Fairlie is a beautiful small town that often gets missed by visitors. It is called the Gateway to the Mackenzie and many visitors drive through with a coffee and pie in hand, thank you Fairlie Bakehouse eager to get down to the more well-known parts of the country like Lake Tekapo and Aoraki/Mount Cook.
Although those spots are definitely must-sees, after an afternoon exploring in Fairlie, I highly suggest making the time to explore the town before moving through.
A great thing about Fairlie as well is that accommodation isn’t as expensive as the likes of Lake Tekapo or Aoraki/Mt Cook. So depending on where you’re going or coming from, Fairlie could be a great option for an overnight before continuing on your travels.
I’m excited to share in this article, things to do in Fairlie, photo style. These spots can easily be incorporated into a south island road trip. If you want some tips to improve your photography, check out my blog post to taking better photos here.
Lake Opuha and picnic area
The views from the shore of Lake Opuha are beautiful pretty much no matter where you park. My first stop at the lake was on the east side of the lake. There was an area to pull over and only a handful of steps to the shore. You could also try from the boat ramp on the west side or from Ophua dam road. The dam road gives a further look over the lake with a mountain backdrop.
The Lake Opuha picnic area is also a beautiful area off of Bennetts Road. There is an spot for camping as well. What I liked best were the trees bordering the shore. There was a gap in them that is great to place a subject to bring the photo together.
opihi river
Pretty much anywhere on the Opihi River you can compose a lovely shot. An easy spot to get to is by the bridge as you come into Fairlie (from the north). I took a few from the start of Opihi River track.
opihi river track
My new favourite thing to do in Fairlie is the Opihi River track, also known as the Fairlie Walkway. It is about 12km long end to end following the Opihi River from Kimbell to Fairlie. When I went, I didn’t have too much time nor was I in for a 12 km walk and I was more curious to see the gorge that I had no clue existed!
So, the short way to the gorge and very cool bridge is on the Fairlie end from Opihi Gorge Road. It is about a 25-30 minute undulating track. There are a few bridges to cross and you’ll want to take care around some rocky bits but for the most part, it’s relatively easy. The track has had slips in the past though so care must be taken when going further than the large bridge. This area was certainly a surprise to me and I highly recommend it. You can get some cool shots and a nice walk.
Fairlie Lookout
This is a very typical shot to get of Fairlie. There is a designated pull-over area with signage overlooking the foothills. This shot would be best during sunrise or sunset to really bring out the golden colours. As you can see I have yet to catch it in that light! This is easy to get to and right off of Highway 79 at the top of the hill on the north side of Fairlie. Please be careful and mindful of others when pulling over. 79 is a busy highway with lots of big trucks.
other ideas- McLean Park & Highway 8
McLean Park is in the south area of Fairlie. You’ll find it off Highway 8 beside the cemetery. There is a lovely line of trees beside the highway at the entrance that really gives a fall vibe. This would be a great spot for some lifestyle photos.
accommodation in Fairlie
Musterer’s Accommodation Fairlie– This spot has newly built self-contained studio, family units, cabins and powered camping sites
Air Bnb– There is a variety of accommodations on Air Bnb for Fairlie. A ‘few options include ‘Forest cabin Muscogen Woods’, ‘Arvaz’ and ‘Starlit Oasis’.
other things to do near Fairlie
- Explore Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park- see a full guide here
- Walk through the lavender in the summertime- see blog post here
- Find lupins at Lake Tekapo (summertime)