Twizel Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Twizel showing a bay or harbour and a lake or waterhole
Twizel showing signage
Twizel showing signage
Twizel which includes a lake or waterhole
Photo by Completely Wanderlust

Base yourself at this convenient South Island stopover town to take a scenic flight over a glacier, see movie-set landscapes and get active in alpine wonderlands.

Twizel is a small town in the Mackenzie District of New Zealand’s South Island, which is an alpine region full of spellbinding mountains, lakes and rolling hills. Twizel is situated next to Lake Ruataniwha and gives easy access to the vast Aoraki/Mount Cook National ParkOpens in a new window.

Established in 1968 to house workers of the local hydroelectric scheme, Twizel is a relatively young town even for New Zealand standards. Due to its convenient location in between Lake Tekapo and Queenstown, Twizel has become a popular stopover for those crossing New Zealand’s South Island.

Set out on a hike or bike ride to take in the majesty of the surrounding lakes and mountains. Mountain bike options from Twizel range from simple bike hire through to fully supported multi-day tours.

Step into the mystical realms of Middle-earth during a Lord Of The Rings Twizel Tour. Visit the stunning spots where famous scenes were filmed and learn about how the movies were made. Put on a costume to pose for a photo for a great souvenir.

See the scenery from a different perspective by taking a kayak trip out on a lake. Go on a guided tour or drift along in the serenity of your own company.

A third way of appreciating the majesty of the landscape is from above. Enjoy a scenic biplane flight, which takes just 2 passengers to provide a personalised viewing experience.

Visit High Country Salmon at their lakeside farm just to the south of town. Feed the salmon in the ponds with some of the free fish food that is provided and marvel at their speed and manoeuvrability. Order fresh salmon sushi, salmon pies or smoked salmon and eat it next to the ponds where the fish was caught.

Twizel is located in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark-Sky Reserve, a heaven for stargazers. Dark-sky reserves are in low nighttime light areas and reduce artificial light pollution to help promote astronomy.

Whether it's the night sky or the movie-like scenery, you can’t help but be starstruck by this enchanting place in the far regions of the Southern Hemisphere.

Lake Ruataniwha Holiday Park

Lake Ruataniwha Holiday Park

3 out of 5
53 Freda Du Faur Avenue, Twizel
The price is AU$66 per night from 22 Oct to 23 Oct
AU$66
22 Oct - 23 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star holiday park in Twizel. Enjoy free parking, WiFi (surcharge), and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Lake Ruataniwha and Mueller Ridge ...
9/10 Wonderful! (161 reviews)
"Great location with lakeside walks nearby. The unit was really clean and comfortable."

Reviewed on 12 Oct 2025

Lake Ruataniwha Holiday Park
High Country Motel and Backpackers

High Country Motel and Backpackers

2.5 out of 5
23 Mackenzie Drive, Twizel
The price is AU$105 per night from 17 Oct to 18 Oct
AU$105
17 Oct - 18 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in Twizel. Enjoy free parking, breakfast (surcharge), and WiFi (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
7.6/10 Good! (251 reviews)
"perfect for a two night visit"

Reviewed on 30 Aug 2025

High Country Motel and Backpackers
Alps Motel Apartment Twizel

Alps Motel Apartment Twizel

2 out of 5
17 Ruataniwha Street, Twizel, Twizel
The price is AU$262 per night from 27 Oct to 28 Oct
AU$262
27 Oct - 28 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in Twizel. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and in-room washers/dryers. Popular attractions Twizel Town Centre and Mueller Ridge are located ...
10/10 Exceptional! (69 reviews)
Very Nice Motel. Highly recommend it.
"Wonderful, clean, new motel. Highly recommend it."

Reviewed on 15 Sept 2025

Alps Motel Apartment Twizel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Glencairn Beauty

Glencairn Beauty

3.5 out of 5
16 Glencairn Road, Twizel
Stay at this 3.5-star vacation home in Twizel. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a garden. Popular attractions Mueller Ridge and Twizel Town Centre are located ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (9 reviews)
"Kitchen is fully equip and super clean."

Reviewed on 30 Sept 2025

Glencairn Beauty
Original Twizel Bach - Pet Friendly

Original Twizel Bach - Pet Friendly

Twizel
Stay at this vacation home in Twizel. Enjoy laundry facilities. Popular attractions Twizel Town Centre and Mueller Ridge are located nearby.
8.2/10 Very Good! (33 reviews)
Love Twizel
"Love twizel, beautiful place to stay.This wee bach was perfect. Easy to find, plenty of room for the dogs, close to the shopping centre. The fire was so cosy.Thanks for having us and i hope to be back!"

Reviewed on 30 July 2025

Original Twizel Bach - Pet Friendly
Dusky's Hidden Gem - a Private Sanctuary in the majestic Mackenzie country

Dusky's Hidden Gem - a Private Sanctuary in the majestic Mackenzie country

Twizel
Stay at this apartment in Twizel. Enjoy laundry facilities and air conditioning. Popular attractions Twizel Town Centre and Mueller Ridge are located ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (9 reviews)
Cosy spot in great location
"Sweet jumping off point for all the region has to offer, lakes mountains and culture. Kids loved relaxing in the outdoor bath watching the stars:-)"

Reviewed on 2 May 2025

Dusky's Hidden Gem - a Private Sanctuary in the majestic Mackenzie country
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Activities

Reviews of Twizel

4.3
Top destination
5 - Excellent
41
5 - Excellent 37%
4 - Good
57
4 - Good 52%
3 - Okay
12
3 - Okay 11%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Try Mike's salmon pizza or burgers at RAZZAs. Not good for the waistline but oh so good!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

I’ve been going to Twizel since I was little but hadn’t been in 5 years. It’s great to see how much the town has progressed in that time, but it’s also nice to see that it has kept its small town charm as well.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Small town with more than enough dining options. We had a great stay

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

Just passing through .

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Twizel is a great base to explore the wonderful MacKenzie Country

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Charming town near Mt Cook with all the facilities (particularly like how they’re all located together at Market Place). Would recommend staying here and taking the scenic drive along Lake Pukaki. Much cheaper and complete than Mt Cook village.

Cities near Twizel

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