Set in the Otago region just at the southern end of Lake Wanaka, is Wanaka, the starting point for several of the areas best ski resorts and Mt. Aspiring National Park.

About 100 km north of Queenstown, this town of 2200 people is small but wildly popular with tourists and Kiwis alike. It's both a picturesque summer and a winter resort (not a claim that can be made by just anyplace), and has legendary New Year Parties and lots of fun activities for everyone.

The biggest craze in Wanaka are the three dimensional mazes which are 1.5km long and tilted at an angle, through which you have to find your way back to the exit. Its great fun to go into and there are also lots of puzzles to try and crack. Quite taxing, physically and mentally. Don't miss it. There are also several museums like the NZ Fighter Pilots Museum and the Wanaka Transport museum which have some interesting war planes from all over the world and other machines.

The Mt. Aspiring National Park extends for 3500 sq. km. along the Southern Alps to the border with the Fjordland National Park in the south. It has an astounding 100 or more glaciers and huge mountains including the 3027 Mt. Aspiring.

There are loads of walks in the area. There's the Rob Roy walk and a very beautiful walk in the West Matukituki Valley. The longer walks are a bit dicey depending on the amount of snow and sleet, so inform the DOC counter at the Park Visitor Centre in Wanaka, before going. Mountaineering is very popular here and some organisations offer beginners courses.

Other activities include walking around near the town, especially up Mt. Iron and Mt. Roy and around the Diamond Lake track. Tandem skydiving is stunning as long as you don't have a heart attack while jumping from 9000ft. Paragliding is awesome and if you’ve never tried your hand at it, take one of the courses for beginners. Views from both are stunning.

Kayaking in the Matukituki and Makarora Rivers is worth the effort. Canyoning in the rugged terrain and bottomless gorges will find you swimming and waterfall abseiling down waterfalls. The thrilllll will be endless.

On the safer side, there are lots of aerial sightseeing tours that'll show you some mind-blowing views in the area. Fishing, mountain biking, water sledding, white-water rating, horse treks, rock climbing, and jet boat trips are all popular and well- organized activities in Wanaka.

In winter, this is the place to go skiing. Some of the best skiing areas in NZ are near Wanaka. Treble Cone, Cardrona, the Watorau Nordic Ski Area, Cross country skiing, and Harris Mountain for heli-skiing are very well developed sports sites and extremely popular in winters. Heli-skiing will take you to the top of a mountain or glacier and drop you off so you can have a free run over completely virgin snow. It's a bit tough so only good skiers should attempt the slopes. The Treble Cone is a spectacular area with lovely views of Lake Wanaka, but the slopes are quite tricky so only intermediate or advanced skiers should make the attempt. Cardona has chairlifts, beginners tows and a half-pipe for snowboarders. This is the ideal place for beginners thanks to its gentle slopes.

Even disabled skiers can find adequate facilities. Their contact address is Cardrona Ski Resort, PO Box 117, Wanaka. Or call 03 443 7411. The season is from June to October. The NZ Ski & Snowboarding Guide by Brown Bear is a free annual booklet that has all the information you'll ever need on commercial skiing in NZ. There are even photography lessons for those who want to take back the images just the way they are and show off to their friends.

Getting There & Around: You can fly into Wanaka from Queenstown, which is connected to all other major centres in NZ. Alternatively, there are lots of buses that come from Queenstown and go on to Mt. Cook and Christchurch after stopping over at Wanaka. If you take a local bus to Cromwell, you can then catch up with the Queenstown-Dunedin buses. There are also lots of shuttles that go to and from Wanaka and will drop you right at your destination. Contact the Wanaka Travel Centre for details. Within Wanaka, the Mt. Aspiring Express goes to the Park. You can also rent bikes and cars for the trip.

Accommodation: in Wanaka is quite extensive with every kind of accommodation from top end hotels to camping huts available in the town. Book in advance during the peak summer and winter seasons. Wanaka is a pleasant place to stay, and eating is equally pleasant at a host of pubs, cafes and restaurants with lovely names like Penguin Tea Rooms, Snack Shack, Barrow's Bistro and Ripples to name a few. For such a small town, they have a lot of restaurants and a good menu inclusive of vegetarian fare.