The concierge recommends: Wanaka

By COLIN MOORE

Wanaka has been in the tourism shadow of Queenstown for more years than its devoted inhabitants and dedicated regular visitors care to admit.

The problem is not its scenery, ambience or even the available activities, which are increasing by the year. It is simply that Queenstown has a commuter airport and Wanaka has its Warbirds.

But with the multi-million dollar upgrade and sealing of the Crown Range road between Wanaka and Queenstown, the barrier between the two towns is down.

You can be sure that some Wanaka locals will not be too happy about that, but an annual influx of young Japanese snowboarders and skiers is already established.

During the winter Bonnie and Neville Teat of the Bullock Creek Lodge give over virtually the whole of the lodge to a Japanese tour company to sub-lease.

In the summer the lodge returns to a standard backpackers.

The Teats are Otagoites who sold a kiwifruit orchard to buy the lodge and return home to where their ski-racing children are closer to good snow.

Bonnie says the best free attraction in Wanaka is tramping in Mt Aspiring National Park. The best paid attraction is the fly-tramp-jet boat Siberian experience or a visit to Puzzleworld. And the best restaurant, she says, is Relishes.