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)