Lake Wanaka is the fourth largest lake in New Zealand, around 45km long and 10km wide and up to 300m deep.
Wanaka township had a resident population of 6500 at the last census in 2013 but has grown significantly since that time.
Wanaka has a very distinct change of seasons, offering amazing autumn colours as the leaves turn through late March to May, and then gorgeous blossom in Spring from September through to October.
Wanaka has a local airfield offering scenic flights and skydiving. But it was also the site of the launch of a NASA helium balloon launch in 2015 to see if the site was suitable to become part of its global scientific network.
Wanaka is part of the Queenstown Lakes District Council and has a local community board representing the area.
