TWIZEL SKIES

"I have loved the stars too fondly to be 

fearful of the night" - Galileo 

Twizel was hands down the best accommodation, and I would even go so far as to say location, out of all four places we stayed in New Zealand: Queenstown - Dunedin - Twizel - Christchurch. The name is adorable all in it's own right. Pronounced Twi-zel like Twi-light. Not Twizzel as we had to learn from the corrections of locals, on numerous occasions.

The quaint unique interior design was amazing, with a nice hot fire to roast marshmallows during the cold icy night. It had this beautiful modern rustic feel. An oxymoron, but a beautiful one. What was even more superb about this place is that the town is surrounded by blue snowy mountains. You literally walk out the front door in the cold misty mornings and will be stunned by the grandeur of those rocky elements.

Twizel is located in the Mackenzie Country region, one of the clearest locations in the Southern Hemisphere to view the southern night sky. Instead of heading to the observatory in Tekapo for star gazing, we decided to head to Omarama, off the main road at a random stop by a deep dark forest. It was pitch black, cold and unnervingly ghostly. But step out the car, lift your head up towards the sky and all fear disappeared into the night. It was absolutely beautiful as billions of stars spread across the night sky like glitter.

Twizel is also close to Mount Cook and on the road there you will be taken away by the wondrous blue of Lake Pukaki, the awe-striking sky blue water surprises you as the road nears this beauty. It was like straight off a painter's brush, an artist with a vision. Not a single hint of a different tone, just one consistent colour brushed across the heavenly peaceful waters. And to further add a generous sprinkle of magic, standing at the edge of the lake you will see a beautiful rugged white run of mountains resting right across you in the distance.

This place was profoundly peaceful and I wish I was able to stay longer. Could have stayed forever actually. To just stare across the water and hear it wash up and down the pebbles, cleansing the mind. Gone was any trace of over-thinking. Moments like this clears the senses, and you are clean of the toxic thoughts and notions that society has inflicted on the poor soul. Relief. Refreshed. Reborn. Exaggeration? Only to those who have never sat in silence staring off into something they find beautiful. Blue has always been my favourite colour and New Zealand has satisfied that love so deeply. 

I have mentioned my new-found obsession with white sugar-coated mountains. And if you are like me, stunned by the general view outside the house in Twizel, then you will be grasping at your heart trying to stop it from leaping out of your chest when you see Mount Cook. Majestic. Impressive. Magnificent. Glorious. Icing sugar. It is impossible for me to put this place into words because words cannot encapsulate the almighty beauty of this place. I worry that whatever I see from here forth I shall be numb to for I have witnessed such greatness.

Twizel, you will be missed.

Portraits courtesy of Angela Wang

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