Christmas shopping ideas, Wanaka Style.

Are you travelling around NZ, in a campervan, minivan or nice air conditioned car?  Sitting at home, somewhere in the world right this minute thinking “How will I get Aunty Jo’s Christmas present by this Saturday….and what willl I get for Uncle Patrick, little Sammy and Susy’s daughter in law”?

I decided this year in the age of doing it online that my gifts would arrive to me by post sine I had ordered them so long ago.  That idea is fine if you did remember to do that and if you aren’t traveling around NZ in a minivan.  If you happen to arrive in Wanaka in the next few days and look up to the skies in disbelief that you haven’t even brought your travelling boy/girl friend, wife daughter or even your motherlaw (who is travelling with you on your honeymoon), then here are a few little tips about where to find chrissy presents in Wanaka.  “Good idea, that gets the thumbs up” I hear you say?  If on a budget and you would like to make something, we have lovely drift wood on the beach that with a little glitter from the local Paper Plus Store looks very Christmas-e.  While you are at the Store, they have great books.

If you have a little coin check out our great Waste Busters recycling centre, I just got my delightful Father in Law a rainbow coloured picnic table umbrella-just don’t tell him it cost me $2, I guess I could have bargined down to .50C.

Abit more cash, something to eat perhaps?  The local Four Square store has great food delights-very friendly staff and a great location-right in town.  If you feel the need to splash out on the day then try Aspiring Jewellers, right on the lake front for that special something to really knock her over…(propose on the lake front perhaps)?

 

What ever you are going to give this Christmas, remember it is the little things that count!  Have fun and drive safe.

Thumbs Up

Wanaka welcomes Amercian Travel Writers Society.

Founded in 1955, the Amercian Travel Writers Society was formed for keeping up travel communication all over the world. This weekend welcomes the travel writers to town, many of them have never been to Wanaka before or even New Zealand. They arrived just in time to see the snow, low on the mountains again beside our pristine Lake Wanaka. If you meet any of these people, remember they are writing about us as Kiwi’s and we welcome them and anyone from their country to experience the New Zeland that we love.

Wanaka Locals know how to have Fun.

Need something to do in Wanaka?

Imagine living in Wanaka full time?  You would have time to do just about anything you thought up. This day Pete, Sam and another friend decided they would like to go for a hike  up Mount Roy.  Why not, afterall it is a good day out and the views are amazing.  We often see Mount Roy and the best views from the plane when we are flying but to actually walk up Mount Roy-which is a verticle slog-makes the view even more rewarding when you get there.  Once there the boys decided to take the easy street back down, again why not?  have time may as well have fun….So they doned their ski gear and put that verticle advantage to good use. Needless to say it didn’t take quite as long to get down as it did to go up.

Need something to do in Wanaka?

Skiing in Wanaka-local style

My New Zealand Tour in the U-FLY plane this week.

I could touch this!

First let’s start with my last Sunday afternoon…because I was looking forward to a nice relaxed evening.  I was to fly up to Rotorua on business on Air New Zealand but I decided to take a scenic flight.  I didn’t think about the school hols so when I saw the prices, I went ‘Oooh, maybe not this week’.

Wayne suggested I pick up the phone and ask a good friend this question…”do you have much on this week”?  “Why”? was the response-next day I was in his plane and we were off!  It was like…WOW!  I have lived in NZ all my life and I can see why people love our SCENERY!

The Southern Lakes

Suddenly, I am a tourist in my own country, we flew up the east coast of both the South and North islands and made Rotorua in just over 5 hours.  Next day after my meetings we were back in the plane and making the straight line back to Wanaka.  We landed in Wanaka just over 5 hours later, we had stopped breifly to pick up fuel and so I grabbed the sandwhiches out of the boot.  I love to live in this wonderful scenic place called New Zealand, except I get to call it Home!  If you would like me to personally show you around check out our flight tours. http://www.u-flywanaka.co.nz/index.html

Flying down the N.I.

What our Clients have said about us this week.

A “must do”-has to go on the “bucket list”!! Great experience, wonderful pilot, lovely personal service. The way to see Wanaka! Roy, NZ.

Thoroughly Enjoyable, view was absolutely awesome, flight was great.  Commentary was excellent, friendly service. Highly recommended. John. Australia

Absolutely amazing! I can not recommend it enough, I had a wonderful time, can not thank you enough for such a fantastic flight experience!!! Easy to fly and great scenery, very appreciated.  Lia. UK.

This is fantastic, If you love Flying and great views do this!!! There is no better activity in NZ!  Thank you very much  U-FLY team.  Scott.  UK.

The best experience yet! The plane was so easy to fly! Tayla. Sydney, Australia.

What to say?  Best experience ever, worth every cent!  Thank you so much!  Dom, Australia.

Absolutely wonderful views, great to fly the plane.  My kid and Wife loved and enjoyed it! The pilots, Ruth and Wayne were absolutely fab and guided us and did whatever we asked for.  Worth the Trip, Cheers.  Gauver.  India

Thank you very much, a fantastic experience and I particulary enjoyed the pilots patience and guidance in letting me have a shot.  Lara.  UK

Thank you so much!  It was such a great experience.  Nothing better than that!  Cool.  Thomas.  Germany

Wanaka Warm places to Go

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 Try the library, for some peace and quiet-and some good reading, they have internet, magazines and DVD’s too. Save up your coins and take them into your bank once a week-have you noticed how warm it is inside the bank?  … Continue reading →

Wanaka Winter Wonderland

In my last post I talked about seeing the hills and mountains around Wanaka for the last time before the snow!  Now it is here.  It stared falling on Wednesday night.  The nip was in the air and then yesterday we had it right down into the township on Wanaka.  What a way to see the Mountains, I thought.  Anyone would love to fly over their favourite mountain in the glistening snow and sunshine, the wanaka ski fields are underway!

But first I needed to see how people were reacting downtown….what I saw I think the Wanaka Chamber of Commerce president Leigh Stock said it perfectly- the “white stuff” was putting a “smile on dials” of people waiting to ski .

Cardrona Skifield is open today and Treble Cone will be just around the corner. After receiving 35cm of snow in the last 36 hours Treble Cone will have a limited opening of the platter lift and beginners area on Sunday  10^th July.   The Amisfield bubbles will await the opening of the home basin for those of you concerned about this.  

Mountain food & beverage, rental and snowsports school will all be operating.  The Learners lift is free of charge at Treble Cone.  Scenic chair rides will be offered from noon – 1pm with visitors able to enjoy the stunning views over Lake Wanaka from the sheltered base area.

The new Wanaka office on Dungarvon St overlooking Pembroke park will switch to winter hours and be open from 3 to 6pm daily for season pass pick up and new visitor inquiries and ticketing.  

 We see happy people flowing into town and tonight I pulled up to the water front to see this scene: So Winter is Open in Wanaka!

More snow for Lake Wanaka Mountains

Snow from my window