That Wanaka Tree
A lone willow growing in the lake, now the most photographed tree in New Zealand.
Duration
20 min – 45 min
Best time
At sunrise
Open
Every day
Entry price
Free
The Wanaka tree is a crack willow growing in the lake, a few metres from the shore. Its origin is prosaic: it was a willow fence post, driven in to mark a paddock, which took root — crack willow strikes from cuttings with formidable ease, which is also why it is classed as an invasive species in New Zealand.
It has become the most photographed tree in the country. It was vandalised in 2020, a low branch sawn off, which caused a national outcry disproportionate to a fence post turned monument.
Getting there
On the lakeshore at the end of Roys Bay, ten minutes on foot from central Wanaka.
Rules on site
The tree is fragile and has already been damaged: do not climb on it or lean against it. The visit is very short — it is a stop, not a destination.
