Fairlie is the first taste of the Mackenzie coming from Christchurch — a small rural town that's easy to treat as a fuel stop, but rewards a proper look with boutique shops, a well-loved bakery, and some of the region's best autumn colour lining the main street.
What to do here
Fairlie Bakehouse
The town's best-known stop — a bakery worth planning a break around.
Main street boutique shops
Art, clothing, crafts and gifts along a walkable main street.
Autumn colour
Poplars and deciduous trees along the approach roads turn gold through April-May.
Gateway to Burkes Pass and the high country
The start of the classic drive up into the Mackenzie Basin proper.