Move over Queenstown; New Zealand has a new 'Adventure Capital' – Lake Wanaka!

According to one of National Geographic’s hand-picked adventurers New Zealand has a new Adventure Capital. National Geographic got together with twenty of the world’s top adventurers to create the Ultimate Adventure Bucket List for 2014.

Lake Wanaka is the only New Zealand destination to make the prestigious National Geographic Ultimate Adventure Bucket List.  As the world’s leading natural environment magazine, National Geographic asked global adventurers to share the dazzling new frontiers they’ve discovered, as well as their all-time classic trips. American snowboarder Jeremy Jones, voted by Snowboarder Magazine as the ‘big-mountain rider of the year’ for the tenth year in a row, touted Wanaka as “the adventure capital of New Zealand”.

When asked about his pick for the Ultimate Adventure Classic Trip Jeremy says, “start with Wanaka.”  He goes on to talk about the openness and friendliness of Kiwi’s and the ease of traveling within the country.  Both local ski areas Treble Cone and Cardrona were highlighted by Jeremy along with the incredible heli-ski terrain, which is the second largest heli-ski region in the world.

Recognition as the ‘adventure capital of New Zealand’ from one of the world’s most celebrated and well-known snowboarders is a fantastic tribute to the region, but one those in the know have always acknowledged. Lake Wanaka Tourism General Manger, James Helmore says “We have everything right here in Wanaka from skydiving, jet-boating, canyoning, aerobatic flights, heli-biking, ice-driving, mountaineering, paragliding, river sledging; if it’s a thrill you’re after, it’s here!  Lake Wanaka is the perfect marriage of adventure and relaxation.  If adrenaline’s not your thing, or you’ve gone all out and need to unwind, there’s day spas, eco-cruises, scenic flights, lake cruises, luxury cinemas, and scenery that will take your breath away.”

This kind of impartial, spontaneously honest commendation is praise Lake Wanaka should be incredibly proud of.  Lake Wanaka Tourism General Manager, James Helmore, is delighted.  “We’ve always known Lake Wanaka is a special place and to be singled out by such a global personality is just fantastic.”