Discover the hidden gem of Twizel, a charming town nestled in the heart of New Zealand’s South Island. With its breathtaking landscapes, crystal-clear lakes, and proximity to the majestic Southern Alps and Mt Cook, Twizel offers an unforgettable escape for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike.

Twizel isn’t just a place to visit; it’s a place to stay and immerse yourself in the beauty of this untouched paradise. In this guide, we’ll uncover the secrets of Twizel; whether you’re planning a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or a solo adventure, Twizel has something for everyone. So pack your bags, and let’s embark on a journey to discover the wonders of Twizel and the perfect place to call home during your stay.

Best Time to Visit Twizel

Twizel is a small town in New Zealands south island, nestled between Omarama and Tekapo in the Mackenzie District. Twizel is encased in a border of mountain ranges and rugged landscape, making it the perfect home base for adventure seekers. Sitting within close proximity to Mt Cook, Twizel is the perfect location to rest your feet every night after spending a day traversing the multitude of hiking trails and walking tracks in the Southern Alps.

The best time to visit Twizel is either May – June at the very beginning of winter or October – November during the end of spring. During these months the mornings and evenings are cold with frost and sprinklings of snow, creating a picture perfect view of solitude before beginning your day of adventure.

Where to Stay in Twizel: Highlands Farmstay

We couldn’t have asked for a better location to stay than Highlands Farmstay, the cosy, single bedroom hut was a perfect setting among a frost covered paddock and snow capped mountains bordering the town. We were welcomed to our Twizel accommodation by two very eager Llamas and a flock of friendly chickens waiting at our doorstep.

The deck hosted two bathtubs sunken into the deck for warm outdoor bath among the snow and privacy of the remote farm stay, and the hut had everything you needed for a perfect night or two stay in Twizel. Highlands Farmstay was truly in one of the most beautiful locations and I couldn’t have asked for better views to wake up to.

If Highlands Farmstay sounds like a bit of paradise you want to get your hands on, check out their listing on Airbnb or at Highlands Farmstay website. There are several accommodation options, from the one bedroom huts to multi bedroom barn, Highlands Farmstay has accommodation options to suit everyone, just make sure you book early enough in advance that you don’t miss out.

About Highlands Farmstay

This accommodation in Twizel doesn’t just offer a single room with a queen sized bed. The hosts have a variety of options to hopefully suit everyones needs. From the cute single bedroom hut to the larger barn for those who prefer space over price.

Huts
There are two single bedroom huts that both have beautiful views towards the mountains and farmland. Perfect for couples who love getting snug. Both self contained huts are furnished with a queen sized bed, fully functional kitchen and a dining table. The hut is fitted with a heat pump and even offers a small deck with two bathtubs for outside bathing under the stars.

Cottage
The single bedroom cottage is great for those single people or couples who want a bit more space because they’re staying for a longer period of time. The cottage has space for separate dining and living and even an outdoor dining table. The outdoor tub is a bit more spacious than those at the huts, and the kitchen is the perfect size for you to cook your own meals.

Barn
The barn at Highlands Farmstay is perfect for families or a set of friends to stay in Twizel. The barn comes with a large double bed and two single beds. Much like the cottage it has plenty of space to move around in and enjoy a day inside if the weather is turning for the worse.

Animals at Highlands Farmstay

Besides the two outdoor baths, the rather secluded and private location in a vast, open space. I think the deal maker for this location was the animals on the property that I could interact with. Not only were we given complimentary tea and coffee, but there were containers of animal food labelled for each breed of animal on the farm. Both mornings we were greeted by the chickens on our front door step. And the alpacas were so eager to get a feed from us I’m surprised they didn’t break through the fence

Things to do in Twizel

Twizel is the perfect halfway town to stay in if you want to enjoy hiking many of the trails surrounding Mt Cook, Visiting Lake Tekapo and the Hot Springs or if you just want to stay somewhere remote and get away from your busy lifestyle. Twizel town has everything you need, from breakfast bars and cafes and small shops for every day needs. If you’re needing a large supermarket or competitive pharmacy you will need to head out to Timaru or plan everything in advance as Twizel doesn’t have any large competitive supermarkets.

Twizel to Mount Cook

Mt Cook village is the perfect place to visit for a day trip from Twizel as it is only a 46 minute drive north of Twizel. But the destination isn’t the only reason you should visit Mt Cook, the landscape that borders state highway 80 up to Mt Cook village is breathtakingly beautiful, whether you’re visiting during summer or winter.
Mt Cook village is where you begin any Mt Cook based hike, whether you’re wanting an easy pace with little incline, or if you’re wanting to push your body to its limits and scale some treacherous terrain; a road trip from Twizel to Mt Cook village will easily feed your thrill seeking hunger.

If you’re new to hiking or aren’t prepared to tackle risky terrain then I highly recommend exploring the Hooker Valley Track. Hooker Valley is perfect for every day adventurers who love exploring but aren’t so keen to set up camp for the night on the side of a mountain, Hooker Valley takes you through the seemingly flat landscape of Mt Cook National Park and you end at Hooker Lake with an incredible view of Mt Cook in the background.

Road Trip from Twizel to Tekapo

Take the 45 minute road trip from Twizel to Tekapo and drive through some of the most remote landscapes in New Zealand. The drive from Twizel to Tekapo is around 54km long, and is a pretty easy going, straight drive along the state highway. Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo are just two of the amazing scenes you will see along the way, both lakes have glistening blue water, and if visiting during Autumn the colours create an amazing backdrop against the gold and yellow trees covering the neighbouring hills and farmland.

Things to do in Tekapo

Tekapo Hot Springs

Tekapo hot springs is a great place to warm up during a very cold winter down south, the outdoor springs are tucked up on a hill with incredible views across Tekapos lakes and neighbouring scenery of rolling hills and landscapes.. Tekapo Hot Springs are extremely popular and one of the most picturesque places to be during winter. These outdoor hot pools create a great atmosphere for when snow is falling and melting in the water around you. Visiting Tekapo hot springs is truly a magical experience whether your warming up in winter or resting your achy legs after a hike in summer.

Church of the Good Shepherd

Church of the Good Shepherd was opened in 1935 and is the sole church in Tekapo, and is still a regular place of worship for many locals. Even if you’re not religious the building is beautifully built of stone with a slate roof and sits on undisturbed ground. The Tekapo church is a hot spot for photographers during every season, where you can catch the sunset warming the church with an orange glow, or the winter snow blanketing the ground and surrounding hills. We didn’t make it to the Church of the Good Shepherd this time around, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to.

Lindis Pass and Omarama Clay Cliffs

If you came to Twizel from a Northern direction then you definitely need to travel further south to visit Omarama for their hot springs and clay cliffs. Omarama Clay cliffs are a destination that are out of this world, the cliffs were slowly eroded away by a flowing river in this location thousands of years ago, the result has left cliffs appearing like giant stalagmites that border the state highway in Omarama.

Access to these mesmerizing clay cliffs can only be done by crossing private land, the land owners welcome visitors for a small fee as they have to maintain the road to and from the cliffs.