NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Wanaka

Wanaka is a town in the Central Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is situated at the southern end of Lake Wanaka, adjacent to the outflow of the lake to 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 and is based around the many outdoor opportunities. Due to the growing tourism business and the increasing number of retirees in Wanaka, there is massive growth occurring, up to 50% in 10 years. Image File history File links Location map of Wanaka, New Zealand File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Statistics New Zealand defines New Zealand urban areas for statistical purposes. ... Territorial authorities is the formal term for the second tier of local government in New Zealand, below regional councils. ... Regions is the formal term for the top tier of local government in New Zealand. ... Otago (helpÂ· info) is one of the regions of New Zealand and lies in the south-east of the South Island. ... Otago (helpÂ· info) is one of the regions of New Zealand and lies in the south-east of the South Island. ... The South Island The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. ... View of the southern end of Lake Wanaka, looking southeast. ... The Clutha River system The Clutha River is the second longest river in New Zealand and flows south-southeast for 340 kilometres through Central and South Otago to the Pacific Ocean, 75 kilometres south west of Dunedin. ... Mount Aspiring National Park is located in the South Island of New Zealand. ...

The town is part of the Queenstown-Lakes District and was called Pembroke until 1940. It was originally settled during the gold rush excitement in the 19th century. The view from the Skyline Gondola, looking south across Queenstown Bay. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... A California Gold Rush handbill A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers into the area of a dramatic discovery of commercial quantities of gold. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Wanaka is serviced by Wanaka Airport as well as roads over Crown Range, from the West Coast and to the north. Wanaka Airport (IATA: WKA, ICAO: NZWF) is the airport servicing the town of Wanaka, New Zealand and the surrounding ski fields. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... See: West Coast of the United States West Coast, New Zealand West Coast, Tasmania This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

History

The lake was first seen by a European in 1853, Nathanial Chalmers, but he was guided by a sketch map from Chief Te Huruhuru at Waimate.^[2]

This area was first settled by Europeans in the 1850s, with initial settling focusing around Albert Town. This was the only spot to ford the Clutha River. First surveying of the current Wanaka site occurred in 1863^[2] Settlement increased in Pembroke (the old name for Wanaka) in the 1870s because of the amount of time milling in the Matukituki Valley and the use of Lake Wanaka for transport. Tourism started in the town in 1867 with the opening of the first hotel, by Theodore Russell. The site proved very popular for tourism because of its temperate climate and easy access to snow and water.^[3] Albert Town is located to the east of Wanaka in New Zealand. ... The Clutha River system The Clutha River is the second longest river in New Zealand and flows south-southeast for 340 kilometres through Central and South Otago to the Pacific Ocean, 75 kilometres south west of Dunedin. ... Matukituki River The Matukituki River is found in the Southern Alps of New Zealands South Island. ...

Geography

The town of Wanaka is situated at the Southern end of Lake Wanaka. It is surrounded by mountains. To the east of the town is Queenstown, to the north west a pass through the Southern Alps to Makaroa. To the north are the towns of Omarama and Twizel. Very close to Lake Wanaka there also is Lake Hawea, in a parallel glacial valley, which also has a recently developed settlement of about 1,500 people. To the south of the town lies more of the Southern alps but close to the town is the Glendu Bay motorpark, leading into the Matukituki River valley. This gives access to the Mount Aspiring National Park Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (2816 Ã— 2112 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (2816 Ã— 2112 pixel, file size: 1. ... View of the southern end of Lake Wanaka, looking southeast. ... The Southern Alps is a mountain range which runs along the western side of the South Island of New Zealand. ... Omarama is a small township (population <400) at the junction of State Highways 8 and 83, near the southern end of the Mackenzie Basin, in the South Island of New Zealand. ... There is also a Twizel in Northumberland, England Twizel is a town in the Mackenzie Basin of the South Island of New Zealand . ... Lake Hawea is located in the Otago region of New Zealand, at an altitude of 320 metres. ... The Matukituki River is found in the Southern Alps of New Zealands South Island. ... Mount Aspiring National Park is located in the South Island of New Zealand. ...

Wanaka has a typical New Zealand weather pattern, with four regular seasons each year. Wanaka averages 682mm rainfall per year. Much of the rainfall comes during the springtime, with the weather approaching from the North west. The September - December period is considered the worst for weather. ^[4]

The centre of the town is on flat, floodwater at the head of the lake. Parts of the town then grow up into the hills around the town and also around the lake in both directions. This lake makes parts of the town prone to occasional flooding in spring, when heavy rain and snowmelt can cause the lake to rise dramatically, such as those in November 1999.^{[citation needed]}

Attractions

These days, with its beautiful lake and mountain views, Wanaka has become a popular tourist resort, loved by many for being less commercialised than Queenstown.^[5] Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 536 pixel Image in higher resolution (1792 Ã— 1200 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 536 pixel Image in higher resolution (1792 Ã— 1200 pixel, file size: 2. ... Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealands South Island. ...

Wanaka boasts a growing number of excellent restaurants, cafes and a diverse nightlife. Other attractions in the town include Puzzling World and the Paradiso Cinema. Puzzling World contains a 3d maze, optical illusions and a leaning tower.^[6] The Paradiso is a classic old cinema, with seating of old coaches, chairs and a car. The walls are covered in movie posters and food, wine and beer is available at the interval. It is a unique experience. ^[7] There are a number of wineries in the area. Puzzling World near Wanaka, New Zealand; the Leaning Tower of Wanaka can be seen on the left. ...

Festivals

Warbirds over Wanaka is a biennial air show in Wanaka, held on the Easter weekend of even numbered years. ... The UK Utterly Butterly wing-walking display team flying Boeing Stearman PT-17 biplanes An airshow is an event at which aviators display their flying skills and the capabilities of their flying machines to the crowd. ...

Summer

Wanaka is host to some of New Zealand's best outdoor recreation with world-class mountain biking, hiking, climbing, mountaineering, fishing, paragliding, and watersports of all kinds. With one of New Zealand's sunniest climates, Wanaka is truly an adventure paradise. It is the access point to the highest mountain outside of the Mount Cook region, Mt Aspiring. Mountain biker riding in the Arizona desert. ... Two hikers in the Mount Hood National Forest Eagle Creek hiking Hiking is a form of walking, undertaken with the specific purpose of exploring and enjoying the scenery. ... Rock climbers on Valkyrie at The Roaches in Staffordshire, England. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Fishing is the activity of hunting for fish by hooking, trapping, or gathering. ... Paragliding (known in France, Spain and Portugal as parapente) is a recreational and competitive flying sport. ... Aoraki/Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand. ... Mount Aspiring is New Zealands highest mountain outside the Mount Cook region. ...

Mount Aspiring National Park is very popular for the mountaineering and hiking options. Day trips are very common for most tourists and many people will be found in the park for up to a week at a time. Mount Aspiring hut has become a very popular tourist stop^{[citation needed]}. The other parts of the Matukituki Valley are popular for the rock climbing and walking opportunities. Mount Aspiring National Park is located in the South Island of New Zealand. ...

Lake Wanaka itself is popular for waterskiing, wakeboarding and sailing. This along with the local rivers provide many opportunities for fishing. There is a dedicated mountain biking area made by volunteers in some local plantation pine forest.^[8] All the local ski resorts open for mountain biking and hiking in the summer. Recreational skiiers typically use two skis — other techniques abound. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... For either of the songs named Sailing, see Sailing (song). ...

Winter

Nearby are Treble Cone, Cardrona Alpine Resort and Snow Park, some of New Zealand's premier commercial ski fields. Wanaka is the main accommodation provider for these resorts and so is very busy in high season(July-September). It is also close to Snow Farm. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2032x1354, 523 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Treble Cone Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2032x1354, 523 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Treble Cone Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Treble Cone is a skifield and a mountain near Lake Wanaka in the South Island of New Zealand. ... Cardrona Alpine Resort is a ski resort in New Zealands South Island. ... Snow Park is a dedicated snowsports terrain park in South Island, New Zealand. ... St. ... Snow Farm in mid september 2006 Snow Farm is a ski area in South Island, New Zealand, dedicated to cross-country skiing. ...

Treble Cone has a reputation among New Zealanders as having the best lift accessed terrain in the country and for this reason has developed a cult following, 'ConeHeads'.^[9] It also catches some of the better snow in the area, with its location and orientation getting more snow from NW storms. Cardrona is more attractive to families and beginners, though an attempt has been made at the park riding population in competition with SnowPark.^[10] Snowpark is a dedicated 100% man made terrain park for advanced riders. A terrain park is an outdoor area that contains jumps and half-pipes that allow snowboarders and skiers to do tricks. ...

People

The town is experiencing considerable growth. According to the 2006 census the permanent resident population of the area is 6900, an increase of approximately 50% in five years.^[1] This is helped in part by the nearby towns of Hawea, Albert Town and Luggate, all within 10 minutes of Wanaka. The number of retirees in the town is above average for New Zealand, with 16.8% of the towns population aged over 65. New Zealand's normal rate is 12.1%. About 39% of the town's population had some form of post school qualification, about 7% above the national average.^[11] The New Zealand government Department Statistics New Zealand conducts a census of population and dwellings every five years. ... Hawea is the name of a small settlement at the southern end of Lake Hawea, in New Zealands South Island. ... Albert Town is located to the east of Wanaka in New Zealand. ...

Interestingly, 97% of people from Wanaka claimed to be of European heritage, about 17% above the national average. The unemployment rate was exceptionally low in Wanaka, at 2.9%, compared to 7.5% for New Zealand. The number of couples without children was close to 16% above the national average, while the number with children 7% lower.^[11]

Politics

Wanaka is part of the Otago electorate. This electorate is currently represented by the New Zealand National Party's Jacqui Dean.^[12] She was elected in 2005 in what was traditionally a National stronghold but had been held by Labour since 2002.^{[citation needed]} Otago (helpÂ· info) is one of the regions of New Zealand and lies in the south-east of the South Island. ... The New Zealand National Party (National or the Nats) currently forms the second-largest (in terms of seats) political party represented in the New Zealand Parliament, and thus functions as the core of the parliamentary Opposition. ... Jacqueline Isobel (Jacqui) Dean is a New Zealand politician. ...

Transportation

Wanaka is served by at least one flight daily to Christchurch by Air New Zealand. Christchurch (MÄori: ) is the regional capital of Canterbury, New Zealand. ... This article or section needs additional references or sources to improve its verifiability. ...

References

^ ^a ^b Otago Region - Statistics New Zealand Queenstown Lakes District, 2006 Census
^ ^a ^b [http://www.lakewanaka.co.nz/index.cfm/Info_Centre/Visitor_Info/Early_History Wanaka Early History], Lake Wanaka Visitor Information Centre, Accessed 24/3/7
^ Wanaka History, Wanaka Information Guide, 1999-2001, Accessed 23/4/07
^ Know our weather with ... Accessed 9/3/7
^ Wanaka and Treble Cone, New Zealand, Best Western New Zealand, Accessed 6/3/7
^ http://www.puzzlingworld.co.nz/
^ http://www.paradiso.net.nz/
^ Lake Wanaka Cycling Map, Lake Wanaka Cycling Inc, 2004
^ Treble Cone, Wanaka, New Zealand Accessed 6/3/7
^ Cardrona Alpine Resort Accessed 6/3/7
^ ^a ^b Wanaka Urban Area Community Profile, Statistics New Zealand
^ Official Count Results -- Otago, 2005 election, Elections New Zealand

External links

Coordinates: 44°42′S, 169°09′E Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... The Wikimedia Commons (also called Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ... Wikitravel is a project to create an open content, complete, up-to-date, and reliable world-wide travel guide. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

Contents

History var ACE_AR = {Site: '756743', Size: '300250'};