Wanaka is a quiet, peaceful town on the shores of Lake Wanaka.

Wanaka (pronounced WONaka) has always been the smaller, quieter sister town of Queenstown, which is now just an hour's drive away (due to a new sealed road), but seems to be catching up rapidly. But it's placid and magical lakeshore feel remains, with all the added bonuses of tourism's arrival in recent times- excellent restaurants, bars and backpackers on the lakeshore (and despite the upsurge in property values they are still very good value.)

In winter (June-September) the town becomes a snowboard and ski mecca. Nearby fields Treble Cone and Cardrona offer some of the frrrreshest snow and best snowboard terrain in the country.

Hiking or 'tramping' (as we Kiwis say) is also a step off from here. Mount Aspiring National Park has some great treks both to glaciers and mountain passes, and all the way to the west coast if you feel spry enough.

best time of year; Autumn (March-April), when Central Otago turns on a riotous display of colours - about the best autumn oranges and yelloms anywhere in the world.

A good place to chill; a quieter alternative to Queenstown; a great place to get a pie; it even gets hot enough in summer that the lake looks good for a swim!