The resort received 123mm of rain last month - the second highest amount since records began in 1992.
The December 2008 amount was more than double Wanaka's usual average rainfall for December, which is about 60mm.
The December record for rainfall was in 1995, when 185mm of rain soaked the township in a month.
A heavy spell of 40mm was recorded during the weekend of December 20, which followed on from a dousing of 30mm on December 11.
The unsettled weather has continued through the New Year holiday period, with more than 10mm of rain and strong northwest winds creating frustration for sun-seekers and boat users alike.
A heavy rain warning is in place for Fiordland with a northwest flow continuing.
The winds across the Southern Lakes show no sign of abatement in the short term, but MetService has forecast finer, settled weather from about the weekend.
