Laidback Wanaka has a claim to be Queenstown’s cooler sibling.

Another little town on a lake (Lake Wanaka) and presided over by mountains, Wanaka is smaller than Queenstown. Offering similar adventure activities, but a less hectic, frenzied centre, Wanaka is an excellent place to get your day-time adventure thrills before an evening relaxing in quirky bars and modern restaurants.

As well as great day hikes in the nearby Mt. Aspiring National Park — such as to the Rob Roy Glacier, the Blue Pools and Mt. Brewster — travellers with more limited time can take a tour out to Mou Waho, an island in the middle of Lake Wanaka. This little island in a lake has it’s own lake at its summit, a 20-minute hike from the landing jetty.