Destination guide
Wānaka, New Zealand
Alpine freshwater under the Southern Alps, where the wind is less reliable than the scenery is extraordinary.
About Wānaka
Wānaka is a lake town in Otago, ringed by the Southern Alps, and riding here is a different proposition from anywhere else in this atlas: fresh water, mountains on every side, and gravel rather than sand underfoot.
The wind comes from the south and the north-north-west, and when it arrives it can be strong — expect upwards of 25 knots, with the prevailing north-westerly onshore. The seasonal pattern inverts what you might assume: summer, December to March, brings extended high-pressure systems that suppress the wind, while winter's frontal weather delivers the more consistent breezes.
The water runs flat to choppy and is unaffected by tide. It suits intermediate riders and rewards experts; it is not a place to learn. Temperatures swing from the high twenties in summer to genuinely cold in winter, so a wetsuit is sensible year-round.
The launch is a medium-sized beach of gravel and coarse sand with grass to rig on and plenty of parking, but there are obstructions close by that need watching. Queenstown is an hour away over the Crown Range.
When to go
Best months: January, February, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Kite areas
1 distinct riding area documented within this destination.
- Lake Wānaka
Best months: January, February, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.