Local Tips
#10 – Mackenzie Golf Courses
Love golf? The Mackenzie Region has you covered! We have five amazing golf courses located around the region – the Mt Nessing Golf Club in Albury, the Fairlie Golf Club, the Cairns Alpine Resort Golf Course and Balmoral Golf Course at Lake Tekapo and the […]
#9 – Fairlie’s Bobby Square
The Mackenzie Region is known for its amazing outdoors and dramatic scenery, but did you know it also has some incredible shopping? Located in the heart of Fairlie you will find Bobby Square, a shopping haven offering everything from leading fashion brands, art and jewellery, […]
#8 – Ben Ōhau & Greta Stream
The trailhead is located approximately 22 kilometres from Twizel township, along the Glen Lyon Road on the north side of Lake Ōhau. Starting from the car park, you immediately pass an old derelict musterer’s hut from the 1890s called Back Hut. From there, it’s a […]
#7 – UC Mt John Observatory
The University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory is located at the top of Mount John, with 360-degree alpine views overlooking Lake Tekapo, Lake Alexandrina and Lake McGregor. At the University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory, there are 6 telescopes, including the country’s biggest, which can […]
#6 – Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail
The Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail is New Zealand’s longest continuous cycle trail, providing epic vistas as you make your way from the Southern Alps to the Pacific Ocean. Starting at either Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park or Lake Tekapo village, the trail is made up […]
#5 – Lavender Farm
Situated under New Zealand’s majestic Southern Alps on the highway to Aoraki/Mount Cook, you’ll find one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest certified organic lavender farms, NZ Alpine Lavender. At 600m above sea level, the high altitude provides the perfect growing environment for the lavender, resulting […]
#4 – Aqua Drop Waterslide
Lake Tekapo’s downhill Aqua Drop Waterslide is 150 metres of pure fun and your classic Kiwi summer activity! Operating at Tekapo Springs from December through to February, it’s perfect for everyone, young or old. Have a competition with your mates to see who can be […]
#3 – Tasman Glacier
The Tasman Glacier is New Zealand’s largest glacier and flows from the Southern Alps southeast to the Mackenzie Basin. From take-off you fly up the Tasman Valley over the blue glacier lake, surrounded by the snow-capped mountain peaks. You’ll pass the Hochstetter Icefall and the […]
#2 – Fairlie Bakehouse
A Fairlie Bakehouse pie is a ‘must visit’ when exploring the Mackenzie Region. Known for their pork belly and apple pie with crackling on top and their bacon and salmon pie, they make everything on site that day and pride themselves in sourcing local produce wherever […]
#1 – Aoraki/Mount Cook
Aoraki/Mount Cook is New Zealand’s highest peak, nestled amongst the Southern Alps in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. At the base of the valley sits the Mount Cook village – an alpine haven in one of the most breath-taking landscapes found in New Zealand. Known for […]
