Special features at YHA Wanaka, Purple Cow that backpackers love:

• Quiet reading room with lake views
• Secure ski/snowboard storage
• Pool table
• Sunny outside deck with lake views
• Table tennis
• Mountain bike hire

About Wanaka

Wanaka is located right at the heart of the Southern Lakes region of New Zealand and is the gateway to the Mt. Aspiring National Park. It is surrounded by some of New Zealand’s best ski fields and excellent heli-skiing. Wanaka is a short drive from Queenstown and shouldn’t be missed. Its charming village atmosphere on the banks of such a beautiful alpine lake makes it an excellent holiday destination. Lake Wanaka often has perfect mirrored reflections of the towering Southern Alps.

Wanaka’s many travel activities can be booked through the YHA Wanaka travel desk including skydiving, kayaking, jet boating, rock climbing, mountaineering, horse trekking, fishing and canyoning.  Arguably New Zealand’s best ski fields (Treble Cone and Cardrona) as well as Mt Aspiring National Park are only 40 minutes drive away. The picture-perfect historic Cardrona Hotel is another great place to take a drive to along the scenic Cardrona Valley. If the weather is not so great then visit Puzzling World a unique attraction in Wanaka, with its Great Maze, Hologram Hall and Tilted House - a lot of fun for all to try.

Wanaka is known as one of the flying capitals in New Zealand and the New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum is located at Wanaka Airport, with an amazing collection of airworthy World War II fighters which can be seen in the air at the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Air Show held every two years. This extravaganza of aerial action will next be held at Easter 2010, book your accommodation at YHA Wanaka early! While in Wanaka take the opportunity to have a go at flying your own light aircraft, it’s quite an experience.

Don’t underestimate the time you'll need to discover all of Wanaka’s charms so you won't be disappointed.

Wanaka is well serviced by transport options. Several bus companies offer regular services, there is a daily scheduled flight to and from Christchurch and roads connect Wanaka to Queenstown, the West Coast and the rest of the South Island.

Top activities to do while backpacking in Wanaka

• Skydive over Lake Wanaka with views of Aoraki Mount Cook and Mount Aspiring as well as all the beautiful blue Southern Lakes.
• Mount Aspiring National Park is a World Heritage Park, the third largest in New Zealand and famous for its glaciers, tramping and climbing.
• See Wanaka from the air while flying a light aircraft or watch the aerial acrobats safely from the ground at the Warbirds Over Wanaka Air Show.
• Ski New Zealand’s top ski fields of Treble Cone, Cardrona, Snow Park NZ,  Snow Farm or try some heavenly heli-skiing around Wanaka.
• Get yourself lost at Puzzling World an extremely popular Wanaka attraction with holograms, visual illusions and the tricky Great Maze!
• Drive to Queenstown along the Cardrona Valley with a stop at the Cardrona Hotel, one of New Zealand’s oldest and most rustically charming hotels.