No Shortage of Send
Lakes, ridgelines and a coast worth the detour
7 destinationsWanaka is where you go to earn your view. Ridgelines that climb straight off the lake edge, a glacier at the top of a valley walk, and pools of water so blue they look edited. Out east the coast does the quiet stuff instead, with boulders sitting on the beach and a tunnel dug through the cliff to reach the sand.
That Wanaka Tree
Kiwi Kids BottleA single willow tree growing out of the edge of Lake Wanaka has become one of the most photographed trees in the world. The reflection in the still water on a calm morning is the shot everyone is after. It is an easy walk from town along the lake edge and worth seeing even if you already know the photo.
Blue Pools
Two very deep pools of incredibly clear blue water sit in the middle of a mountain forest near Haast Pass. You reach them on a short walk through beech trees and over a swing bridge with the pools visible below you. The water comes straight off the mountains and is very cold, but plenty of people jump in anyway.
Rob Roy Glacier
One of the most rewarding day walks in the country, climbing up a beech-forest valley in Mount Aspiring National Park to a lookout beneath a hanging glacier. Waterfalls pour off the ice cliffs high above, keas often turn up to say hello, and the whole valley feels wonderfully wild. The drive in from Wanaka crosses a string of river fords, so check conditions before you go.
Moeraki Boulders
Kiwi Kids BottleThese large perfectly round boulders sit right on the beach and look like someone placed them there on purpose. Some are cracked open and the insides have natural crystal formations that are pretty amazing up close. They are right off the main highway and make for a very unusual and easy stop.
Tunnel Beach
Someone carved a tunnel through sandstone cliffs to give their family access to a private beach and the result is one of the most dramatic little beaches in the South Island. The beach below has sea arches, caves, and huge rock formations unlike anything else nearby. Keep an eye on the tide before you head down because the track back up is steep.
Roys Peak
Roys Peak is the walk with the famous photo spot where the track turns and you look back over Lake Wanaka with the mountains filling the background. Getting there takes a long slog up exposed ridgeline with no shade, but the views from the top are some of the best in the South Island. Start early, bring plenty of water, and save some energy for the way back down.
Lake Wakatipu
Lake Wakatipu is the long narrow lake that Queenstown sits on and it is one of the most scenic lakes in the country. The old steamship TSS Earnslaw still runs trips across the water and is a great way to see the lake properly. The mountains that drop right down to the water on both sides make it feel like somewhere that should not exist.
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