Twizel and Lake Pukaki by Campervan: The Practical Base for Mount Cook

Quick summary: Twizel is the practical base for a campervan visit to Aoraki/Mount Cook. Around 65 km from the village, at the southern end of Lake Pukaki, it has holiday parks with power, a supermarket, fuel and dump stations, which Mount Cook Village lacks. Many campervan and motorhome travellers stay here before or after a night beneath the mountain, or use Twizel as a base for a day trip to the glaciers, with lakeside camping on the shores of Lake Pukaki in between.

At a glance
Where	The Mackenzie Basin, at the junction of State Highways 8 and 80
To Mount Cook Village	Around 65 km, about 50 minutes
From Christchurch	Around 285 km
From Queenstown	Around 205 km via the Lindis Pass
Services	Supermarket, fuel, holiday parks, dump stations
Tours	Mount Cook tours

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Why stay in Twizel for Mount Cook?

Because it has everything the village doesn’t. Mount Cook Village has a DOC campground with simple facilities, but no supermarket or fuel, and the road to it is a dead end. Twizel, an hour away, has powered sites, full services and a relaxed small-town atmosphere, so you can stock up, recharge and do the laundry before heading up the valley.

What is Lake Pukaki like?

Lake Pukaki is a vast glacial lake of startling turquoise blue, its colour coming from powdery rock flour carried down from the Tasman Glacier. On a clear day, Aoraki/Mount Cook rises above its far shore, and the road to the village runs along its western edge. Peters Lookout, on the way to the village, is one of the best viewpoints in the country.

Where can an RV stop along Lake Pukaki?

• The visitor area at the southern end of the lake, with a large car park, views up the lake to the mountain, and salmon sold nearby.
• Peters Lookout, a roadside lookout on State Highway 80 with parking for larger vehicles.
• Lakeside camping areas on the shores of the lake, for certified self-contained vehicles where permitted.

Pull over only in marked areas, as the road’s verges are narrow in places.

What else can you do around Twizel?

• Cycle the Alps 2 Ocean Trail, which passes through Twizel along the canals and lakes.
• Visit the salmon farms in the hydro canals, where you can buy fresh salmon.
• Stargaze, as Twizel lies within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve.
• Swim or paddle at Lake Ruataniwha, just south of town.

Which glacier tours can you take from Twizel?

Many Mount Cook experiences can be done as a day trip from Twizel: an early drive to the village for a Tasman Lake boat trip or a ski-plane flight, then back for the night. Some operators also run scenic flights from near Twizel and Lake Pukaki. Browse Mount Cook tours and helicopter tours.

Where can you stay?

• Holiday parks in Twizel, with full facilities.
• Lake Ruataniwha, with a campground beside the lake.
• Lake Pukaki’s lakeside areas, for certified self-contained vehicles, where permitted.
• Freedom camping elsewhere is possible only at a few permitted sites, generally in certified self-contained vehicles, where Mackenzie District Council or DOC allows it.

Where does the trip go next?

• Up the valley to Aoraki/Mount Cook Village.
• South over the Lindis Pass to Wānaka and the Haast Pass for the West Coast glaciers. See Mount Cook to the West Coast.
• North-east to Lake Tekapo and Christchurch. See our sister site’s Mackenzie and Aoraki route.

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Frequently Asked Questions