Mou Waho Island

Referred to as an island, in a lake, in an island, in a lake, in an island in the ocean – that’s Mou Waho Island!

The most remote of Lake Wanaka's five islands, Mou Waho is only accessible by boat. You’ll cruise from Wanaka township to the nature reserve in approximately one hour on a comfortable 57 ft catamaran admiring the sparkling waters and breathtaking scenery, whilst inhaling the fresh sweet- smelling mountain air around you. There is truly no better way to live!

Lake Wanaka is New Zealand's fourth-largest lake at 42 km in length. It was carved out by a glacier in the last ice age some 10,000 years ago. The lake borders Mt Aspiring National Park and is surrounded by high country stations in all directions, affording the most spectacular views in the entire country.

Mou Waho Island is indeed very special as it’s a predator free Department of Conservation nature reserve which has a natural glacial formed lake at its summit. Here you can see first-hand results of conservation efforts including the rare flightless Buff Weka (extinct on the mainland since 1920), and the Mountain Stone Weta, as well as many other native New Zealand birds.

Mou Waho Island has been granted special protection by the New Zealand Department of Conservation and is the focal point for the actions of a community-based conservation group. The island has been cleared of introduced pests such as rats, stoats and possums, thus making it a 'safe' area for the native birdlife to live and breed.