Twizel, New Zealand

The modest town of TWIZEL (rhymes with bridle) is a leafy island surrounded by seas of pasture and backed by alpine scenery. It began life in 1966 as a construction village for people working on the Waitaki Hydro Scheme. Twizel was due to be bulldozed flat after the project was finished in 1985 (some think this would have been a kinder fate) but enough residents wanted to stay that their wishes were granted. Long ridiculed as dull and featureless, this town of 1400 is now becoming a cheapish and more varied base for forays to the Mount Cook National Park (a 45min drive away), scenic Lake Ohau and the gliding operation at Omarama.