Photographer beside the famous That Wanaka Tree reflected in calm water on Lake Wanaka at sunrise in Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand.

    Photographer capturing the famous That Wanaka Tree at sunrise on Lake Wanaka with autumn colours and mountain reflections, Wanaka, New Zealand.

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    That Wānaka Tree

    Landmark

    That Wānaka Tree is a solitary willow tree growing in the shallow water of Lake Wānaka in New Zealand’s South Island. The tree stands a short distance from the lakeshore near the township of Wānaka. The composition resolves through the isolated tree framed by the lake surface and surrounding mountain ranges.

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    Gallery

    Photographer beside the famous That Wanaka Tree reflected in calm water on Lake Wanaka at sunrise in Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand.

    Photographer capturing the famous That Wanaka Tree at sunrise on Lake Wanaka wit…

    Minimalist black and white long-exposure image of That Wanaka Tree reflected in calm water of Lake Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand.

    Long-exposure black and white photograph of That Wanaka Tree standing in Lake Wa…

    The iconic That Wanaka Tree growing in shallow water of Lake Wanaka with mountain backdrop in Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand.

    The famous That Wanaka Tree standing in Lake Wanaka with mountains of the Southe…

    That Wanaka Tree reflected in Lake Wanaka with golden autumn trees and mountain backdrop in Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand.

    The famous That Wanaka Tree reflected in calm water of Lake Wanaka with autumn p…

    The iconic That Wanaka Tree growing in Lake Wanaka with mountains and shoreline trees reflected in the water, Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand.

    That Wanaka Tree standing in shallow water of Lake Wanaka with mountain backdrop…

    Quick Facts

    Access

    Roadside / Step-out

    0–5 min

    Elevation Gain

    5 m

    Best Light

    Sunrise
    Golden Hour
    Blue Hour
    Overcast

    Light works best when the sun is low or diffused because angled light defines the tree structure while calm water reflects the tree and surrounding mountains.

    Why This Light

    Low-Angle Relief
    Reflections

    Crowds

    Busy Sunrise/Sunset

    Restrictions

    The tree stands in shallow water near the lakeshore and is accessible from the public lakefront walkway.

    Photography Notes

    Photographs are typically made from the lakeshore where the tree stands slightly offshore in the water. Small changes in position alter how the mountains align behind the tree and how reflections form across the lake surface.
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