Lake Wanaka

Description

For Māori, the Wanaka area was a natural crossroads. The Haast Pass gave access to the West Coast and its pounamu; the Cardrona Valley led to the natural rock bridge “Whatatorere”, which was the only place that the Kawarau River and Clutha River / Mata-Au could be crossed without boats.[6] Native reeds were used to build boats that enabled a swift return downriver to the east coast.