Wanaka

Wanaka /ˈwɒnəkə/ is a popular ski and summer resort town in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is situated at the southern end of Lake Wanaka, at the start of the Clutha River. It is the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park.

Wanaka is primarily a resort town but has both summer and winter seasons. Its economy is based on the many outdoor opportunities this offers. The town was originally settled during the gold rush of the 19th century. Along with the rest of the Queenstown-Lakes District, it is growing rapidly, with the population increasing by 50% between 2005 and 2015.

History

The first European in the area was Nathaniel Chalmers, who was guided inland by Chief Reko in 1853. Maori knowledge of the region is evidenced by an earlier sketch map from Chief Te Huruhuru at Waimate.

European settlement began in the Upper Clutha River Valley in the 1850s, with the establishment of sheep stations by runholders. The first station was at Albert Town, the only place where settlers could ford the Clutha River. The present site of Wanaka was first surveyed in 1863, and settlement increased in Pembroke (the old name for Wanaka) during the 1870s because of timber milling in the Matukituki Valley and the use of Lake Wanaka for transport. Tourism in the town began in 1867 with the opening of the first hotel, by Theodore Russell. Wanaka proved a very popular tourist destination because of its borderline continental climate and easy access to snow and water.