After a whirlwind two-week road trip across the South Island, we found ourselves on a “drive as far as we can in as short a time as possible” mission. Having maxed out our time in Glenorchy, Wānaka, and Mount Cook, we needed a place to stay for the night before heading north. Twizel Holiday Park fit the bill!

Now, I won’t lie to you, it’s not the flashiest holiday park in the area but it does exactly what you need it to do. They have cabins, powered and unpowered sites, a small kitchen, communal living/dining space, hot showers (no need for $2 tokens!), laundry, and free WiFi—though I can’t vouch for the WiFi since I couldn’t connect and instead abused Mathew’s mobile hotspot.

If you’re looking for a convenient overnight stop, I’d definitely recommend it. Twizel itself is a cute little town, and if you’re road-tripping on a budget, it’s a much cheaper base for exploring Mount Cook National Park.