The main reason for following the Wānaka Mount Aspiring Road to West Wānaka is to get to the Motor Camp at Glendhu Bay and the start of the track along the west side of the lake to Coquhouns Flat and beyond.
For an alternative further off the beaten track, follow West Wānaka Road, Short Road, and then Buchanan Rise to find yourself on Roys Peninsula. The road is a dead end, but you will get a nice view back over some paddocks and the flats of The Island to the Harris Mountains.
From Buchanan Rise, you can drive down onto The Island, a large area of river gravel and sand on the southeast side of the Matukituki River outlet. Perfect for wandering around and searching for the ideal stone to spin in the lake or just settling in for a picnic.
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