Mackenzie Country and Lindis Pass

SH8 runs through the Mackenzie Basin, passing Burkes Pass (706 m), Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki, Twizel and Lindis Pass (about 971 m) before reaching Cromwell. Wide open landscapes.

The stops

1. Start

   Timaru

2. Viewpoint

   Burkes Pass

   Gateway to Mackenzie

3. Lake

   Lake Tekapo

   Turquoise lake and church

4. Lake

   Lake Pukaki

   Views of Aoraki Mount Cook

5. Town

   Twizel

   Supplies

6. Viewpoint

   Lindis Pass

   High point of SH8

7. Town

   Cromwell

   End of route

8. Finish

   Cromwell

Where to stay

• Night 1

  Lake Tekapo

  Lake Tekapo Motels

• Night 2

  Twizel

  Twizel Holiday Park

When to go

Oct–Apr; snow on Lindis Pass in winter

On the road

Check NZTA in winter.