Fairlie is a small town in the South Island that is the gateway to Mackenzie Country. The town is at the intersection of State Highway 79, 45 km from Geraldine to the east, and State Highway 8, which connects Fairlie to Timaru on the Pacific Coast and Central Otago via the Mackenzie.
The town was established to service local farms but sits on a prime tourist route. State Highway 79 is a scenic drive with a spectacular view over the Opihi River Valley town and the mountains to the west and north as you cross the Four Peaks range foothills, a few km east of Fairlie. Continuing north of Fairlie on State Highway 8 towards Burkes Pass and Tekapo, you have the 1,300 metres Albury Range to the west, little-known but pretty Lake Opuha to the northeast and the Two Thumb and Sherwood Ranges at over 2,000 metres to the north.
The town was initially named Fairlie's Creek by David Hamilton. Hamilton was the brother-in-law of James Lister, an early settler who built a boarding house near the river. The name came from Fairlie, Scotland, which Hamilton had visited on his honeymoon. After 1892, the name was shortened to Fairlie. The town is best known for its connection with the story of James Mackenzie, a famous sheep rustler of the 1850/60s, for whom the entire region is named. A statue of Mackenzie and his dog, Friday, is in the town centre.
Today, the town is best known for its hospitality and as a stop for travellers. The Fairlie Bakehouse is regularly rated as having the best pies in the South Island, and they are a must-try. But try to avoid the lunchtime rush!
A walk around the town only takes a few minutes. In addition to the famous thief statue, there is a planted area between Riddel Street and State Highway 8 with a series of superb photos from around the Mackenzie. Just south of this is a large park and reserve, including a reminder that a branch railway line came to Fairlie until 1968. The statue of the WWI soldier standing on the old railway platform, ready to go to war, is especially poignant.
For a longer option, you can walk along the river for about 12 km.
