WIP · World in Pocket

Wānaka

Wānaka, Italy

Wānaka

Wānaka (Māori pronunciation: [ˈwaːnaka] ) is a ski and summer resort town in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. At the southern end of Lake Wānaka, it is at the start of the Clutha River and is the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park. Wānaka is primarily a resort town with both

summer and winter seasons. Its economy is based on the many outdoor opportunities this offers. Historically, Māori visited the Wānaka area to hunt and fish in summer, or on their way to seek pounamu (greenstone) on the West Coast. Ngāi Tahu abandoned their seasonal camps after a raid by a North Island war party in 1836. Along with the rest of the Queenstown-Lakes District, Wānaka is one of the fastest-growing towns in New Zealand, with the population tripling between 2000 and 2020.

Listen to the audio guide for Wānaka Free on WIP — starts by itself when you arrive, even with the screen off

Nearby