6 Great Autumn Spots In The Mackenzie

Twizel has plenty of areas to view the autumnal colours. This former hydro-town had a very proactive tree-planting programme for many years, leading to thousands of exotic trees being planted all around the township.

Try walking along the Twizel River, or out at Lake Ruataniwha. Be sure to warm up once you’re done at some of Twizel’s excellent cafes!

Fairlie is especially blessed with large, mature Northern Hemisphere trees. Walking along the main street you could almost think you were in a quaint American town – oaks and sycamores towering overheard. Enjoy a stroll around the township, and of course, nothing tops off an autumn photo expedition like a warm meal. Check out the wonderful Farm Barn Café just 8km out of town on the top of Mount Michael. They’ve got epic views, farm animals for the kids to feed and pet, a well-curated gift shop, roaring log fire, and delicious food!

Hidden gems! These twin lakes are often overlooked in favour of their famous neighbour, Lake Tekapo. Take a trip off the beaten path; they’re only a short drive from Lake Tekapo with plenty of pleasant walkways around these small lakes. Very peaceful and contemplative. How about packing a picnic and dining under the trees? Pop into Lake Tekapo’s Four Square supermarket, load up on food & drink supplies and go exploring!

Pioneer settler T.D. Burnett of Mount Cook Station had a passion for planting trees, and through his determined efforts, there are now many exotic trees along Hayman Road and at Mount Cook Station. Hayman Road is a long gravel road running along the eastern side of Lake Pūkaki. This is a dead-end road that terminates at the gates to Mount Cook Station. Take time to drive slowly along the road and find your perfect spot to park up and walk amongst the trees. There are plenty of great areas to explore, and thanks to the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail passing by there are two toilets near the road. Have a look at the following maps to see the locations of the toilets:

• Section 1
• Section 2

There are some picnic tables near the toilets, so go ahead and have a lovely picnic by Lake Pūkaki.

There are many beautiful trees along the edges of Lake Tekapo. You can head over to the western side by Tekapo Springs and wander along the edge of the lake. Another great spot is the Lake Tekapo Regional Park – a 165-hectare exotic forest on the southeastern side of the lake. There are picnic tables; toilets; trails for biking, walking & jogging; dog park and more!

The quaint settlement of Kimbell is home to historic pub the Silversteam Hotel, the Garage Gallery, and Mt Dobson Motel. Surrounding this collection of buildings on State Highway 8 are some wonderful old deciduous trees with autumn colours.