Today, we made our way to Wanaka, nestled at the southern end of the lake with snowcapped mountains in view—except, plot twist, no snow. Apparently, it melted during the summer.
We took the Crown Range Road to get there, a steep, winding route between Queenstown and Wanaka that had all the thrills: breathtaking views, gut-churning heights, and just enough nausea to make you appreciate flat ground.
We passed through the charming little town of Cardrona, and obviously, we had to snap a pic by the famous Cardrona Hotel. Established in 1863, it’s one of New Zealand’s oldest and most iconic hotels, and basically the last living relic of the Cardrona Valley gold rush era. Pretty cool, right? And definitely historic—just like our photo skills.
Once we finally made it to Wanaka, we tackled the Mount Iron Track hike—3 miles, 750 feet of elevation, and just the right amount of “yep, we earned that view.” Totally worth it for the gorgeous, Instagram-worthy vistas of Lake Wanaka.
