Local's Guide to Twizel
City/town information
Twizel is our beloved little town (17km from our place) and one that wasn't supposed to exist! It was constructed in 1968 to house workers and their families for the Upper Waitaki Hydroelectric Scheme.
When the scheme finished in the 1980s, some government ministers wanted the town to be demolished. However, the people living here fought successfully to retain the town they loved, and Twizel was officially named a town in 1984!
Modern-day Twizel is a thriving community of around 1,650 people from New Zealand and around the world. It's popular for its relaxed, peaceful lifestyle, and proximity to the great outdoors, including Aoraki Mt Cook, alpine lakes, and stunning hiking trails. It's also famous for its pure dark skies, as Twizel is located in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve.
Did you know? Te Manahuna is the Māori name for the Mackenzie Basin, and the Māori people undertook seasonal food-gathering expeditions there. The Maori name for the Twizel River is Whakatipu.
The name Twizel comes from the Twizel River, which was re-named by Englishman J.T. Thomson after the Twizel Bridge in Northumberland, England. The word comes from 'twizla', meaning fork of a river.
15 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Twizel
Twizel is our beloved little town (17km from our place) and one that wasn't supposed to exist! It was constructed in 1968 to house workers and their families for the Upper Waitaki Hydroelectric Scheme.
When the scheme finished in the 1980s, some government ministers wanted the town to be demolished. However, the people living here fought successfully to retain the town they loved, and Twizel was officially named a town in 1984!
Modern-day Twizel is a thriving community of around 1,650 people from New Zealand and around the world. It's popular for its relaxed, peaceful lifestyle, and proximity to the great outdoors, including Aoraki Mt Cook, alpine lakes, and stunning hiking trails. It's also famous for its pure dark skies, as Twizel is located in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve.
Did you know? Te Manahuna is the Māori name for the Mackenzie Basin, and the Māori people undertook seasonal food-gathering expeditions there. The Maori name for the Twizel River is Whakatipu.
The name Twizel comes from the Twizel River, which was re-named by Englishman J.T. Thomson after the Twizel Bridge in Northumberland, England. The word comes from 'twizla', meaning fork of a river.
Food scene
Mint Folk & Co is a stylish cafe and restaurant in the Twizel town centre. They serve amazing food and drinks, including vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan options. The indoor decor is super cute and there's outdoor dining, with a kids playground close by. At night, check out the bar with great cocktails and if you're lucky, live music. Opening hours:
Tuesday & Wednesday 7am–5pm
Thursday & Friday 7am–11pm
Saturday 8am–11pm
Mint Folk & Co
4 Market PlaceMint Folk & Co is a stylish cafe and restaurant in the Twizel town centre. They serve amazing food and drinks, including vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan options. The indoor decor is super cute and there's outdoor dining, with a kids playground close by. At night, check out the bar with great cocktails and if you're lucky, live music. Opening hours:
Tuesday & Wednesday 7am–5pm
Thursday & Friday 7am–11pm
Saturday 8am–11pm
Hydro Cafe serves yummy food and great drinks in the Twizel town centre, open Monday to Saturday 7am to 2pm. It's got vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options plus a range of cute keep-cups and locally-made soaps. Check out the awesome variety of houseplants on display!
36 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
HYDRO Cafe
25 Market PlHydro Cafe serves yummy food and great drinks in the Twizel town centre, open Monday to Saturday 7am to 2pm. It's got vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options plus a range of cute keep-cups and locally-made soaps. Check out the awesome variety of houseplants on display!
Poppies Café & Restaurant is open during the day and into the evening, for coffee, lunch, and dinner. It's family-friendly and spacious with indoor and outdoor dining. They make a lot of their own food, which is awesome, including breads, pasta, jams, pickles etc, and grow some of their vegetables on-site. There are vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and dairy free options.
Open 5 days from 11am for breakfast; lunch & dinner from 5:30pm; open Sunday from 9:30am; closed Wednesday & Thursday.
49 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Poppies Cafe
1 Benmore PlPoppies Café & Restaurant is open during the day and into the evening, for coffee, lunch, and dinner. It's family-friendly and spacious with indoor and outdoor dining. They make a lot of their own food, which is awesome, including breads, pasta, jams, pickles etc, and grow some of their vegetables on-site. There are vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and dairy free options.
Open 5 days from 11am for breakfast; lunch & dinner from 5:30pm; open Sunday from 9:30am; closed Wednesday & Thursday.
Fishtail has amazing, authentic food from the Himalayan region and are open for lunch and dinner, as well as takeaways. The extensive dining menu offers a variety of starters and mains with your choice of chicken, lamb, seafood or vegetarian with breads, sides, rice, and drinks. They have gluten free and vegan options too. Open seven days a week from noon – 9:30pm.
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Fishtail restaurant and bar
Fishtail has amazing, authentic food from the Himalayan region and are open for lunch and dinner, as well as takeaways. The extensive dining menu offers a variety of starters and mains with your choice of chicken, lamb, seafood or vegetarian with breads, sides, rice, and drinks. They have gluten free and vegan options too. Open seven days a week from noon – 9:30pm.
Sightseeing
Lake Ruataniwha is ideal for families, with lagoons for swimming or kayaking, and lovely picnic spots. It's a 15-minute drive from our place, or a 5-minute drive from the Twizel town centre.
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lake Ruataniwha
Lake Ruataniwha is ideal for families, with lagoons for swimming or kayaking, and lovely picnic spots. It's a 15-minute drive from our place, or a 5-minute drive from the Twizel town centre.
Lake Ōhau is a stunning lake, only 5-minutes drive from our place. We recommend cycling or walking the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail along the lake, around 17km return and suitable for families. It's also perfect for cooling off in summer with a refreshing swim!
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lake Ohau
Lake Ōhau is a stunning lake, only 5-minutes drive from our place. We recommend cycling or walking the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail along the lake, around 17km return and suitable for families. It's also perfect for cooling off in summer with a refreshing swim!
Favourite hiking trails
The Greta Valley track is a real gem in the Mackenzie Region, and just 15-minutes from our place. It's a 6 to 7 hour loop, suitable for experienced trampers and is dog-friendly (on leash at all times). The views are spectacular: golden alpine tussocks, pure mountain streams, fascinating rocky outcrops, beautiful Lake Ōhau and incredible mountain ranges. Check with us for local tips, as well as required gear before heading out.
Greta Track
Greta TrackThe Greta Valley track is a real gem in the Mackenzie Region, and just 15-minutes from our place. It's a 6 to 7 hour loop, suitable for experienced trampers and is dog-friendly (on leash at all times). The views are spectacular: golden alpine tussocks, pure mountain streams, fascinating rocky outcrops, beautiful Lake Ōhau and incredible mountain ranges. Check with us for local tips, as well as required gear before heading out.
Local shops
A hardware store with a bit of everything – seriously! Fishing gear, giftware, camping supplies, toys, cycling parts and accessories, and more. Definitely worth a browse!
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Jake's Hardware
24 Market PlA hardware store with a bit of everything – seriously! Fishing gear, giftware, camping supplies, toys, cycling parts and accessories, and more. Definitely worth a browse!
Oddly enough, Twizel has two Four Square supermarkets. We recommend both of them!
Open 7 days, 7.30am to 7pm
Random fun fact: Locals refer to the supermarkets as the "Big supermarket" and the "Little supermarket", or "Four Square" and "Three Square". 😂
15 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Four Square Twizel
20 Market PlOddly enough, Twizel has two Four Square supermarkets. We recommend both of them!
Open 7 days, 7.30am to 7pm
Random fun fact: Locals refer to the supermarkets as the "Big supermarket" and the "Little supermarket", or "Four Square" and "Three Square". 😂
Oddly enough, Twizel has two Four Square supermarkets. We recommend both of them!
Open 7 days, 8am to 7.30pm
Random fun fact: Locals refer to the the supermarkets as the "Big supermarket" and the "Little supermarket", or "Four Square" and "Three Square". 😂
34 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Four Square Mackenzie
27 Market PlOddly enough, Twizel has two Four Square supermarkets. We recommend both of them!
Open 7 days, 8am to 7.30pm
Random fun fact: Locals refer to the the supermarkets as the "Big supermarket" and the "Little supermarket", or "Four Square" and "Three Square". 😂
Mobil Twizel sells fuel and oil as well as fishing gear, car cleaning kits, nappies, pet food, and other basic supplies.
Open 7 days, 6am to 9pm.
Mobil
50 MacKenzie DrMobil Twizel sells fuel and oil as well as fishing gear, car cleaning kits, nappies, pet food, and other basic supplies.
Open 7 days, 6am to 9pm.
The local pharmacy supplies prescriptions but also over the counter medicines, vitamin and herbal medicines, first aid supplies, cosmetics, hair care, sunglasses, scarves, hats, jewellery and accessories, giftware and much more.
They also sell locally-grown, seasonal produce such as walnuts, hazelnuts, walnut oil and lavender.
Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Mackenzie Pharmacy
7 Market PlThe local pharmacy supplies prescriptions but also over the counter medicines, vitamin and herbal medicines, first aid supplies, cosmetics, hair care, sunglasses, scarves, hats, jewellery and accessories, giftware and much more.
They also sell locally-grown, seasonal produce such as walnuts, hazelnuts, walnut oil and lavender.
Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.