Lake Wanaka
The fourth largest lake in New Zealand, set 300 metres above sea level among mountains in Otago. A willow tree growing out of the water near the town has become one of the country's most photographed trees.
- Where
- Wanaka, Otago, New Zealand
- Grade
- Local gem
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site
- Coordinates
- -44.5000, 169.1333
Get the Lake Wanaka stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Lake Wanaka. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Otago volume with your photos and a note.
Near Lake Wanaka
Lake Hawea 12 km
A long glacial lake in Otago, 348 metres above sea level, separated from Lake Wanaka by a narrow isthmus called The Neck. It is 392 metres deep and is a quieter lake than its neighbour.
Mount Aspiring / Tititea 35 km
A pyramid shaped peak of 3,033 metres, the highest mountain in New Zealand outside Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. It sits at the heart of Mount Aspiring National Park, and was first climbed in 1909.
Cardrona Bra Fence 41 km
A roadside fence beside the Crown Range road in Central Otago, hung with hundreds of bras. It began in 1998 or 1999 when a few appeared on the wire, and it has since become a quirky stop and a way to raise funds for breast cancer causes.
Arrowtown 55 km
A gold rush town on the Arrow River, 20 minutes from Queenstown, famous for its autumn colours. The main street keeps its 1860s miners' cottages, and the Chinese settlement beside the river shows how Chinese miners lived there.
Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge 60 km
A suspension bridge over the Kawarau River in Otago, run by AJ Hackett Bungy. In 1988 it became the site of the world's first commercial bungy jumping, and visitors can still jump or simply watch from the viewing platform.
Lake Ohau 63 km
A glacial lake in the Mackenzie Basin, fed by the Hopkins and Dobson rivers from the Southern Alps. A small alpine village on its shore is known for ski fields and, from 2020, for the damage of a major wildfire.
Glenorchy 71 km
A small settlement at the head of Lake Wakatipu, 45 kilometres by road from Queenstown. It is the gateway to the Routeburn and Dart tracks and was a filming location for Lord of the Rings.
The Remarkables 76 km
A jagged mountain range rising directly above Lake Wakatipu, south east of Queenstown. The highest peak is Double Cone at 2,319 metres, and the range holds a popular ski field reached by a steep access road.
More hidden gems in Otago
Questions
Where is Lake Wanaka?
Lake Wanaka is in Wanaka, Otago, New Zealand. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Lake Hawea (12 km), Mount Aspiring / Tititea (35 km), Cardrona Bra Fence (41 km).
How do I get the Lake Wanaka stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Lake Wanaka and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Otago volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Lake Wanaka before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Otago volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
LOQAH is free on iPhone and Android, in India and 40 more countries, with more countries on the way. Stand at a place, collect its stamp, and keep every trip in a passport that grows.