Top Things to do in Mackenzie District
Top Hotels in Mackenzie District
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The 10 Best Free Things to do in Mackenzie District, South Island
Discover the best top things to do in Mackenzie District, New Zealand including Hooker Valley Track, Aoraki/Mt. Cook, Ben Ohau Road Cheese, Mueller Hut Route, Lake Alexandrina, Lake Tekapo, The Church of the Good Shepherd, Mt. Cook Alpine Salmon Shop, Kea Point Track, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre.
Restaurants in Mackenzie District
1. Hooker Valley Track
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,041 reviews
Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip.
Reviewed By Falsendrach - Auckland Central, New Zealand
We did the Hooker Valley trail in May, just after NZ dropped to Covid Alert Level 2. It was a great time to do it with the lack of tourists around. Because of the popularity the Hooker Trail is usually very busy, sometimes with so many people on the trail you feel like you're walking in a queue. Parking can be an issue if you're arriving later in the day and you sometimes have to park on the access road and walk 15-20mins to the trail start. With the current Covid international travel restrictions though there's few tourists and it's not hard to get a space in the carpark. Wonderfully though this time it felt virtually empty. Sure, we ran into other people but only about 60-70 rather than the 1000+ you'd expect. The trail is about 90mins each way, culminating at Hooker Lake. Do allow extra time as we happily spent an hour playing at the frozen-over lake skipping stones & throwing sheets of ice around. As far as reward vs effort goes, the Hooker Valley trail is one of the best short tracks you can do as it's wide, mostly flat, taking you over three suspension bridges that offer gorgeous views of turbulent pale azure water rushing underneath, majestic hills sweeping up on either side and Mt Cook/Aoraki as a stunning backdrop. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes as the trail is mostly rock, & switch out to boots in colder/wetter weather. Layers are essential & you'll find that coming back in the afternoon it's quite a bit cooler once the sun has dipped behind the peaks. And on that note, bring a torch or headlamp if you're setting off within 4 hours of sunset. There are some toilets about two thirds the way along the track but they aren't great. You should definitely pack some hand sanitiser & a roll of toilet paper in case they run out (they frequently do). At the height of the tourist seasons there's usually a queue.
2. Aoraki/Mt. Cook
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 532 reviews
Reviewed By BradJill - Hong Kong, China
Mount Cook also referred locally by its Maori name of Aoraki is the highest mountain in New Zealand and the darling of the Southern Alps range on South Island. It dominates the peaks of the Mount Cook National Park and can be viewed well from both sides of the mountain range. We recently spent some time around Mount Cook National Park enjoying views of Aoraki from numerous hiking areas and trails. Most enjoyable was probably at Lake Hooker, a beautiful reflection lake made up of melt water from Hooker Glacier located a short distance from the Mount Cook Village. A similar impressive view of Mount Cook can be found at Lake Matheson, another famous reflection lake near the Fox Glacier Village on the west side of the range. There is a very good Visitor Centre in the Mount Cook Village with quality displays and historic accounts of mountaineering and general exploration of Mount Cook and fellow peaks in the area. You can also learn quite a bit about hiking and other activities related to visits to Mount Cook on the DOC National Park website. This is well worth spending some time researching before making trips to the area.
3. Ben Ohau Road Cheese
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 37 reviews
Ben Ohau Road Cheese is currently taking a 12-month break from production and The Cheese Room will also be closed during this time. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and will keep you updated of our re-opening plans in late 2019. Ben Ohau Road Cheese is a artisan cheese making company operating off the grid in New Zealand's amazing Mackenzie Basin. Come see us for cheese tasting and sales along with chutneys, jellies ,salad dressings, gourmet food and cakes. Come meet our cheese maker and see how our shipping container cheese room works.
4. Mueller Hut Route
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 56 reviews
Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip. See website for the price of accommodation on this track.
Reviewed By Roadtrip_Fan_UK - Hong Kong, China
It's the scenery that will keep everyone going. The ascent is super steep but the views are truly breathtaking. I continued on to Mount Ollivier and got rewarded with a 360° panorama that was well worth the extra effort.
5. Lake Alexandrina
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By mebates00 - Belfast, United Kingdom
This is a beautiful lake in the Mackenzie district of S Island New Zealand. The autumn colours were spectacular! The lake is a severe location far from the ‘real world’ in terms of stillness solitude and calm. Visit if you can...just a short drive from Lake Tekapo!
6. Lake Tekapo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,629 reviews
Reviewed By Travelove58
Lake Tekapo is very similar to the many other lakes we have seen in South Island- they are all amazingly beautiful, so tranquil & so stunning. The lakes here are usually a part of the just as awesome mountains. An added attraction here is an old antiquated nice church. The feeling is just great, strolling along the beach & admiring the awesome views in front. In the morning, the sun rising from the back of the mountains shines against towards the sea & creates a stunning blanket of white rays.
7. The Church of the Good Shepherd
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,077 reviews
The Church of the Good Shepherd is situated on the shores of Lake Tekapo amongst the natural beauty of the lake and the mountains. The Church of the Good Shepherd was built to the glory of God as a memorial to the pioneers of the Mackenzie Country. "Somehow the setting and the church combine to speak of God to those who enter and pause in the midst of their busy lives." - Peter Hurricks NO PHOTOS INSIDE Please do not use cameras, cellphones or tablets inside the church so that others may enjoy as is a place of prayer and reflection. PLEASE REMOVE YOUR WASTE There are no toilet or rubbish collection facilities in the area around the church so we kindly ask that visitors remove their waste and respect the natural environment around the church.
Reviewed By happi1944 - Jupiter, United States
We visited the Church of the Good Shepherd overlooking Lake Tekapo in New Zealand last February while on an extensive (4 weeks) Collette tour of Australia and New Zealand. We had just spent an overnight at the lodge overlooking Mt. Cook and were on our way to Christchurch. This delightful church had a most knowledgeable docent who told us the history of both the church and the area. However, the best experience I had was to be allowed to play the little pump organ at the back of the church. When I asked if I could, the docent first said "no". However, when I told him I was a church organist in my hometown, he very kindly said "yes". He even searched through the pile of music to find more things for me to play. Before very long, there were lots of tourists standing around singing hymns. What a lovely experience for me. When you visit, be sure to take a walk down to Lake Tekapo (behind the church). There is quite a beautiful view of Mt. Cook.
8. Mt. Cook Alpine Salmon Shop
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 264 reviews
Located on the edge of Mt Cook National Park our shop is stocked with Freshwater King Salmon -raised in the cool glacial water of New Zealand's Southern Alps. We have a great selection of sashimi, fillets, whole salmon and smoked salmon for you to enjoy, as well as a picnic area with the world famous view of Lake Pukaki and Mt Cook. Visit our shop for: - Sashimi - Fillets and whole Salmon - Smoked Salmon - Picnic Area with view of Mt Cook. Currently open 7 days a week from 10am-5pm
Reviewed By Scottraveller2018 - Nelson, New Zealand
Great fresh salmon sashimi on the banks of the lake looking across to Mount Cook Incredible views and wonderful salmon!
9. Kea Point Track
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 192 reviews
Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip.
Reviewed By NatalieA2138 - Rotorua, New Zealand
Spur of the moment decided to walk this track even though it was drizzling. It didn't matter the weather as the track is good and mostly well maintained, apart from a few loose boards on the boardwalk. It is an easy, short walk although as I started my walk from the Hermitage Hotel, it added 3km onto the walk. A must do walk for anyone visiting the Mt Cook area.
10. Aoraki Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 684 reviews
