Southern Scenic Route

A 610 km U-shaped drive that leaves Queenstown along Lake Wakatipu, swings west past Manapouri and Tuatapere, then follows the south coast through Riverton and Invercargill. From there it heads through the Catlins to Owaka and Balclutha before a final stretch to Dunedin. It suits people with four or five days who want waterfalls, lighthouses and empty beaches rather than the fastest way between the two cities.

The stops

1. Start

   Queenstown

2. Town

   Kingston

   Southern end of Lake Wakatipu, good first coffee stop

3. Town

   Te Anau

   Gateway to Fiordland; stock up on fuel and food

4. Town

   Tuatapere

   Small town on the edge of Fiordland, near Te Waewae Bay

5. Town

   Riverton

   Fishing town on the south coast, one of Southland's oldest settlements

6. City

   Invercargill

   Largest city in Southland; fuel, supermarkets and the Bluff detour

7. Lighthouse

   Waipapa Point

   Wooden lighthouse built after the 1881 wreck of the Tararua

8. Viewpoint

   Slope Point

   South Island's southernmost point, a short paddock walk from the road

9. Nature

   Curio Bay

   Fossil forest on the shore and Hector's dolphins at Porpoise Bay nearby

10. Waterfall

    Purakaunui Falls

    Tiered falls on a short bush walk from the road end

11. Town

    Owaka

    Catlins' main town, handy for supplies

12. Lighthouse

    Nugget Point

    Lighthouse at the end of a headland walk with seals below

13. Beach

    Taieri Mouth

    Quiet river-mouth village before Dunedin

14. Finish

    Dunedin

Where to stay

• Night 1

  Te Anau

  Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park · DOC campsites on Lake Manapouri

• Night 2

  Invercargill

  Invercargill Top 10 Holiday Park · Riverton motels

• Night 3

  Owaka

  Pounawea Motor Camp · Catlins Newhaven Holiday Park

• Night 4

  Dunedin

  Dunedin Holiday Park · city motels

When to go

Oct–Apr; Catlins roads are quietest outside school holidays

On the road

Short unsealed spurs to Slope Point and some Catlins waterfalls; Cathedral Caves access depends on the tide.