A LONE tree that grew from a fence post on New Zealand's South Island has become an unlikely social media sensation.
The straggly crack willow tree on the shores of Lake Wanaka is thought to be at least 80 years old. Not so unusual, you might think.
But more recently, this venerable tree has become a social media star. Known as #thatwanakatree it is attracting photographers from around the world, keen for the perfect shot.
A custodian of local history, 85-year-old Wanaka artist and writer Gwenda Rowlands remembers the fence line from nearly 70 years ago, when she first visited it in a dinghy with her father and brother. "It was 1939, and I remember it growing there - and that's not yesterday," she told media. "So it has been growing slowly all that time ... it shows anything that is alive has a determination to live."
These days, dozens of amateur and professional photographers gather on the shores of Lake Wanaka at dawn and dusk to photograph the "most photogenic tree in the world".
The tree has its own dedicated Facebook page and has been featured in international publications. The hashtag #thatwanakatree has been used more than 13,000 times on Instagram.
Gizelle Regan from Lake Wanaka Tourism says the tree's popularity is thanks to its accessibility to the township of Wanaka, its symmetry, and the extraordinary backdrop of snow-topped mountains and a vast, shimmering lake.
She calls the tree an "icon" that is quintessentially Wanaka and has helped bring visitors to the town.
Wanaka is a resort town near Queenstown, less than an hour's drive from Queenstown International Airport.
The town is at the southern end of Lake Wanaka, which is popular for boating in summer. There are three ski fields within an easy drive.
Other Wanaka attractions include hiking in Mt Aspiring National Park, mountain biking and wineries.