How to Explore Mou Waho Island – Wānaka, New Zealand
It’s an island in a lake in an island in a lake in an island in the ocean. Confused? Welcome to Mou Waho Island (pronounced “moo-ah-who”), situated in Lake Wānaka in the South Island of New Zealand. Mou Waho features Arethusa Pool, a little lake formed by glaciers with its own mini island. Beyond this unique geological feature, Mou Waho is also home to the buff weka, a large flightless bird that is extinct on mainland New Zealand. Exploring Mou Waho was one of the highlights of our trip to the South Island and is worth a half day of your trip.
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How to Get to Mou Waho Island
Lake Wānaka is the 4th largest lake in New Zealand and it has 4 islands. Mou Waho is the furthest island from the town of Wānaka. There are 2 ways to get to Mou Waho Island: on a tour via water taxi or by renting a boat on your own. We opted for the organized half-day tour.
It takes about 30 minutes to reach Mou Waho from Wānaka by boat.
Guided Tour Options
There are a few options to choose from when it comes to organized Mou Waho tours:
- Lake Wanaka Cruises (the tour we did)
- You can choose to do this tour guided or unguided (we chose the latter) and you get ~2 hours to explore the island.
- Does require a minimum of 4 people to run so I was worried our tour would be cancelled but there were 10 people total.
- Wanaka Water Taxi
- Tours run at 10AM and 2PM daily in the summer.
- You get ~90 minutes to explore the island.
- Jet Ski Tour
- A more exciting way to reach Mou Waho. You get ~90 minutes to explore the island.
- A more exciting way to reach Mou Waho. You get ~90 minutes to explore the island.
Renting a Boat on Your Own
Lakeland Wanaka offers the option for self-guided boat rentals that you can take around Lake Wanaka, including a visit to Mou Waho. No boating license required! You’ll want to select the 4-hour rental option to give yourself enough time to visit the island. The boat seats 8 people, so this could be the most affordable option for a large group.
What to Expect on Mou Waho
Are there restrooms on Mou Waho?
There are 2 pit toilets near the beach on Mou Waho. When we were there, they even had toilet paper!
Buff Weka Birds
Buff wekas are flightless birds about the size of a chicken that have gone extinct on mainland New Zealand due to introduced predators, but Mou Waho Island is a haven for the remaining buff weka.
Our boat driver told us that buff weka birds are found all over the island and if we’re still and quiet, they may even come up to us. We explored the whole island and were disappointed that we didn’t see a single buff weka. It wasn’t until we were sitting at the picnic table waiting to board the boat again that a buff weka came up to us and poked around us and the picnic table!
How to see the island in a lake in an island in a lake in an island in the ocean
It’s about a 40-minute walk up the path from the beach to the upper viewpoint. There’s also a lower viewpoint at the base of Arethusa Pool along the way. There’s one main trail to follow that’s well maintained and there are plenty of benches along the way if you need to take a break. The entire way you’re treated to stunning views. We were surprised at how much Mou Waho Island feels like you’ve entered into the jungle. The plants are distinctly different than those in Wanaka and are much more tropical.
Be very careful at the upper viewpoint, because it is an unprotected cliff edge. Keep a safe distance, especially if it’s wet or you’re not surefooted.
How much time should you budget for Mou Waho?
I think the guided tours estimating 90-120 minutes are right on the money. That’s the perfect amount of time to slowly explore the island, go to both Arethusa Pool viewpoints, and make your way back without any rush.
What to Bring to Mou Waho
You don’t need to bring much on your trip to Mou Waho, but here’s some recommended items:
- Daypack
- Water bottle
- Snack (be sure to leave no trace!)
- Swimsuit and towel (if you want to swim in Lake Wanaka or Arethusa Pool)
- Camera
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen – there’s a decent amount of shade on the island but not 100% coverage
- Hat
- Layers – it started off cold but we were sweating by the time we reached the top of the island
Wānaka Restaurant Recommendation
After your tour on Mou Waho, be sure to stop by Big Fig Wanaka for a delicious lunch of slow-cooked foods. Their kombucha on tap is also amazing!
Final Thoughts
While we initially added Mou Waho Island to our trip itinerary solely on the basis of seeing “an island in a lake in an island in a lake in an island in the ocean”, it is a really cool island overall. We had no idea about the buff weka birds before our tour and are really glad one came and paid us a visit. This unique island is really a New Zealand hidden gem I don’t see talked about enough!
Be sure to pin this post for future planning!
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