Twizel Attractions

A few kilometers south of Lake Pukaki, on the Twizel River in the Mackenzie highlands, is Twizel (pop. 1,800), originally a camp for construction workers on the Upper Waitaki Power Development Scheme. Under this project the water level of lakes Tekapo, Pukaki and Ohau was raised by the construction of dams, the lakes were linked by canals and lower down, in the middle Waitaki Valley, other dams were built, creating artificial lakes like Lake Benmore. In the course of these developments, which were highly controversial, a holiday and leisure complex, the Mackenzie Hydro Lakes, was established round Twizel. This offers excellent facilities for fishing, boating and cruising on the lakes. In recent years a number of skiing centers have also been developed.