What is 'that Wanaka Tree' and is it still standing?

A solitary willow tree growing from a rock shelf just offshore from Wanaka's lakefront — one of the most-photographed trees in New Zealand. Yes, it's still there as of 2026. The tree is accessible by wading (knee-deep in summer) or photographed from the shore with a zoom lens. Best light is at sunrise. Please don't climb it — the roots are fragile.

Lake Wanaka guide 2026 — walks, kayak

Wanaka’s lake: the backdrop that defines a town

Lake Wanaka is 192 square kilometres of glacially carved lake surrounded by mountains on three sides, with a braided river outlet draining south toward Cromwell and the Clutha. The town of Wanaka sits on the lake’s southern shore at 277m altitude — significantly lower and warmer than Queenstown in summer, which contributes to its reputation as New Zealand’s most pleasant summer lake town.


Where	Wanaka township, Otago, 1.5hrs from Queenstown
Cost	Free lakefront and Wanaka Tree; kayak/water taxi from NZD 25
Time needed	1 night minimum, 2-3 nights for hiking too
Getting there	1hr 15min from Queenstown via Crown Range or SH6
Best time	Summer for the lake and hiking, autumn (April) for colour

The lake connects to Lake Hawea (separated by a narrow isthmus at Hawea township) and to the upper Matukituki valley leading toward Mt Aspiring/Tititea. Together these three lake and valley systems constitute one of the most dramatic alpine-lake landscapes in the South Island.

This guide covers the lake itself, the water activities, the famous willow tree, and the island experiences — the hiking guides for Roy’s Peak and other surrounding walks are covered separately in the Wanaka day hikes guide.

That Wanaka Tree

The willow tree growing from a submerged rock shelf 5 metres from the lakefront has been photographed approximately five million times. It appears in tourism campaigns for New Zealand, Wanaka, Otago, and has been described as New Zealand’s most Instagrammed image.

Practical visit notes:

The tree is on the lakefront walkway, approximately 500m east of the town centre
In summer, wade out to the rock shelf (knee-deep, rocky bottom — wear footwear)
In winter when lake levels are higher, the base is submerged and the tree appears to grow directly from the water
Best photography: sunrise (east-facing tree with morning light, calm water)
Climbers have damaged the root structure in previous years — DOC now asks visitors not to climb it

The tree is a planted willow — not native, not ancient (estimated 80-100 years old). This doesn’t diminish its photography value, but contextualises the affection somewhat.

On the water

Mou Waho Island

Mou Waho Island sits 12 km from Wanaka by water — a predator-free island reserve within the lake. The island has a resident population of crested grebe and other native birds, and a loop track that passes a small alpine lake (Arethusa Pool) at the island’s summit with extraordinary views over Lake Wanaka.

The Wanaka: Water Taxi & Mou Waho Island Tour provides water taxi transport to the island for self-guided exploration. NZD 65-85 / USD 39-51 / EUR 36-47.

The Mou Waho Island: 3-Hour Cruise and Guided Nature Walk (from Wanaka) combines a guided cruise across the lake with a 3-hour guided walk on the island. NZD 125-155 / USD 75-93 / EUR 69-85.

For a full-day experience, the Wanaka: Stevensons Island 2-Hour Cruise and Nature Walk visits Stevensons Island (a second lake island) in addition to Mou Waho. NZD 155-185 / USD 93-111 / EUR 85-102.

Kayak and paddleboard

Lake Wanaka is excellent for kayaking — sheltered bays, clear water, and mountain views from water level. Several operators on the lakefront offer hire:

The Wanaka: Full-Day or Half-Day Guided Kayak Tour provides guided kayak tours of the lake’s bays and coves. NZD 120-155 / USD 72-93 / EUR 66-85.

Self-guided hire from lakefront operators: NZD 25-45/hour for kayak, NZD 20-35/hour for paddleboard.

Water temperature: 14-16°C in summer (swimmable), 6-8°C in winter. Wetsuits recommended year-round for paddleboard — capsize immersion in winter is a cold-water risk.

The packraft option

The Wanaka: Full-Day Guided Packrafting Tour with Lunch offers inflatable packraft exploration of the Clutha River outlet and lake margin — an unusual water perspective on the lake. NZD 165-195 / USD 99-117 / EUR 91-107.

4WD and boat combo

The Wanaka: Mount Burke 4x4 Explorer and Boat Tour accesses the remote western shore of the lake by 4WD and boat, reaching farmland and viewpoints impossible to access by normal transport. NZD 185-225 / USD 111-135 / EUR 102-124.

Choosing between the water options

The choices above overlap more than the list suggests. If you want the island and its summit pool, the water taxi suits independent walkers who like to set their own pace, while the guided cruise and walk suits anyone who would rather have the birdlife and the island’s story explained. The kayak tour is the gentlest introduction to the lake for first-timers, and the packraft and 4WD options are the ones to pick if you have already done the classic lake views and want something that feels less like a postcard.

Wind is the variable that shapes every plan on the water. Mornings are usually the calmest, which is also when the light on the surrounding peaks is at its best, so book the earliest departure you can face. Afternoon breezes can roughen the open lake, and operators will adjust or cancel when conditions turn, so keep a spare half-day in your schedule rather than locking the water day to your last afternoon in town.

Planning your days around the lake

Wanaka works best when you alternate effort and rest. A sensible rhythm is one big day on foot, one lighter day on the water, and an unhurried evening in town. The big day might be the Rob Roy valley below or the summit climb covered in the Roy’s Peak guide; the lighter day is the island trip or a kayak; the evenings belong to the lakefront, a table at one of the restaurants, and a walk back to the tree for the last light.

If you are arriving from the south, the Queenstown destination guide covers the adventure-heavy end of the region, and the Lake Wakatipu guide shows how a different glacial lake feels just over the range. Travellers heading north can pair Wanaka with the Lake Tekapo guide and the Lake Pukaki guide, which together make a natural alpine-lake chain on the way toward Aoraki Mt Cook.

Those short on time can see the highlights on a day trip from Queenstown to Wanaka, though the lake rewards an overnight stay far more than a quick stop. For a wider picture of how Wanaka fits into a longer route, the 7-day South Island itinerary and the self-drive itinerary both build in time here.

The town: what to know

Wanaka township (population approximately 10,000) has evolved from a quiet ski-season village into a year-round destination. The lakefront area is compact and walkable. Key points:

Puzzling World: An attraction purpose-built for the tourist trade — a collection of optical illusions, tilted buildings, and 3D mazes. Genuinely amusing, not deeplyserious, approximately NZD 22-28 / USD 13-17 / EUR 12-15 adult entry. Skip it if you’re time-limited; visit it if you have kids or a rainy afternoon.

Wanaka Beerworks and Rhyme & Reason: Two craft breweries within walking distance of the lakefront. Both produce genuinely good beer with mountain views. The standard Wanaka afternoon: long walk, cold beer.

Hawker Street food market: Rotating food trucks and street food, operating Friday evenings in summer.

Getting to Wanaka

Two roads connect Wanaka to Queenstown. The Crown Range Road (via Cardrona) is the more dramatic and shorter option — New Zealand’s highest sealed main road, climbing to 1076m with hairpin switchbacks and views over the Wakatipu and Wanaka basins. It closes occasionally in winter snow, so check conditions before relying on it in June-August. The alternative via SH6 through Cromwell is longer (about 1hr 45min against 1hr 15min for the Crown Range) but lower altitude and rarely affected by weather. Neither road is difficult by New Zealand standards, but the Crown Range rewards a stop at the summit lookout regardless of which direction you’re driving.

The Matukituki Valley

Beyond Wanaka, the Matukituki Road (sealed for 40 km, gravel for the final section) leads into the Mt Aspiring National Park — the third largest national park in New Zealand. The valley floor walk (Rob Roy Glacier, 10 km return, 3-4 hours) is the most accessible alpine walk in the area and arguably more dramatic than Roy’s Peak for mountain immediacy.

The Rob Roy Glacier track involves suspension bridge crossings, native beech forest, and a terminus view of the hanging glacier above. It is not a named Great Walk but is one of the finest day walks in Otago.

Winter on the lake and beyond

Wanaka’s identity shifts with the seasons, and the lake is part of the appeal in each of them. In winter the town fills with skiers, and the Treble Cone ski guide and the Cardrona ski guide explain the two nearest fields; the overview of skiing in New Zealand helps if you are weighing them against other regions. Non-skiers can still enjoy the frosted lakefront, a slow breakfast, and short walks with snow on the peaks behind.

Families will find the shallow, sheltered beaches an easy match for children, and the guide to travelling New Zealand with kids has wider planning advice. Couples looking for a quieter base will find that the lake setting suits the style of trip described in the North Island vs South Island for couples guide, with long dinners and early walks rather than a packed schedule.

If wine interests you, the Central Otago wine tour guide covers the vineyards of the surrounding region, an easy addition to a Wanaka stay when you have a car and a designated driver.

Where to eat and stay

Wanaka’s dining has grown up considerably over the past decade. Kika and Francesca’s Italian Kitchen are the standout dinner options on the lakefront strip; Big Fig does a reliable brunch. For accommodation, the lakefront motels and holiday parks fill first in summer — book well ahead for December-February and for the week either side of the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow (held in odd-numbered years).

Budget travellers should look at the YHA or the holiday parks around the lake edge, both of which put you within walking distance of the Wanaka Tree and town centre without the premium of the lakefront hotels. For a broader comparison of where to base a South Island trip, see the Queenstown vs Wanaka guide.

Making the most of an early start

Almost everything that makes the lake special happens at the edges of the day. At sunrise the water is flat, the mountains pick up colour before the town wakes, and the lakefront walkway is nearly empty, which is the best moment to see the tree without a queue of photographers. In the evening the light returns, softer and warmer, and the lakefront fills with people carrying a drink and watching the peaks darken. Build your itinerary so that you are by the water at both ends of the day, and use the middle for hiking, a cruise or a long lunch.

Pack for changeable weather even in summer. Mountain lakes can swing from warm sun to a cold wind within an hour, so a light waterproof layer, sun protection and a hat are worth carrying on any water trip. The packing list for New Zealand covers the layers that work across seasons, and the driving guide is useful if you are renting a car for the Crown Range and the valley roads.

Seasonal highlights

Winter (June-September): Lake Wanaka is a ski base — Treble Cone (19 km) and Cardrona (34 km) are the primary ski fields. The lake doesn’t freeze. The snow-covered surrounding mountains create an exceptional winter landscape for non-skiers.

Summer (December-February): Lake swimming, kayaking, Roy’s Peak (in January, allowing for the 1 October-10 November lambing closure). The lake is at its warmest.

Autumn (March-May): The most underrated season — the Clutha catchment poplars turn golden-orange in April, the lake is calm, and visitor numbers drop significantly from summer peaks.

Spring (September-October): Roy’s Peak is closed for lambing (1 October-10 November). Wanaka is pleasant but the hiking options are limited. Good skiing continues into late October at Cardrona and Treble Cone.

Cost breakdown (NZD / USD / EUR)

Experience	NZD	USD	EUR
Lakefront walk and Wanaka Tree	Free	Free	Free
Mou Waho Island water taxi	65-85	39-51	36-47
Mou Waho guided cruise + walk	125-155	75-93	69-85
Kayak tour	120-155	72-93	66-85
Kayak self-hire (per hour)	25-45	15-27	14-25
Puzzling World	22-28	13-17	12-15

Frequently asked questions about Lake Wanaka — guide to Queenstown’s quieter rival

Is Wanaka better than Queenstown?

Genuinely depends on what you want. Queenstown has more adventure activities (bungy, jet boat, sky gondola), more restaurants, and more infrastructure. Wanaka is quieter, more accessible to excellent hiking, and has a local community atmosphere that Queenstown’s tourism scale has eroded. The Queenstown vs Wanaka guide covers this in depth.

Is it worth staying in Wanaka versus doing it as a day trip from Queenstown?

At minimum 1 night. The lake is most beautiful in the early morning and at sunset — both experiences require an overnight. Roy’s Peak (in season) is a full day. The Matukituki Valley walk is 3-4 hours return plus a 1-hour drive each way. Doing all this from Queenstown is theoretically possible but exhausting.

What’s the best lake beach in Wanaka?

The main town beach (in front of the lakefront parking) is the most accessible. The beach at Outlet (where the Clutha River exits the lake) is better for quieter swimming. Roys Bay (the boat ramp area) is good for families with shallow entry.

Mistakes to avoid

Climbing or wading out to the Wanaka Tree carelessly — the roots are fragile and DOC actively discourages climbing it; photograph respectfully instead.
Attempting Roy’s Peak during the lambing closure (1 October-10 November) — the track is closed; check dates before planning a hiking-focused visit, and see the Wanaka day hikes guide for alternatives.
Driving the Crown Range in winter without checking conditions — it closes in snow; the SH6 route via Cromwell is the reliable winter alternative.
Paddleboarding without a wetsuit outside summer — the water is cold enough (6-8°C in winter) that a capsize is a genuine risk without one.
Assuming Wanaka has Queenstown’s level of restaurant and activity density — it doesn’t, and that’s largely the point; plan a slower pace here.