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The Wānaka region is well serviced by a number of 
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Location
Wānaka is a small town in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. Surrounded by the mountains of the Southern Alps, Wānaka rests at the southern end of the lake for which it is named.
There are many activities to enjoy in the region including hiking, mountain bike riding, boating and other adventure sports. Wānaka hosts a wide range of shops, cafes and restaurants.
Teaching Venue
Wānaka Recreation Centre, 42 Sir Tim Wallis Drive, Wānaka 9382, New Zealand.
Wānaka Recreation Centre is a community owned facility which houses the large hall which we will be using as well as the town swimming pool. There will be a separate entrance for the Seven Treasuries of Longchenpa attendees. We ask that everyone shows respect for the locals as they are sharing their community facility with us. There is ample parking.
There is a large supermarket and several small cafes nearby the venue but we advise people to either bring their own lunch or else sign on for the supplied catering as the local eateries may struggle to cope with the numbers.
Transport to venue
The venue (Wanaka Recreation Centre) is about 3 km from central Wanaka and 15 km from Lake Hawea. Transport options include:
- Walk. The walk from town will take 30-45 minutes each way.
- Bus. A shuttle bus will operate between the main accommodation sites in Wanaka / Albert Town and the venue at the start and end of each day. Whilst a bus may also be operating between the venue and town at lunchtime, we encourage participants to take advantage of the catered lunch that is available at the venue. Bookings for the shuttle bus need to be made in advance and for the duration of the event. We cannot guarantee a shuttle service for those who have not booked prior to September 30th. All information about the shuttle buses can be found on the Transmissions Transport ticketing site, and tickets can be booked directly there.
- Cycle. Bike hire is available from several places in Wānaka, including Green Toad, Racers Edge and Outdoor Sports. We have negotiated a rate (subject to availability) of $45/day with Green Toad (mention the event when booking). There are lots of opportunities for recreational cycling in the area.
- Taxi. For groups staying together, taxi hire may be a good option. Local providers include Yello! and Wana-Taxi.
- Drive. Car hire is readily available in Wānaka, Christchurch and Queenstown. We recommend booking early to get the best rates, and encourage ride sharing wherever possible.
Sustainability
Love Wanaka Community Fund
As part of our commitment to the environment and the communities who host us, we invite you to donate to Love Wānaka as a way of offsetting the impacts of your travel to and from our event.
We suggest a minimum donation of $10 for domestic attendees, $20 for Australian travellers, and $50 for those who have flown internationally. Please make a note that you are donating on behalf of your attendance at the Siddhartha’s Intent event in the message section of the donation form.
Click here to donate now, or find out more at www.lovewanaka.co.nz.
About Love Wānaka
Love Wānaka is a community fund that exists so that visitors to the Wānaka rohe (region), and the businesses connecting them, can play an active role in the protection and regeneration of this environmentally and ecologically significant place.
Love Wānaka funds localised climate, conservation and biodiversity action exclusively within the Wānaka region, supporting the organisations who are championing this mahi (work) right here and now, as well as driving change for our future generations. This includes native reforestation, waterway protection, and biodiversity enhancement, with all funding allocated to local organisations, empowering grass-roots change and building more connected communities.
Love Wānaka’s mission is to inspire tautiakitaka (guardianship), so that nature thrives for the benefit of all species, whilst providing for the wellbeing of both people and place. This is often referred to as the kaupapa of tiaki.
Zero waste policy
Creating zero waste is a high priority throughout the event. Single-use items are strongly discouraged.
You will need to bring your own water bottle for drinking water.
There will be recycling and compost stations available at the event and participants are encouraged to consider plastic free shopping.
This initiative is fully supported by long standing Circular Economy efforts in place by the local council and wider Wanaka community.
Zero waste principals in place throughout the event:
- Refuse – Refuse plastic packaging when you make a purchase. See here the Wanaka waste free shopping guide
- Reduce – Avoid produce wrapped in plastic (see above guide), ditch the tea bags. By bringing your own reusable coffee cup, you are supporting Wānaka becoming Aotearoa’s first single-use cup free town
- Reuse or repair. Shop instead for preloved goods, or have anything that needs fixing? Head down to Wanaka Wastebusters, a 20 min walk or 3 min drive from Wanaka Recreation centre. Forgot to bring your reusable cup, thermos or after other reusable goods? See guide here..
- Recycle – We will be working closely with Wanaka Wastebusters to recycle a range items including some hard to-recycle or unusual items like polystyrene, batteries, broken electronics, textiles, building materials and hardware.
- Rot – We will be working with the local worm farm and composting station for all compostable produce.