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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Twizel & Lake Pūkaki, New Zealand
New Zealand Alpine Lavender on the Mt Cook road opens Nov 15, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027, under an hour from the Hooker Valley Track's swing bridges.
3 places · updated October 17, 2026
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Updated October 17
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Twizel is the largest town in the Mackenzie Basin, a wide tussock plain in the middle of New Zealand's South Island ringed by the Southern Alps and fed by glacial lakes and hydro canals. It sits about 45 minutes from both Aoraki/Mount Cook village and Lake Tekapo, inside a 4,367-square-kilometer dark sky reserve. This is the Southern Hemisphere, so the warm, long days run from December to February, while snow can limit the road into the national park from June to September.
New Zealand Alpine Lavender is on State Highway 80, the road to Aoraki/Mount Cook, about 6 km past the State Highway 8 turnoff and roughly 15 minutes from Twizel. The certified organic fields lie at about 600 meters below the Ben Ohau Range, with snow-capped peaks behind the rows. Visitors pay a small entry fee to walk the fields in the flowering season, eat lavender honeycomb or berry ice cream, and shop for the farm's organic oil, soaps and skin care. A holiday house on the same property can be booked if you want to stay.
The lavender farms
- New Zealand Alpine LavenderLavender farm · Twizel
Open daily for the blooming season, November 15, 2026 to March 31, 2027 (closed Christmas Day); field entry fee during the season.
Best time to visit
New Zealand Alpine Lavender opens from November 15, 2026 to March 31, 2027: 10 am to 5 pm until December 24, 9 am to 6 pm from December 26 to January 24, 10 to 5 through February and 10 to 4 in March. It is closed Christmas Day and may close in bad weather; the farm does not publish exact bloom dates, but its entry fee applies in the blooming season. December to February is also the busiest time at the Aoraki/Mount Cook trailheads, when icebergs often float on Hooker Lake and in Tasman Lake. The Tasman Valley car park gets very busy from November to April, so arrive early. In winter (June to September) the lavender farm is closed, snow can restrict access to the national park, and the long, clear nights are at their best for stargazing.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Hooker Valley Track🥾 Trail · Aoraki/Mount Cook · about 34 mi, 50 min drive
An easy gravel track of about 10 km return (3 hours) from White Horse Hill car park, over three swing bridges to Hooker Lake at the foot of Aoraki/Mount Cook. The second bridge, opened in July 2026, is 189 meters long.
Year-round; icebergs on the lake in summer
Parking NZ$2.50 per half hour or NZ$25 per day, card only (as listed October 2026)
- Kea Point Track🥾 Trail · Aoraki/Mount Cook · about 34 mi, 50 min drive
An easy walk through subalpine grass and scrub to a viewing deck on the Mueller Glacier moraine wall, looking at Mount Sefton, Mueller Glacier lake and Aoraki/Mount Cook. About 1 hour return from White Horse Hill, or 2 hours from the village.
Year-round
- Tasman Glacier View Track🥾 Trail · Aoraki/Mount Cook · about 35 mi, 55 min drive
A 30-minute return climb of more than 300 steps to a viewpoint over Tasman Lake and Haupapa/Tasman Glacier, the country's longest at about 23 km. A side path reaches the first Blue Lake in 5 minutes.
Year-round; icebergs in summer, lake ice in winter
free parking
- Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park🏞️ Park · Aoraki/Mount Cook · about 33 mi, 45 min drive
Home to New Zealand's highest mountain, 3,724-meter Aoraki/Mount Cook, and 19 peaks over 3,000 meters, with glaciers covering about 40 percent of the park. The DOC visitor center at 1 Larch Grove in the village has track and weather information.
Year-round; snow can limit access June to September
- Twizel🏘️ Town · Twizel · about 10 mi, 15 min drive
The Mackenzie's largest town, with cafes, shops and mountain views in every direction, close to Lakes Ruataniwha, Pūkaki and Ōhau. The information center in Market Place has Alps 2 Ocean and walking advice.
Year-round
- Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail (Twizel sections)🥾 Trail · Twizel · about 10 mi, 15 min drive
Two easy grade 2 sections start in Twizel: 40 km north along the lower shore of Lake Pūkaki to Braemar Road, or 38 km south along the canals and the Lake Ōhau foreshore to Lake Ōhau Lodge. Ride a short stretch and back for a half day.
Year-round
free
- Lake Tekapo🏘️ Town · Lake Tekapo · about 29 mi, 35 min drive
A small alpine resort town on the shore of Lake Tekapo, with lakeside walking and hot pools, about 40 minutes northeast of Twizel on State Highway 8.
Year-round
- Church of the Good Shepherd🏛️ Historic site · Lake Tekapo · about 29 mi, 35 min drive
A small lakefront church on Pioneer Drive, built in memory of the Mackenzie pioneers from stone gathered within 5 miles of the site. Services are held on Sundays, and private tours can be requested from the church.
Year-round
- Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve🌲 Preserve · Twizel · about 10 mi, 15 min drive
New Zealand's largest dark sky reserve, covering about 4,367 square kilometers of the basin, Twizel included. Guided stargazing runs from Twizel, or find a dark canal road where the stars reflect in the water.
Year-round after dark; longest nights in winter
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- High Country SalmonFarm market · Twizel
Lunch stop 3 km south of Twizel: sushi and sashimi at a floating restaurant (9 am to 8 pm daily), free fish feeding and catch-your-own chinook salmon.
- Razza Bar & BistroRestaurant · Twizel
Family-friendly Tasman Road bistro open daily from noon, with house-smoked salmon, blue cod, pizza and takeaway fish and chips.
- Seashelles CoffeeCafé or coffee shop · Twizel
Coffee cart on Mackenzie Drive for coffee, tea and hot chocolate, with plant-based milks, before an early start.
- Stunted Totara AccommodationInn or B&B · Twizel
Five self-contained tiny homes a short walk from the town center, with a shared fire pit; a practical base for the cycle trail.
- The Wrinkly RamsFamily fun farm · Ōmarama
Ōmarama stop south of Twizel for a cafe with homemade pies and lamb shanks and a shop of New Zealand merino; open daily 7 am to 4 pm.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMNew Zealand Alpine Lavender
Walk the fields (open mid-November to March), then have a lavender honeycomb ice cream and browse the shop; about an hour.
- 11:15 AMTwizel · about 15 min drive
Stop at the information center in Market Place for trail and weather advice; 30 minutes.
- 12:00 PMHigh Country Salmon · about 5 min drive
Lunch at the floating restaurant and feed the salmon; about 1 hour 15 minutes.
- 1:20 PMTasman Glacier View Track · about 65 min drive
Drive up State Highway 80 beside Lake Pūkaki, then climb the steps to the glacier viewpoint; 45 minutes on foot.
- 3:15 PMKea Point Track · about 15 min drive
From White Horse Hill, walk to the moraine viewing deck below Mount Sefton; about 1 hour return.
- 5:30 PMRazza Bar & Bistro · about 60 min drive
Back in Twizel for an early dinner of house-smoked salmon or blue cod; about an hour.
- After darkAoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve · about 10 min drive
Join a guided stargazing session from Twizel, or watch from a dark spot outside town.
Tips
- New Zealand Alpine Lavender charges a small entry fee (NZ$8 per person in the blooming season, as listed October 2026) and may close in bad weather.
- White Horse Hill parking for the Hooker Valley and Kea Point tracks takes cards only, no cash; the Tasman Valley car park is free but fills up from November to April.
- Toilets at the Tasman Valley car park close in winter and can be out of water in summer, and there is no drinking water, so fill bottles in Twizel.
- Twizel and Lake Tekapo are the nearest towns with supermarkets and services; there is not much in between, so fuel up before driving to Aoraki/Mount Cook.
- Snow can limit access to the national park from June to September; check conditions at the DOC visitor center before you go.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When is New Zealand Alpine Lavender open?
From November 15, 2026 to March 31, 2027, closed Christmas Day. Hours run from 9 am to 6 pm in midsummer and 10 am to 4 pm in March.
How far is the lavender farm from Twizel?
About 15 minutes' drive north, on State Highway 80 toward Aoraki/Mount Cook.
How long is the Hooker Valley Track?
About 3 hours return on easy gravel, crossing three swing bridges to Hooker Lake.
Is there a fee for the Tasman Glacier viewpoint?
No. Parking at the Tasman Valley car park is free and no booking is needed.
Can you see the stars from Twizel?
Yes. Twizel is inside the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, and several guided stargazing tours run from town.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
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