Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand

4Rantin rover 5:00 PM Oct 1, 2020

Not a bad place to be stranded
We were here for just over 3 weeks at the start of Covid-19 lockdown at the end of March until mid-April 2020 when we eventually got flights back to the UK. By the very nature of lockdown we didn't get to enjoy the cafes, restaurants and bars, of which there are quite a few, however we did experience life at the lakeside which was relaxing at times in otherwise anxious circumstances. There are quite a few trails to follow around the lake, which is huge, although these can be relatively busy nearer to the town in particular as they are shared by those walking, cycling, running and walking their dogs. It's a fairly upmarket resort, lots of nice properties in a picturesque setting. Even a walk up at the golf course was very scenic! We got mostly sunshine, a few wet mornings and towards the end of our stay it got decidedly chilly overnight with snow dusting the mountains overlooking the lake. We didn't quite extend our stay to skiing season! If you are going to be stranded anywhere in the world during a pandemic it's not a bad place to be.

5pd7 5:00 PM Sep 18, 2020

A definite Top 10 must-see destination on South Island
Excellent resort on scenic Lake Wanaka, the town is vibrant and bustling but not overly so. So much to see & do in the area such as Diamond Lake, Lakes Wanaka & Hawea. We stayed in a fairly unique boutique hotel - the Hayloft - just south of the centre which was in a lovely rural/quiet spot surrounded by orchards and with great view of mountains. Lots of good eateries & shops in Wanaka (although a tad touristy). We ate at Speights (fab) & had ice cream at Patagonia (really something else). When we visited there was live music and charity gathering for the fires in Australia which made it very carnival-like. Really enjoyed this part of our trip!