The Mackenzie Basin, popularly and traditionally known as the Mackenzie Country, is a roughly elliptical and elevated area (700m/3000 ft above sea level) near the centre of the South Island of New Zealand. It extends approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) north-south, and 40 kilometers (25 miles) east-west. Using State Highway 8, it can be accessed via Burke's Pass from the north and the Lindis Pass from the south, or via S.H.83 through the Waitaki Valley from the east. The Southern Alps constitute its western edge. The majority of the Mackenzie Basin is within Canterbury, although the small part of the basin to the south of the Waitaki River is in Otago. The South Island The South Island forms one of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the North Island. ... The Lindis Pass is located in the South Island of New Zealand. ... The Waitaki River is a large river in the South Island of New Zealand, some 110 km long. ... The Southern Alps is a mountain range which runs along the western side of the South Island of New Zealand. ... The New Zealand region of Canterbury mostly comprises the Canterbury Plains. ... Otago  pronunciation? is one of the regions of New Zealand and lies in the south-east of the South Island. ...

Prominent rivers to cross the Mackenzie Basin include the Waitaki, the Ahuriri, the Hakataramea and the Tekapo Rivers. Lakes Ohau, Pukaki, Alexandrina and Tekapo lie within the Mackenzie Basin, as do the artificial hydroelectric lakes of Benmore, Ruataniwha, and Aviemore. The Ahuriri River is in Otago, in the New Zealand. ... The Hakataramea River flows generally south through the Mackenzie Basin in Canterbury, New Zealand. ... The Tekapo River flows through the Mackenzie Basin, Canterbury, in New Zealands South Island. ... Lake Ohau is a glacial lake in the Mackenzie Basin of New Zealands South Island. ... Lake Pukaki is the second largest of three roughly parallel alpine lakes running north-south along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin (the others are Lakes Tekapo and Ohau). ... Lake Alexandrina is located in the Mackenzie Basin of New Zealands South Island, between the much larger lakes Tekapo and Pukaki, to the north of Lake Tekapo township. ... Lake Tekapo is largest of three roughly parallel lakes running north-south along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin (the others are Lake Pukaki and Lake Ohau). ... Hydroelectricity is a form of hydropower used to produce electricity. ... Lake Benmore is a lake located in the South Island of New Zealand. ... Lake Ruataniwha is located in the Mackenzie Basin in New Zealands South Island. ... Lake Aviemore is part of the Waitaki hydroelectric project in New Zealands South Island. ...

Sparsely populated, and with only three settlements (Lake Tekapo, population <500; Twizel, population <1,100; Omarama, population <400), the Mackenzie Country comprises an extraordinarily beautiful area of huge glacial lakes and magnificent snow-capped mountains, particularly favored by tourists and skiers. The Ohau skifield, near Omarama and Roundhill Ski Area, at Lake Tekapo are small club skifields popular amongst many living in Canterbury and Otago. Lake Tekapo is a small town located at the southern end of the lake of the same name in the inland South Island of New Zealand. ... There is also a Twizel in Northumberland, England Twizel is a town in the Mackenzie Basin of the South Island of New Zealand . ... An aerial view of Omarama Omarama is a small township (population <400) at the junction of State Highways 8 and 83, near the southern end of the Mackenzie Basin, in the South Island of New Zealand. ... Ohau is a small club skifield in the foothills of New Zealands Southern Alps, near the boundary between the Otago and Canterbury regions, and close to the southwestern shore of the lake of the same name. ...

The Mackenzie Country is increasingly being put to use as the principal location for many motion pictures, including much of Peter Jackson's epic Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, as well as numerous television shows, documentaries and commercials. Peter Jackson in New York (USA), at the premiere of King Kong, December 5, 2005 Peter Jackson is also a brand of cigarettes owned by Imperial Tobacco and a mens clothing store that sells suits in Australia. ... Dust jacket of the 1968 UK edition The Lord of the Rings is an epic fantasy story by J. R. R. Tolkien, a sequel to his earlier work, The Hobbit. ...

Due to its clean, dry and dark sky, the Mackenzie Basin serves as an important area for astronomy, with a number of related facilities located there, including the University of Canterbury's Mount John University Observatory, and the amateur Benmore Peak Observatory. Plans are currently underway to have the entire area designated the world's first International Dark Sky Reserve. The Mackenzie Basin is also a renowned and world-class gliding area. Astrology: the study of the positions of the celestial objects relative to the Earth and how these positions affect happenings on the lives of cultures, nations and the natural environment. ... The University of Canterbury is a university located in the suburbs of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. ... Mount John University Observatory (MJUO), New Zealands premier astronomical observatory, is situated at 1,031 meters (3,382) ASL atop Mount John at the northern end of the Mackenzie Basin in the South Island of New Zealand. ... Gliding (or soaring) is a recreational activity and competitive sport where individuals fly un-powered aeroplanes known as gliders or sailplanes. ...

External links

• N.Z. Department of Conservation - Lake Tekapo and Mackenzie Basin history and ecology
• Hide Ozawa's Stargazing Tours website
• Omarama Gliding Club website
• World Altitude Record Attempt website
• Glideorama: Gavin Wills' Mountain Soaring School website
• Ohau Skifield website
• Roundhill Ski Area website