Mackenzie Basin (Mackenzie Country)
South Island, Canterbury
The Mackenzie Basin (also called Mackenzie Country) is an intermontane basin bounded on all sides by mountains. It’s a magnificent area of high peaks, colorful lakes, glaciers, grasslands, and some of the darkest night skies in the world. The Mackenzie Basin should be a fixture on any central South Island road trip.
The basics
The stark grasslands of the Mackenzie Basin are shielded from extreme mountain weather, but still experience strong winds that dry out the land. If you’re coming from the South Island, you’ll notice how different this place is. Self-driving travelers often stop at highlights such as Twizel and Lake Tekapo en route to Aoraki or Mount Cook Village, but it’s worth spending more time in the area. 4WD tours take you into even more rugged landscapes, sometimes to The Lord of the Rings filming locations.
Things to know before you go
There are very few settlements in the Mackenzie Basin: Stock up on food and other travel supplies before you arrive.
Check weather and road conditions before driving to the Mackenzie Basin as you’ll need to cross a high mountain pass to get there from the north or south.
The Mackenzie Basin is a farming area and a lot of the land is private. Don’t drive off-road without checking whether you need permission.
How to get there
Unless you’re on a guided tour, self-driving is the easiest way to visit and explore the Mackenzie Basin. It’s a 3-hour drive from Christchurch and 2.5 hours from Queenstown. An InterCity bus connects Tekapo with Christchurch, Queenstown, and Dunedin, but these don’t stop anywhere else in the Mackenzie Basin.
When to get there
Although summer (December–February) brings the most tourists to the Mackenzie Basin, it’s also the best time to visit. The weather will be warm and not too hot and generally clear, which is ideal for hiking, swimming in the lakes, and general sightseeing. Spring (September–November) is also lovely, as wildflowers bring color to the landscape. Skiing is possible in winter.
See stars at the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve
New Zealand’s largest dark-sky reserve has some of the darkest skies in the world, thanks to its distance from major settlements and strict lighting controls. Keen or budding astronomers should stick around the Mackenzie Basin for a few days to improve the chances of getting a clear night. Visit an observatory, stargaze while floating in the hot waters of Tekapo Springs, or take a crash course in astrophotography.
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