Perhaps you’ve heard of the Wānaka tree. Framed by New Zealand’s snow-capped Southern Alps, the sparse yet expressive willow bows to one side in the frigid shallows of Lake Wānaka. Modest tourist interest ticked higher in 2014 thanks to an award-winning photograph of the tree swaddled in winter fog. Today, you can review the tree’s many moods on Instagram and other social media. Search for #thatwanakatree.
- Wanaka Millennium Parkway 8.6 miles, 600 feet of elevation gain (March 6, 2024)
We had never heard of the Wānaka tree. Our hiking tour materials made no mention. But our guides, Mary and Gordy, were quick to point out the viral willow as we stepped off on a dusty lakeside hike along the Millennium Track. And so we joined several dozen other hikers, picnickers and gawkers at the edge of the lake to puzzle at the arboreal wunderkind.
The age and the genesis of the tree are somewhat nebulous. Online sources we reviewed place its age at anywhere from 30 to 80 years old. We’re dubious about the claim that the tree grew from an unused fence post that landed in the lake. Several limbs have been lost over the years due to intentional vandalism and negligence. Please don’t wade out and climb the tree, folks.
Is the lonely, water-bound tree in the foothills of Aspiring National Park worth a special trip to he remote-ish lakeshore? We’re not convinced. But wispy white clouds streaked across a blue sky made a nice backdrop, so we each took the obligatory picture and moved on. Why not?