INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS go to Queenstown. Kiwis go to Wanaka. Like its better-known neighbor to the south, Wanaka has spectacular outdoor pursuits, breathtaking scenery, and a buzzy lakefront. But this is where the two towns diverge: Adrenalinefueled Queenstown increasingly caters to foreign visitors (members of its seasonal workforce frequently have English or American accents), while Wanaka leans in the other direction, creating an oasis of localness that has made it an under-the-radar capital of the Kiwi lifestyle. Now, in-the-know overseas travelers are catching on.
This story is from the March 2024 edition of Condé Nast Traveler US.
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This story is from the March 2024 edition of Condé Nast Traveler US.
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