Wanaka the Authentic, a Taste of Paradise.

The lake bears the name of a Maori leader who led the jade research expeditions in the mountains. It was to make their fortunes that first settlers in the west built the city of Pembroke during the famous gold rush of 1853.

Fifty years later, the gold mines of the Otago were depleted and prospectors abandoned the region. But the arrival of the first steam boats helped tourism to take its rise in what will soon be the National Park of Mount Aspiring.

Over time, the region and its lake became a must-do destination of the South Island. Pembroke was renamed to Wanaka and draws essentially New Zealanders in search of a peaceful environment. The uninterrupted stream of international tourists passes more by Queenstown, located less than an hour from there by the road.

The City which escapes from the crowd of travellers enjoys a sunny summer life, punctuated by the barbecues and the boat trips on the lake. If the winter sees the mountains covered by snow and the ski resorts opening their doors, this is the autumn season which reveals Wanaka in all its splendour.

It is precisely during this period that we are going to visit this paradise lost in the middle of the mountains. Hiking, bicycle ride, wine tours, museum of illusions and a few surprises are on our daily schedule.

Since everyone is ready, we will ride along the banks of the lake and enjoy the first rays of sun. The track is reserved for pedestrians and cyclists and you can ride to your pace and enjoy the panorama. This is the period of the fall and the soil is littered with orange-coloured leaves deposited by the wind.

A tree stands apart and grows in the water about ten meters from the shore. It is called “the lone tree of Wanaka”. This willow is known to be the most photogenic and the most photographed tree of New Zealand.

The island that you distinguish behind the solitary tree is known as Ruby Island. Ruby was the daughter of a Catholic mother from Dunedin and a Chinese gold digger (and opium dealer). A seductress famous for her charms who had built her own Cabaret during the prohibition era, before mysteriously disappearing.

You could go forward indefinitely among the dead leaves, the coastline covered by small coves is 175 km long! But it is time to leave the shore toward the hills where the trail climbs to reach a fairy tale landscape..

The New Zealand wine quality improves year after year since the 80's, and they are now recognized on the international stage. The soil rich in minerals gives fruity aromas to the wine. Far from engaging in fierce competition, the winegrowers of Wanaka are often interrelated and share their knowledge.

Among all the vineyards, one is famous but not only for the great quality of its wine production. Rippon vineyard is established on the flank of a hill that goes down to reach the shore of the magnificent Lake Wanaka. This is an idyllic setting where you can take the most beautiful pictures of your holidays.

The family of winegrowers who work on this property since five generations produces organic wines of exceptional quality.

Riesling, Sauvignon blanc or Gamay rosé are improving each year, but it is the Pinot Noir which deserves the gold medal.

We did not come by chance! I invite you to join a free tasting organized by Nick Mills in person.

The owner of the domain will guide us during the visit of the cellar where the best wines are stored.

You can order a few bottles in remembrance of the visit. On my side I will order a plate of cheeses and a delicious Pinot Noir to complete our picnic among the vines. Even if you do not drink much wine, you might have a double vision during the first visit of the afternoon…

Strange tilted houses indicate its presence at the entrance of the city, and a construction tilted at 53° is famous under the name of “Leaning Tower of Wanaka”.

The outer part is occupied by a large labyrinth on several levels.

The aim of the game is to join all the coloured towers at each corner of the labyrinth.

I assure you that it is easier to say than done, but the trick is to memorize the top of the bridges to find your direction.

The holograms of the first part of the museum are beginning to be a little outdated, but they are being replaced one by one.

My favourite part reproduces a creation by Escher, the master of the geometric illusions. I’m sorry but it's impossible to describe it with words, you must see it with your own eyes.

The classical, but still fascinating electrified purple spheres will make their magic effect, especially among children.

The next part is already much more impressive and nearly thrilling. Rows of busts represent historical characters. Regardless of the direction in which you move, the eyes of Beethoven, Churchill or Albert Einstein seem to stare at you!

After what, I need two volunteers for the room where an illusion transforms an adult into a child. Place yourselves at each end of the room and I'll take a picture. The result is surprising! This technique was used in the “Lord of the Rings” to film the actors who play the roles of the Hobbits (the trilogy was made in New Zealand, and you can even visit the village of Hobbiton).

Another special room is amazing with its floor inclined at 15 degrees. The furniture compensates the perspective and tricks our brain. This is an upside-down universe where the ball of a pool table seems to defy the gravity by going back a slope it is supposed to descend!

The last gallery has been the subject of a collaboration with Weta Cave, the studio of Peter Jackson established in Wellington.

Twenty statues will trick your brain, like the water tap floating in the air and filling a basin. You’ll get the feeling to be lost in an episode of the fourth dimension, and before becoming crazy, it is time to return to reality.

The magnificent path in the middle of the bushes offers a taste of the Mt Aspiring National Park in New Zealand.

Put on your hiking boots, load the backpacks with bottles of water and take your windbreakers, because the temperatures at the summit can vary pretty fast, even in summer.

It is only a three-hour hike (round trip) and we'll be back in town in the late afternoon.

The marked itinerary is well maintained and does not present any particular difficulty. There are a few wooden stairs to facilitate the steep slopes, and it will be necessary to climb a few rocks sometime. However, keep in mind that the path climbs constantly, so do not hesitate to take some breaks on the way.

The first point of view is only 20 minutes from the start of the hike. The Diamond Lake bears its name well and reflects the mountains (such as the famous lake Matheson), but the best is yet to come. After several hundreds of meters and many loops, we reach the summit at 755 m of altitude.

At the top of the Rocky Mountain there is a breathtaking view on the Lake Wanaka and the summits covered by snow of the Mount Aspiring National Park!

We can spot two islands on the lake: Mou Waho et Mou Tapu who are natural reserves and are populated by wekas, an endangered bird species of New Zealand.

Your predecessors have stacked rocks at the summit to celebrate their exploits. Follow the custom and add your stone to the edifice without letting them fall. I’ll take some souvenir photos of our team and then we may start the descent.

Back in town, I believe that our efforts deserve a reward!

Black Peak Gelato proclaims that “Life is too short to eat bad ice creams”.

Queenstown is perhaps famous for its Fergburger,, but Wanaka has the best Italian ice cream shop in New Zealand.

It might be difficult to choose among the 68 flavours elaborated from seasonal fruits. If you need help, you may try the Hokey Pokey, the favourite flavour of New Zealanders. The sun slowly descends to the horizon, but I still have a great surprise for you in the evening.

The place is especially renowned for its relaxed style. We are going to order pizzas to eat during the film and Brewski and Cardronas, the excellent local beers. But it is not the simple fact of having dinner during the projection which is surprising…

The Paradiso offers a patchwork of old leather armchairs and various sofas to settle down comfortably.

The owners have even managed to get an old convertible car to reproduce the drive-in experience of the 60s.

As soon as the doors open, it is the rush to get the best seats.

Do you see the sofas in the front row? You should get them while I pick soft cushions in self-service at the entry.r

Here, no endless commercials, but a few trailers of art movies. The movie starts almost immediately and you feel as relaxed as if you were at home but with a giant screen! An hour passes before the lights come back… it is the intermission!

A great occasion to buy some pizzas, fresh beers, and the home-made cookies (still warm as they were cooked during the first part of the film).

Don’t hesitate to order several cookies per person, they are enormous and you can save some for the tomorrow trip to Queenstown. The film resumed and we wonder how we were able to appreciate modern cinemas being seated like sardines in a box. You can meditate on this question while you regain the hotel with a large smile on your face.

Wanaka is not yet the victim of mass tourism, but for how long?

The increasing traffic in the streets is the first sign of a metamorphosis that some consider as inevitable.

Life there is more expensive than in Queenstown, and it becomes more and more difficult to find a restaurant for less than thirty dollars.

And since a few years, it is even difficult to find accommodations without planning a trip far in advance.

Up to now, Wanaka has preserved its authentic character and a spirit of community. But the situation is evolving each year. The city depends more and more of the tourism economy while trying not to lose its soul.

Climbing, paragliding, sky diving or rafting are practiced by a minority of visitors… for the moment!

As I have already talked about these activities in my article about Queenstown, I suggest you read it to get an idea of what can be done.

However, I feel sorry for having missed the opportunity to present the winter sports.

Cardrona and Treble Cone offer landscapes which allow them to outperform all ski resorts of Europe, in my opinion.

I almost had the feeling to share a secret with you. Enjoy Wanaka as it still exists today: one of the most beautiful cities in the country. Please do not hesitate to send us photos of your stay, we will publish the best ones on Kiwipal.