Precisely ten years in the past, I arrived in Wānaka in a bit purple automotive with my complete life packed inside it. Again then, Wānaka was nonetheless a sleepy little mountain city the place Instagram wasn’t actually a factor, and nobody cared a couple of tree within the lake. I can not imagine I’ve handed a decade of residing in Wanaka. While you begin to keep in mind in a long time, you’re feeling previous.
Manner again whent, I used to be running a blog full-time and will reside wherever. After my lease led to Wellington, I headed south. Preferring the chiller Wānaka to Queenstown, I ended up settling right here. It was a straightforward place to fall in love with. It nonetheless is.
Like so many expats who settle right here, I got here for a short while and simply by no means left. Nicely, I did transfer to Lyttelton (Christchurch) for a few years throughout COVID, you understand, for love, however I’m making an attempt to neglect that. As quickly as issues went tits up, I ran straight again into the arms of all my mates in Wānaka. House.
Whereas my emotions for Wānaka have turn out to be extra sophisticated through the years, and I’m nonetheless reconciling myself with them, it nonetheless looks like house to me. Don’t get me unsuitable; I find it irresistible right here. However Wānaka’s modified a lot over the previous decade, rising and increasing quickly, similar to so many resort cities worldwide.
Honestly? I’m largely disillusioned with the price. The common home prices round $1.5 million right this moment, which has modified the city’s vibe. I’ve by no means owned a house earlier than, and I don’t actually see how I may ever afford my first home to be right here. It’s $175 to replenish my automotive. One bag of groceries is $100. Lunch is $30. It’s actually laborious to get forward. Lately, I used to be in Melbourne, and it was cheaper than Wānaka!
In any case, New Zealand is formally in a recession. I additionally know that is simply how issues work. Cities develop, particularly stunning ones. As I replicate again on these ten years, my coronary heart fills with emotion. Whereas I’m not sure I’ll be right here eternally, Wānaka positively buried below my pores and skin and has turn out to be an enormous a part of me.
Listed below are ten of the numerous causes I fell in love with Wānaka.
1. The epic panorama and mindboggling views
Okay, I’m going to be sincere right here. Wanaka may have one million issues going for it (and it does), however one will at all times prime all the remainder: it’s insanely stunning. Like, it doesn’t look actual type of stunning. That is why folks pay hundreds of thousands of {dollars} to reside right here. And why younger folks will reside of their automobiles for the prospect to spend time right here.
You’ve seen it throughout social media. Irrespective of the place you stroll exterior, you’ve a phenomenal view of the mountains. Proper subsequent door to a nationwide park and nestled alongside a pristine blue lake with even larger mountains because the backdrop, it’s no shock that all of us are wooed by her magnificence. You’ll be able to’t take a nasty picture right here. You’ll be able to’t.
You’re by no means removed from a tremendous hike or outside journey in Wānaka. A mecca for outside fans in addition to curious vacationers, you couldn’t ask for a extra picturesque backdrop.
2. Small-town vibes for actual
Regardless that the inhabitants right here in Wānaka has doubled within the decade I’ve lived right here, it nonetheless exudes small-town vibes. A sort and pleasant place (additionally very rich); you’ll at all times see folks you understand once you exit. It’s the type of place the place everybody is aware of your title, from the postie to mates of mates to your barista. It’s great but additionally makes relationship laborious and considerably incestuous.
Crime isn’t on anybody’s thoughts in Wānaka; it’s the type of place the place you’ll be able to depart your pockets and cellphone on a restaurant desk, and it’ll nonetheless be there once you come again. In truth, our weekly information bulletin, The Messenger, has a Crimestoppers column written up by the native constable, and it’s typically hilarious. Firstly, as a result of the “crimes” a usually not even crimes, just like the one time the police went to the native petrol station at night time to examine an alarm going off and by chance set off the anti-burglar fog canon on themselves.
Or the truth that they like to share their very own ideas and opinions on the crimes themselves: “Now you’d choke in your cornflakes in case you noticed what number of crashes we’ve had on our roads over the previous two weeks. I gained’t bore you with the listing, however we’ll share a pair. Oh, to be a tow truck driver…”
Find it irresistible.
3. You’re surrounded by adventures
One of many first issues I observed whereas residing in Wanaka was that there is no such thing as a scarcity of journey available right here. And there’s no scarcity of badass adventurers, both.
The gateway to Mount Aspiring Nationwide Park, Wānaka, is the proper base for individuals who like to spend their time outside. Established in 1964 and protecting over 3,500 sq. kilometers, the nationwide park sits on the backside of the Southern Alps and sprawls in direction of the Haast Move to the west coast, throughout to Glenorchy, and all the way down to Fiordland. Lorded over by the proper peak, Mount Aspiring/Tititea (3,033 meters) and plenty of glaciers, it’s a phenomenal place to discover.
Whether or not you’re tramping within the mountains, crusing on the lake, snowboarding contemporary powder, mountaineering down the valley, or mountain biking after work, Wānaka was made for the adventurous.
In some ways, journey right here is way more all the way down to earth than in Queenstown. The hikes may be actually laborious and sometimes not straightforward to entry. In order for you nature, you chuck in your boots and stroll to it.
4. Each season is wonderful
Certainly one of my favourite issues about residing in Wanaka is that now we have 4 distinct seasons. Granted, they’re reversed from the northern hemisphere however you get used to it. Christmas in the midst of summer season is definitely superior.
In autumn, all the pieces turns purple and gold. Now we have nearly no native deciduous timber in New Zealand, and sadly, all the natives had been burned for farming as soon as people settled right here. However due to all these farms, many different timber had been launched, like poplars and different old-school European timber. Additionally, there are tons of vineyards, so the panorama right here pops with colour come autumn (April). It’s top-of-the-line locations for fall foliage.
Now we have two epic ski fields close by and snowy mountains in winter. Spring turns the panorama right into a rainbow of colours, and our summers are tremendous sizzling and dry, the place everybody hangs out by clear blue lakes. Perfection.
5. Hāwea is definitely the perfect
Is it bizarre that certainly one of my favourite elements of Wānaka is Hāwea? A bit of suburb of Wānaka, Lake Hāwea is simply fifteen minutes down the street in direction of the West Coast on one other magical alpine lake. Spoiler alert – Lake Hāwea beats Lake Wānaka. I’ll die on this hill. Clearer and quieter, it’s colder, however it’s so relaxed and delightful. Generally, I’m the one individual on the seashore, so far as I can see.
A decade in the past, Hāwea was just a bit assortment of baches (vacation homes) and residential to the hippier hippies of Wānaka. Artsy, quiet, and inventive, it appeared so distant again then. Now, most of the paddocks are being developed and turning into these cookie-cutter neighborhoods, a bit extra “reasonably priced” at round one million {dollars}. It’s the place all of my mates have moved to and constructed homes.
I’ve lived in Hāwea for almost two years now and find it irresistible. It’s nonetheless actually chill. Now we have a nook store, and that’s about it. I take lengthy walks each day and might simply stroll to my mates’ homes. In the summertime I swim within the lake nearly each day. It’s magic.
After I was engaged on a ship within the Arctic, I met a passenger who had an artist pal they met touring residing in Hāwea. They wrote him a letter and requested me to present it to him. I had no concept who he was. After I obtained house I posted the title of the individual in our group Fb group about it and located him to drop off the letter. Everybody liked the story.
6. Work doesn’t outline you
Wānaka is the type of place the place the individuals who reside right here actually need to be right here. You need to actually need it to afford it. It attracts actually artistic, attention-grabbing, chill, and outdoorsy folks, all united by a love of nature. With out the job alternatives of massive cities, folks simply take no matter work they’ll get to proceed residing in Wanaka, even for a bit bit.
However what’s so cool is that your passions and hobbies matter greater than your job. Who you actually are. Nobody actually cares what your job is. I really like that.
I’ll say making mates in Wānaka isn’t tremendous straightforward. A transitory city by nature; if locals assume you’re solely right here touring or seasonally, they won’t trouble with you. Harsh, I do know. However when you’re in, you’re in. And top-of-the-line methods to fulfill likeminded folks right here is getting concerned with the outdoorsy stuff. There’s a lot of it.
7. Epic ski fields close by
By and huge, Wānaka is a ski city. Cardrona and Treble Cone are two of New Zealand’s most iconic ski fields, and they’re each subsequent to Wānaka. Wintertime is simply as busy as summertime right here. It’s very a lot a resort city however not as tremendous duper flashy, like Whistler. We even have nice heliskiing too.
We’re old skool right here and happy with it. There aren’t any huge gondolas to hold you as much as the highest of the mountain. You need to drive up grime roads to succeed in the ski fields, and there are just a few chairlifts at every. However it’s so wonderful. Above the alpine layer, now we have no timber, so the views out are spectacular. Additionally, surprisingly, now we have the calmest climate in winter. Not a variety of wind. We get loads of bluebird calm days within the sunshine.
Wānaka within the wintertime is de facto simply excellent.
8. It’s near all the perfect spots
Among the best elements of residing in Wanaka is not only what’s round city however the truth that it’s so central to a few of the greatest areas. Simply over the hill, you’ve obtained the larger hub of Queenstown with the principle airport, loads of single males, and, most significantly, Kmart.
Along with being surrounded by nationwide parks, wine nation round Central Otago is lower than an hour’s drive away from Wānaka, with a few of the greatest pinot noir round. Clyde, Cromwell, and Alexandra are straightforward to get to. Now we have two nice ski fields inside a straightforward drive, and Cardrona and Arrowtown are each cute stops on the best way over the Crown Vary to Queenstown.
The coast is just a few hours away, with most of us both bopping all the way down to the Catlins or Riverton or heading over to the west coast for some sea air. Dunedin, the principle metropolis for our area, is three hours away.
9. It’s tremendous cute and quirky
Whereas improvement in Wānaka is booming, the nice native haunts endure. Stuffed with appeal, historical past, and tremendous quirky, they’re the locations that make so many people fall in love with residing in Wanaka.
Now we have an enormous fence lined in bras down the street at Cardrona. Not way more to it than that. The Cardrona Bra Fence has been going sturdy for many years, although often pissing off locals sufficient that they rip all of them off throughout the night time just for them to reappear shortly.
Our native cinema, Cinema Paradiso, has comfortable chairs, couches, and even a convertible automotive for watching the newest movies. Throughout intermission, in addition they serve freshly baked cookies. Puzzling World is a bizarre and beloved native attraction stuffed with optical illusions, deceptively laborious mazes, and different deceptively laborious puzzles. We even have a toy museum.
Lengthy reside small, eccentric cities!
10. The clearest night skies
Lastly, certainly one of my favourite issues about residing in Wanaka needs to be our clear night time skies. Nonetheless distant in comparison with the remainder of the world, now we have little mild air pollution in and round Wānaka. Which means that on clear nights, the celebs are unimaginable—even on the town.
You’ll be able to step exterior your house at night time and see the Milky Manner. And in case you’re fortunate, we regularly have the aurora or Southern Lights dancing on the horizon.
Nicely rattling. Penning this simply made me fall in love with Wānaka yet again!
