Wanaka Hotels

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. The town is part of the Queenstown-Lakes District and was originally settled during the gold rush excitement of the 19th century. 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 as this was the only place to ford the Clutha River. The present site of Wanaka was first surveyed in 1863 Settlement increased in Pembroke (the old name for Wanaka) in the 1870s because of timber 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. Pembroke was renamed Wanaka in 1940.