'OMAHAU DOWNS' MacKenzie Country
About the Mackenzie basin...
The story of Aoraki and his three brothers is the Maori legend of Mount Cook. Aoraki and his siblings, the sons of Rakinui (the Sky Father) were on a voyage around Papatuanuku (the Earth Mother) when they became stranded upon a reef. Climbing on to the top side of their canoe the voyagers were frozen by the south wind and turned into stone. Their canoe (Te Waka o Aoraki) became the South Island and Aoraki, the tallest of the brothers, Aoraki/Mount Cook with the Southern Alps as his brothers and other members of this crew.
In the 1850’s, European pioneers moved to the area and extensively grazed sheep and cattle. New Zealand's most famous outlaw James Mackenzie lends his name to the Mackenzie Country. Mackenzie, along with his sheep dog Friday, were accused of sheep stealing and captured in 1855. Released in 1856 after a series of escapes and increasing illness, he promptly disappeared forever.
Mackenzie Regions
Aoraki Mt Cook National Park
Forty-five minutes traveling time from Twizel.
Day or shorter length walks in the Park allow views of mountain peaks, glacier lakes, and moraine. Details of routes are available at the Department of Conservation Information Centre.
A professional mountain guide can take you to the peak of Mount Cook (3754 metres) or one of twenty-seven other peaks above 2100 metres according to your climbing skill level. The alpine tramping routes in Aoraki Mt Cook National Park are for the experienced. The weather conditions can be severe and groups attempting the trips must be properly equipped and well prepared.
For less physical experiences there are scenic airplane or helicopter flights, ranging from flights over Mount Cook and Westland National Parks, to the famous ski plane landings on the Tasman Glacier (pioneered in this area during the 1950's), and helicopter landings on mountaintop snowfields.
Lakes Tekapo
Gouged out by glaciers thousands of years ago and fed by glacial waters of the Godley, Cass, and Macauley Rivers, Lake Tekapo is on S. H 8. The township of Lake Tekapo faces north across the startlingly blue lake to the Southern Alps mountain ranges.
The historic Church Of The Good Shepherd built in 1935 from stone and oak stands on the shores of the Lake, while the other reminder of the past is the symbol of pioneering sheep farming in the Mackenzie - a statue of a collie dog.
The Lake Tekapo reservoir provides water to the hydroelectric generator supplying power to the homes and businesses of South Canterbury and New Zealand.
Twizel
Twizel is a relatively new feature and purpose built in the 1970's to house workers building the Benmore hydro scheme. There’s a useful selection of shops, together with a choice of cafes and restaurants. Visiting golfers are welcome at the 9 hole golf course located within the town's boundary.
Twizel's is a great base from which to explore several interesting spots in the Mackenzie Basin. Lake Benmore is only 10 minutes drive and Lake Ruataniwha, site of national rowing championships, is within walking distance. A five-minute drive to Lake Pukaki has Mount Cook and the Southern Alps framed between lake and sky. Around Twizel fishing is a major activity and a short-cut to finding the spots with the biggest trout is to hire a guide, while hunting guides take hunters to their choice of thar, chamois, or deer.
Mountain guides operating from Twizel offer a choice of rock mountain climbing, while closer to town it is possible to look at the work being done breeding and protecting the rare Black Stilt wading bird
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