Autumn colours in Twizel: My top 10 places

We all know autumn is beautiful across New Zealand. Autumn colours in Twizel draw me to the MacKenzie every year.  This blog captures some of my favourite places to gather shots of the stunning displays. There are photography tips at the end if you’re interested. I am no expert, but continue to learn things along the way I can share with you.

The biggest question people ask is when to go?  This is tough to answer given trees are so individual with some finishing before others have even started.  In fact it’s not uncommon to see even the west and east facing sides of the same tree half golden half gone.  And then there is the weather – wind is not your friend. Having said that mid to late April is often a great time. This year the 22^nd was just past its peak but last year it was perfect.

1          Lake Ruataniwha

There is no end of places to see the colours at this lake. It could have its own 10 spots. Simply drive around the lake and pop down interesting roads, especially to boat ramps, and explore. There will often be a section that is calm if you are looking for reflections as its full of nooks and crannies that create little coves.  Because of this you can also get some great backgrounds of mountains, more reflections across the lake or an expansive sky.

A few places to start are:

• Just off the main highway looking up the lake
• Climb the hill at the top end of the lake by the salmon farm
• In front of the camping ground
• Along the road before the camping ground looking down on the lake
• The first boat ramp driving on past the camping ground turn off
• The gravel road on the opposite side of the lake

2          Freedom camping Ohau end of Ruataniwha

Technically still Ruataniwha I guess but so good it is worth its own mention. We stayed here in the camper, and you look down on so many beautiful bays covered in golden hues. This was spectacular for sunset when the sky went off as you see a big expanse of sky and over towards Ben Ohau. You find it just up the hill from the boat ramp mentioned above.

3          Ohau C campground

This is a hidden gem as people often don’t explore down the canal towards the top of Lake Benmore. You head down the canals from the main highway near the salmon farm. It’s an interesting drive and there are often beautiful colours and views of Aoraki as you pass by a long line of salmon farms and a zillion people fishing the canal.

You can stay here for $30 for two or $10 for day parking. I totally recommend staying, we got a sunset and sunrise, here both were stunning. As well as the autumn trees you can see Aoraki if you are happy to climb a very small hill (track near the boat launch).  You get an almost 360 degree view.

You are likely to get campers and caravans in your shot but I think that just makes it look like a real NZ scene. Again, it has little coves and bays so you can find a nice calm spot.

4          Drive down Falston Rd – Benmore Campsites

There is a signpost for Falston Rd just as you have left the canals but before Ohau C campground. There are two other campsites along this road on the side of Lake Benmore.  Note this road is a dead end; it does not take you to the Benmore dam. The road is rough gravel, but we did it in the camper so it’s manageable. The real view here is looking across the lake at the autumn colours under the hills and the sweeping vista of colours along the lake. It’s also super pretty with the autumn colours against the sculptured MacKenzie hills you are driving beside.

5          Lake Poaka

This little lake is on the Lake Pukaki side of the canals as you come into Twizel from the north. You drive along a little bumpy gravel road and drop down into the lake. Just a tip don’t go in the first entrance from the north, it is very rough and I really put the camper through its paces. I was a little late this year so the photos will be much better when the colours are perfect. It’s lovely to visit when there is some snow on the surrounding hills, which is certainly possible in April. You can stay at Lake Poaka as it is a Doc camping site.  I have got a sunrise from here in the winter but its low down so if the colour is happening near the horizon you might miss it.

6          Glen Lyon road

Just drive along this super pretty road and enjoy the incredible colour. I had some fun one day with the leaves blowing when cars came past (from a safe distance I might add!).  There is also an absolutely stunning tree near the Ben Ohau station red barn. A little further on this road before the canal there is Loch Cameron which is a pretty little place to visit.

7          Kellands Pond

This pond, and its across the road cousin Waipero Arm, are probably one of the more popular sites. They sit either side of the main highway near the salmon farm.  I, like many others, thought of them as the same place but Kellands is on the west.

If you do stop here make sure you get well off the road as this is an extremely busy road.  There are tracks you can drive down to get closer to the water. This one is worth a good drive or walk around to the far side for some incredible views. Most of the shots below are from that side.

A few years ago when we had a girls photography weekend here, it poured the whole time but we still had a heap of fun at this pond.

8          Wairepo Arm

As above but the main advantage of Waipero is the hills tucked in nice and close behind them where Kellands you might get the odd powerline.  There is lots of variety so move around the space to get all the views.

9          Old Iron bridge

You may have spotted this looking down as you were driving out of Twizel going south. It’s on the left and signposted just after you leave Twizel. It’s a gravel road again but pretty short.  This was the old bridge across the Ohau River which luckily was saved. It has gorgeous colours around it. Its fun getting reflections of the bridge as well, another place we had a lot of fun on our rained-out weekend.  You can’t camp here but you can go down and picnic and even swim, I may have got in the lake to get some of the reflections I was after.

10        Driving around Lake Pukaki

A short way out of Twizel you can drive up the side of Lake Pukaki which provides some awesome autumn colours often with Aoraki in the background.  A drive up the Northeast side of the Lake (Hayman Road) is where the alps to ocean cyclists’ bike through to Twizel. There are some stunning views and it’s well worth the drive. It is a gravel road for most of it. If you go as far as the Braemar road or just past is the best of it.

Note the turn off for Hayman Road is at the first Aoraki lookout you come to from the Tekapo direction. 

There are equally some beautiful spots driving up the other side of the Lake towards Mt Cook National Park, not least the very popular Peters Lookout.

Finally, if you just want to see the huge array of colour drive around Twizel and the colours are everywhere. It’s like the thing to do in Twizel is to plant a beautiful tree that goes golden or red and drops its leaves in autumn. The town itself has lots of colour, check out the beautiful trees at the beginning of the town where the old machinery from its hay day is on display.

A few tips for catching the autumn colours.

First off just hold out what ever you have that takes a photo and just snap – there is so much to capture you can’t go wrong. But if you want to try some other things here are my top tips:

Perspective: Change where you take the photo, get low, get on a hill, shoot straight up.

Get close to the water when you are chasing reflections. You only need a tiny puddle to get a reflection – the shot below was taken before we drove through a muddy puddle on the road, and I had the camera right down at the water level.

Long exposure and wind. Be careful with long exposures as even a slight breeze will blur the leaves. And don’t forget your tripod. A handy rock or post works when you need it to. This shot was just 1 second and there was not much wind.

Use a polarizer if you have one.  The effect is like your sunglasses; it really makes colours stand out and reduces haze. It also works wonders on reflections. Just move the polariser around and see what you get. I use it so often now I forgot to show a before and after but the rich colour of the water and trees is created by the polorazier.

Use light to your advantage. Colours will look better with some light on them but you don’t want to wash them out with strong light. If the sun is bright and high have some fun getting a sun star. If you can change your f stop, set it to higher than 16 and keep raising it to see how it looks.  Just move around the tree till you get the sun star just as you want it. You might look funny, but it will be worth it.

Just have some fun with autumn in Twizel: Even if the weather does not play ball getting in and capturing detail on the leaves and trees can be stunning.

If you enjoyed this check out some other MacKenzie blogs First time walking the Mueller Track or A Snowy Adventure to Tekapo and Mt Cook