Fairlie: Local History and Baked Goods

Fairlie marks the beginning of Mackenzie Country. The monument to James Mackenzie, the Fairlie Heritage Museum and the Fairlie Bakehouse offer different points of interest: history, collections and baked goods. The Mackenzie District adds further historical and landscape-related themes.

History and Collections in Fairlie

A monument to James Mackenzie stands in the centre of Fairlie. The Fairlie Heritage Museum displays historic saddles and bridles, tools used by craftspeople, as well as household and sporting equipment. The old Fairlie railway station is part of the museum; its collection includes antique cameras and photographs, as well as a diorama depicting a schoolroom and a hospital room. Alongside individual objects, the diorama offers a three-dimensional representation, bringing different forms of historical presentation together in the museum.

Baked Goods and Ingredients

The Fairlie Bakehouse makes gourmet pies and a wide range of baked goods. Wherever possible, it uses and celebrates local and seasonal ingredients. Alongside its historical attractions, Fairlie therefore offers a culinary connection and a product range that extends beyond gourmet pies.

In the Mackenzie District: Culture and Activities

In the Mackenzie District, the Church of the Good Shepherd opened in 1935 and was the first church built in the Mackenzie Basin. Heritage New Zealand lists it as a Category 1 Historic Place. The opening year places the church in its historical context; its current status adds to that historical classification.

Takapō Regional Park lies on the eastern shore of Lake Tekapo, also known as Takapō, and covers 165 hectares. The park has 24 km of cycling and walking trails, as well as a dog park.

The Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail is divided into nine sections and passes through Twizel. An alternative route from Takapō, or Lake Tekapo, to Twizel crosses the Pūkaki Flats before reaching Twizel. The section structure describes the trail as a whole, while the alternative route follows a specific course that includes a distinctive landscape feature.

The loop track around Twizel is accessible year-round. The Twizel River Trail has picnic areas and swimming spots along the river. The trails therefore differ in focus: the loop goes around the town, while the river and the places to picnic and swim are the main attractions of the River Trail.

In the Mackenzie District, Alpine Alpacas Fairlie offers guided farm tours with alpacas, llamas, sheep and horses. Visitors can hand-feed the animals. Back Country Trout offers guided sight fishing for wild brown and rainbow trout. The operator is based in Fairlie and picks guests up from their accommodation.

Sailing, canoeing and windsurfing take place on Lake Ruataniwha. Its shallow water also makes it a family favourite for swimming and relaxing. The lake thus offers water sports, swimming and relaxation as distinct activities.

Discover more destinations: Mt Cook, Lake Tekapo, Burkes Pass, Albury, Kimbell, Twizel.

Return to the main travel guide: Mackenzie District.