We live at Lake Hawea in an area know as Central Otago in the lower part of the South Island of New Zealand.  The nearest big city to us is Dunedin which is 3 1/2 hours drive although we usually go to Christchurch if we need city things.  Christchurch is over 5 hours drive through the spectacular Mackenzie basin past Mt Cook, NZ's highest mountain.  Jen’s family live in and around Christchurch as do many of our friends. (see maps)

Lake Hawea is one of four big lakes within an hours drive of us.  Lake Hawea township is very small with 200 permanent residents, one shop, a pub, service station and lots of holiday homes.  Our nearest town is Wanaka which is 10 minutes drive away on the shores of Lake Wanaka.  Wanaka is a resort town catering for Skiers and Snowboarders in winter and fishers, water skiers, sailors, hikers, paragliders, rock climbers in summer etc etc.  Lakes Hawea and Wanaka are like twin lakes that nearly meet at an area know as ‘The Neck’.  Both lakes where carved out by glacial action and are fed by rivers coming straight out of the mountains.  We are surrounded by snow capped mountains in winter and have a good view of the permanent snow peaks of the Southern Alps year round.  The huge Mt Aspiring National Park boarders Lake Wanaka and provides the perfect adventure playground.

The resort of Queenstown is an hour away on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. Queenstown is justifiably famous as an international resort visited by most tourists to NZ.  It buzzes with energy as people return from the ski fields, mountains and lake.  Bungy jumping was invented in Queenstown and every other extreme adrenalin junky activity can be experienced in Queenstown.

The area around Cromwell between Wanaka and Queenstown is fast growing as one of NZ’s premier wine districts.  Every year bare fields of grass are being turned into vineyards and olive groves. There are also many orchards and growers of apples, peaches and plums in the region.

When is the best time to visit us?  If you like hiking, camping, sailing, BBQ's, winery tours, garden bars and long warm evenings, then visit us in summer.  Best months of summer are January, February and early March. If you like autumn colours then come in April.  If you want to ski or snowboard or want the buzz of winter in a ski resort, then come in July, August or September (avoid the school holidays).  If you like cafes, bars, funky little movie theatres, scenic helicopter flights, bungy jumps plus great scenery, then come at any time of year!

Map of New Zealand

Wanaka & Aspiring Area Map

Pictures in order of appearance:

Lake Wanaka in Autumn: Skiing at Treble Cone Ski Field over Lake Wanaka: Sailing on Lake Wanaka: Rippon Vineyard on the shores of Lake Wanaka: Lake Hawea while out for a walk: Map of NZ: Map of Wanaka & Queenstown area.