballantyne Road (tel. 03/443-7888; www.wanakagolf.co.nz), is a challenging 18-hole course with astounding views. There is a well-stocked pro shop and it costs NZ$50 (US$35/£18) for 18 holes, or NZ$30 (US$21/£11) for 9 holes.

Jet-Boating

The best jet-boating is with Wilkin River Jets, State Highway 6, Makarora (tel./fax 03/443-8351; www.wilkinriverjets.co.nz), which is between Fox Glacier and Wanaka. Locals say it's better than the much-lauded Dart River experience at Glenorchy, near Queenstown. Priced around NZ$90 (US$64/£32) for one hour, it's also cheaper and offers a mix of thrill riding and the softer approach, so you get a good feel for this remote region. They also offer combos that include a helicopter flight, bush walk, and river jet from NZ$285 (US$202/£103) per person. Wanaka River Journeys (tel. 0800/544-555 in NZ, or 03/443-4416; www.wanakariverjourneys.co.nz), explores the braided Matukituki River and includes a wilderness walk into native beech forest to a waterfall. You have the option of being met at the top of the river by helicopter for a flight into Mt. Aspiring's magnificent glacial areas. The river journey is NZ$175 (US$124/£63) for adults, NZ$85 (US$60/£31) for children under 16; the jet/heli combo is NZ$455 US$323/£164) for adults, NZ$253 (US$179/£91) children under 16.

Kayaking

Alpine Kayak Guides, Pembroke Mall (tel. 03/443-9023; www.alpinekayaks.co.nz), has half- and full-day trips on three rivers, ranging in difficulty from beginner to experienced. Trips last 8 hours and run daily from November to April. Costs start at NZ$95 (US$67/£34) and include equipment, lessons, and lunch. You can rent kayaks for a lake paddle from Lakeland Adventures (tel. 03/443-7495), for NZ$20 to NZ$40 (US$14-US$28/£7.20-£14) per hour.

Mountain Biking

The Department of Conservation's leaflet on bike trails in the Wanaka area is available from its office at Ardmore Street and Ballantyne Road (tel. 03/443-7660). Mountain bikes can be rented from Racer's Edge/Mountain Bikes Unlimited, 99 Ardmore St. (tel. 03/443-7882; www.racersedge.co.nz), for about NZ$45 (US$32/£16) per day. Good bikes are also available from Lakeland Adventures, next door to the information center (tel. 03/443-7495), for NZ$10 (US$7.10/£3.60) per hour, and there are excellent biking tracks around the lake.

Skiing

Cardrona Ski Field is 40 minutes from Wanaka on State Highway 89. The more challenging Treble Cone Ski Field is also 40 minutes away. In addition, you'll find cross-country skiing and heli-skiing in the Harris Mountains. And for Nordic skiing, head to the Waiorau Nordic Field, in the Cardrona Valley.

Walking

Walking opportunities in Mount Aspiring National Park vary from easy strolls through lowland forest to tramps on mountain tracks that may take several days. Brochures and information can be obtained from the Department of Conservation office. Eco Wanaka Adventures, 5 Rimu Lane (tel. 03/443-2869; www.ecowanaka.co.nz), has a guided Rob Roy Glacier Valley Trek priced from NZ$200 (US$142/£72) per person. At Diamond Lake, 20 minutes from town, you'll find the Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountain Track, which takes 1 1/2 hours from the car park to the summit. For a more remote walk, call Siberia Experience (tel. 0800/345-666 in NZ, or 03/443-4385; www.siberiaexperience.co.nz), offering a combo of scenic flight, jet boat, and a 3-hour walk in remote beech forests for NZ$280 (US$199/£101) for adults and NZ$213 (US$151/£77) for children ages 3 to 13. Their guided experiences are unique and some of the best in the region. Just make sure you take plenty of insect repellent to keep the notoriously greedy sand flies at bay! Fit, adventurous travelers might like to be tested by a remote wilderness experience with Wild Walks, 10a Tenby St. (tel. 03/443-4476; www.wildwalks.co.nz). Their specialist mountain guides take just five people maximum into remote backcountry locations. Overnight trips range in price from NZ$1,350 to NZ$2,130 (US$957-US$1,510/£487-£769).

But if all you really want is a light amble, follow my footsteps around the lovely, tree-covered tracks of the lake. Start at the information center and simply follow your nose. Even if you don't exert yourself, it will leave your conscience clear for dinner.