Visitor Information

The Lake Wanaka i - SITE Visitor Centre, 100 Ardmore Rd., is in the log cabin on the lakefront (tel. 03/443-1233; fax 03/443-1290; www.lakewanaka.co.nz). It’s open daily May to mid-September from 8:30am to 5pm, mid-September through April from 8:30am to 6pm (closed Dec 25). The Department of Conservation (DOC), Ardmore Street and Ballantyne Road (tel. 03/443-7660; fax 03/443-8777; www.doc.govt.nz), provides information on Mount Aspiring National Park and all DOC tracks in the area. The visitor center is open November through mid-April daily from 8am to 5pm, and in winter Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5pm, Saturday from 9:30am to 4pm (closed Sun and noon-12:30pm daily).

Getting There

By Plane

Air New Zealand (tel. 0800/737-000 in NZ; www.airnewzealand.co.nz), provides daily service from Christchurch. Aspiring Air (tel. 0800/100-943 in NZ, or 03/443-7943; www.aspiringair.com) has three flights a day from Queenstown.

By Coach (Bus)

InterCity (tel. 09/623-1503) provides coach service linking Wanaka to the West Coast, Christchurch, Dunedin, Mount Cook, Queenstown, Te Anau, and Milford Sound. Kiwi Experience (tel. 09/366-9830) and Magic Travellers (tel. 09/358-5600) both include Wanaka on their routes. Wanaka Connexions (tel. 0800/244-844 in NZ, or 03/477-2224; www.time2.co.nz) runs between Wanaka and Queenstown several times a day, and also has a daily service to Invercargill, Dunedin, and Christchurch.

By Car

Wanaka is reached via the Haast Pass from the West Coast. It’s a 4-hour drive from the glaciers. State Highway 6 connects it to Cromwell and Queenstown, 1 1/2 hours to the south. State Highway 89, the Cardrona Road over the Crown Range, is a more direct and impressive route that takes around 1 hour (if you stop to admire the views). Once narrow, winding, and treacherous, it’s now fully paved and is, in fact, the highest tar-sealed road in Australasia. Keep in mind that if you travel the Crown Range Road in winter, you are now legally required to carry chains (available for hire from service stations). If you’re caught without them, you’ll get a NZ$150 fine. Wanaka is a 5-hour drive from Christchurch and 3 1/2 hours from both Dunedin and Te Anau.

Getting Around

Orientation

Tiny Wanaka is walkable from end-to-end, although there are several shuttle services that transport passengers around. Rural pubs often offer courtesy shuttles, so drinkers won’t have to drive.

Getting Around

By Bus -- Connectabus makes twice daily trips between Queenstown and Wanaka in both directions, with drop-offs and pick-ups at all the main ski area turnoffs and the Cardrona Pub, for NZ$35 one-way per person. Alpine Shuttles (tel. 0800/754-9262) depart from Outside Sports to Treble Cone and Cardrona ski areas at 8:15am every day of the ski season. Flying Bus’s (03/443-9193) vehicles pick up from anywhere in Wanaka and Albertown and only go to Treble Cone, for NZ$30 round-trip.

By Taxi -- Taxis are hard to hail here, so call Yello! Cabs to arrange a ride (tel. 03/443-5555).

More Information

www.connectabus.com

Fast Facts

The fastest and cheapest Internet access is offered by Dub Dub Dub, corner of Helwick and Brownston streets (tel. 03/443-7078). Wanaka Internet, upstairs, 3 Helwick St. (tel. 03/443-7429; www.wanakainternet.co.nz), is another very good option. For medical matters, go to Wanaka Medical Centre, 21 Russell St. (tel. 03/443-7811). The Post Office, Ardmore Street, as you drive into Wanaka (tel. 03/443-8211), is open 8:30am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.

When to Go

Wanaka has an average annual rainfall just half the national average at just 682mm (27 inches). January to March are hot and dry and temperatures can reach up to 30°C (86°F) during the day, though nights can be quite cool. July to September see cold, crisp days of 0°C–14°C (32°F–57°F), and plenty of snowfall in the surrounding mountains.

Special Events

Wanaka Rodeo (tel. 03/443-7736) is held in early January. Rippon Open-Air Music Festival (tel. 03/443-1833; www.ripponfestival.co.nz) is a biennial open-air music festival held in a vineyard in early February; the next festival is in 2012 . April's Warbirds Over Wanaka International Air Show (www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com) combines classic vintage and veteran aircraft, machinery, fire engines, and tractors with dynamic Air Force displays and aerobatic teams in the natural amphitheater of the Upper Clutha Basin. It's one of the top four Warbirds Airshows in the world and is held every second Easter in even-numbered years; the next show is April 6–8, 2012. In autumn, celebrate the Festival of Colour (www.festivalofcolour.co.nz), 5 days of intense arts, dance, theater, and music; the next festival will be held in mid-April 2013. There are also numerous ski festivals during the winter; the visitor center has details.

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