Officially it’s the Waterfall Creek Track. You can get to it from anywhere in town just by heading down to the lake. There are plenty of opportunities to get in the lake if you want.
You’ll know by the crowds when you get to that Wanaka Tree. It is photogenic. We found if you go beyond the tree you can get a shot without all your fellow tourists.
From there the track continues to trace the lakeshore. The crowds thin dramatically after the tree. We saw lots of dog walkers and a few cyclists. (It’s a mixed use trail.) On one side are views of the lake. On the other are lake houses and lodges and a vineyard.
There was plenty of shade along the way and lake views to keep things interesting. We didn’t follow the trail all the way to the creek. Just until we felt like turning around.
The views change heading back. That’s Mount Iron above the town of Wanaka. (And now I see why that’s its name.) We saw a wedding couple getting photos taken on our way back. We’ll be climbing Mount Iron in a couple of days.
