4 minute read
Top places in Mackenzie District
Mackenzie District
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LAKE TEKAPŌ
New Zealand’s highest large lake will leave your eyes wide and your mouth ajar. It is sublimely beautiful. It’s also home to one of the country’s most photographed icons: The Church of the Good Shepherd, as well as a seasonal display of bright purple lupin flowers.
MT JOHN
For superb photos of Lake Tekapō, climb to the top of Mt John via the 90-minute Summit Track, or drive from the village in 15 minutes. There’s a café and observatory up here, too.
LAKE TEKAPŌ TOWNSHIP
While Lake Tekapō needs little introduction, its namesake village is charming in its own right. With a small flurry of cafés, motels and restaurants, it’s not huge, but it perfectly complements the main attraction.
CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
If you’re after a starlit pic when the masonry of this perfect little church is doused in moonlight, book a night tour from Lake Tekapō village.
FAIRLIE
The farming town of Fairlie marks the beginning of Mackenzie District and sits a mere 30 minutes by car from the Church of the Good Shepherd. Distinctly rural, come winter it doubles as a ski town.
LAKE OHAU
Phenomenally blue, the views across Lake Ohau are most impressive from Ohau Snow Field. It’s not the largest ski field in Aotearoa, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in charm and small town community spirit.
LAKE PŪKAKI
If you’re looking for something unique, try gliding across Lake Pūkaki on a 40-minute hovercraft excursion.
Night Sky
Red Tarns, Aoraki Mt Cook National Park © Lee Cook
The Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve is the world’s largest, so the star gazing in the villages of Tekapō, Twizel and Aoraki Mt Cook is incredible. The Mackenzie Region is almost totally free of light pollution and if you’d like to know more about the night sky and galaxies beyond, join a star gazing tour at the Dark Sky Project Observatory in Tekapō.
TOP Aoraki Tracks
Walking on Hooker Track, Aoraki Mt Cook
HOOKER VALLEY WALK
One of the most popular walks – complete with swing bridges – the Hooker Glacier terminal lake is your prize for a three-hour, mostly flat hike.
GOVERNORS BUSH WALK
An easy one-hour loop with a gentle climb to the lookout point. Aoraki Mt Cook stands prominently in the background.
TASMAN GLACIER VIEW TRACK
For uninterrupted views across the icy blue Tasman Glacier lake: likely frozen in winter and peppered with icebergs come summer. One-hour return.
GLENCOE WALK
Ideal for families, this 30-minute return walk starts from behind the Hermitage Hotel and presents impressive Hooker Glacier views.
MUELLER HUT HIKE
A four-hour one-way walk will gift you with jaw dropping views of the Ngakanohi Glacier and Mueller Glacier.
AORAKI MT COOK
Wild flowers, Aoraki Mt Cook
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Framed by stunning, rugged mountainscapes, Aoraki Mt Cook Village is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the spectacular scenery and activities. With 140 peaks more than 2000m high and glaciers covering 40 percent within the Aoraki Mt Cook National Park, this is an unforgettable place to visit.
Part of the UNESCO Te Wāhipounamu – South West World Heritage Area, Aoraki Mt Cook National Park covers more than 70,000ha. You can enjoy the tussock grassland, huge river valleys, lakes and mountains by walking, tramping (guides available), ski plane or helicopter. Check out the Glentanner Park Centre for scenic fight options. Look out for native flowers in the area; there are over 750 different varieties, including the famous Mt Cook lily, the largest buttercup in the world. Other activities include climbing, tahr hunting, four-wheel drive safaris and glacier skiing. You can also jump on a boat for a different kind of boat tour across Tasman Lake. On this trip you’ll learn all about the huge glacial icebergs that litter the water.
TWIZEL
Old Iron Bridge, Twizel © Jack Austin
You might think, as the closest town to Aoraki Mt Cook, Twizel needn’t bother to entice visitors with anything more. To the contrary, this purpose-built town is home to a myriad of standout qualities. As well as being a well-positioned base for mountain climbing, there are also mountain biking, horse trekking, skiing, hiking and fishing opportunities. In between cycling portions of the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail, or navigating a kayak across Lake Ruataniwha, you could be tasting just-caught fresh fish at the High Country Salmon farm, or clipping on your ski boots for a dalliance with one of the area’s four ski fields. Come summer it’ll take a lot to entice water-lovers out of the river’s prime swimming spots, while stand-up paddle boarding across the lake is just as fun – and just as wet if you’re a novice. If you have pint-sized travellers in your clan, the town’s prominent tractor loves to be clung to, and the clubs at the Twizel mini-golf course are happiest when swung.
Main image: Ohau snowboarder © Ohau Ski Area
