Twizel : A town beside the secret river

5th days of my 16 days backpacking through New Zealand and Australia

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I had to say goodbye again with my new friends, Anna and Bib. However ,the journey had to go on. In my 5^th day, most of my day will be traveling on the road until Queenstown. I had a chance to transit and spent some hour in Twizel. In Mackenzie district, Twizel is the largest town. I was still thinking that this town is small but Tekapo and Mt cook are even smaller. Most of the industry was counted to tourist service and activity. I never expected more from Twizel but this town made me fall in love. Twizel is also place where lord of the ring was filmed. I was busy falling in love with this town.

The trips

It is my 16 days backpacking through New Zealand and Australia on late November to mid December 2015. follow the full adventure by clicking each link :

• Introduction of 16 days backpacking through New Zealand and Australia
• Day 1 - 2 : Sydney - Exploring the remarkable city of Australia within 2 days
• Day 3 : Tekapo Lake - The most beautiful lake ever seen
• Day 4 : Mount Cook - The highest point of New Zealand
• Day 5 : Twizel - A town beside the secret river
• Day 6 : Queenstown - The Capital of adventure Junkies
• Day 6 : Milford Sound - Welcome to the home of waterfalls
• Day 7 : Wanaka - 6 hours trekking to Roys peak
• Day 8-9 : Franz Josef - The second best drop zone for skydiving in the world
• Day 10 : Nelson - The middle of  New Zealand
• Day 11 : Interislander - it's not a ferry but a cruise!
• Day 11 : Wellington - The capital city of New Zealand
• Day 12 : Tongariro Crossing - One-day Trekking to Mordor
• Day 13-14 : Auckland - Metropolitan city with its volcanic mount
• Day 15 : Melbourne - 3 hours in the most livable city in the world

Itinerary

• 10:15 - 11:00 : Travelling from Mt Cook to Twizel by Cook Connection. 
• 11:00  - 15:00 : Hanging around the town and visiting the secret river
• 15:00 - 19:00 : Travelling from Twizel to Queenstown

Getting here and around

Getting here From Mt Cook, Cook Connection and intercity provide the services between the town. From Queenstown and Christchurch, Intercity and Nakedbus provide the services totwizel.

Getting around As usual, no public bus services is provided in this town. So you have to walk for getting around. Good luck!

Why you should spend some time in Twizel

Maybe you will not include this town in your list but you should. As we know that the town is the largest and still part of Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. A lot of activity provided in this town. The town is very calm so and there is a river that you never found anywhere. The river is so beautiful especially during Russell Lupin season so consider when you plan to visit! If you have your own transport, you can go visiting lake Pukaki.

4 Hours in Twizel

It only needed 1 hour driving form Mt Cook to Twizel. I was arrived at 11 AM. I didn't planned anything in town since it only transited. My next bus was at 3 PM so I had 4 hours in Twizel. Lucky, I found tourist center nearby the bus stop. I took the map. What I did to killing my time is....

Walking around the town

Walking was the simplest thing I can do since I didn't know more about the town. I found a big set of chess game. The colour of the armies was blue and red ready to have a war. There were a lot of local cafe provided some fresh food and good coffee. A lot of tourist enjoyed their time there.

Getting lost to the river

I had known that there was a river beside the town when I saw it while I was on minibus. I just followed the route from map taken from tourist center and I got it. Not many people there, in fact, it was only me there. I thought that I was lost but it was a lucky lost.The river was mine! The river was around 5-10 meters width and not too deep. The water was very clean and the flow was gentle. The best part was the Russell Lupin flower blooming around the river.The river was very beautiful. I Considered to take a nap beside the river. Water flow sound, bird sing a song, insect whispering and many thing made me very convenient to close my eyes and fell a sleep. See you at 3 PM!