Things to do in Otago
60 places worth stopping for and 24 places to stay on a road trip through Otago.
See and do
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · Kaka Point
Nugget Point lighthouse
1869 lighthouse above rocky islets and a seal and bird colony.
- Walk
Walk · Mount Aspiring
Rob Roy Glacier Track
Day walk up the Matukituki Valley to a glacier and waterfalls.
- Walk
Walk · Wanaka
Roys Peak track
Steady zig-zag climb for the classic Lake Wanaka summit view.
- Cave
Cave · Papatowai
Cathedral Caves
Huge tidal sea caves reached by a coastal track and beach.
- Wildlife
Wildlife · Waitati
Orokonui Ecosanctuary
Fenced forest sanctuary where kaka, takahe and tuatara live in native bush.
- Wildlife
Wildlife · Otago Peninsula
Taiaroa Head royal albatross colony
The only mainland royal albatross colony, with giant wingspans over the headland.
- Beach
Beach · Moeraki
Moeraki Boulders
Giant round boulders scattered along Koekohe Beach, best seen as the tide drops.
Wildlife · MoerakiHidden gem
Katiki Point lighthouse and penguins
Quiet headland with a lighthouse, fur seals and yellow-eyed penguins coming ashore.
Wildlife · Oamaru
Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony
Little blue penguins waddle home from the sea at dusk past a grandstand.
- Lake
Lake · St BathansHidden gem
Blue Lake, St Bathans
Vivid blue flooded gold pit, ringed by white cliffs, in a ghost-town landscape.
Scenic drive · ParadiseHidden gem
Glenorchy to Paradise scenic drive
Gravel road through beech forest and river flats to the edge of Mount Aspiring National Park.
Walk · Makarora
Blue Pools track
Short forest walk to a swing bridge and clear blue river pools.
- Scenic drive
Scenic drive · Makarora
Haast Pass
Mountain pass drive linking Otago and the West Coast, with waterfalls and forest.
- Scenic drive
Scenic drive · Tarras
Lindis Pass
Golden tussock pass linking Wanaka and the Mackenzie, with big open views.
Swimming hole · Makarora
Blue Pools (Makarora)
Clear blue river pools reached by two swing bridges in beech forest on the Haast Pass road.
Beach · Otago Peninsula
Sandfly Bay
Dune-backed bay with sea lions and a steep sand-dune walk down from the car park.
- Beach
Beach · Blackhead
Tunnel Beach
Steep clifftop track down to a hand-cut tunnel and a sandstone sea arch.
- Scenic drive
Scenic drive · Cardrona
Crown Range Road lookout
The highest main road in NZ, climbing between Queenstown and Wanaka with sweeping views.
- Wildlife
Wildlife · Kaka PointHidden gem
Roaring Bay penguin viewing hide
Hide for watching yellow-eyed penguins come ashore at dusk.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · Papatowai
McLean Falls
Tiered waterfall reached by a forest walk in the Catlins.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · Owaka
Purakaunui Falls
Three-tiered waterfall reached via a short forest track.
- Wildlife
Wildlife · OwakaHidden gem
Surat Bay sea lions
Beach where sea lions and elephant seals haul out.
Viewpoint · Queenstown (Glenorchy Road)
Bennetts Bluff viewpoint
A quick roadside walk to Lake Whakatipu and Mount Earnslaw views.
- Walk
Walk · Queenstown (Glenorchy Road)
Bob's Cove
A short bush walk to a cove on Lake Wakatipu, with a swim spot in summer.
- Roadside oddity
Roadside oddity · Oamaru
Steampunk HQ
A walk-through steampunk fantasy of machines, lights and dimensions, in an old Oamaru building.
- History
History · Otago Peninsula
Larnach Castle
NZ's only castle, a Victorian mansion with gardens and views over the harbour.
- Museum
Museum · Dunedin
Tūhura Otago Museum
Big, friendly natural-history museum with a tropical butterfly house and a planetarium.
- Activity
Activity · Gibbston
Kawarau Bridge Bungy
The original commercial bungy jump, off a historic bridge over the Kawarau River.
- Roadside oddity
Roadside oddity · Wanaka
Puzzling World
Leaning tower, illusion rooms and a big maze, a fun family stop.
- Wildlife
Wildlife · Shag PointHidden gem
Shag Point (Matakaea)
Fur seals, shags and rock pools on a rugged little headland off SH1.
- Walk
Walk · KaritaneHidden gem
Huriawa Peninsula walk
Short coastal walk onto a historic pa headland above Karitane's estuary.
- Beach
Beach · PurakaunuiHidden gem
Long Beach and Purakaunui Inlet
Sheltered beach with sandstone arches and caves, a quiet escape just north of the city.
- Town
Town · NasebyHidden gem
Naseby
Old gold-rush village in the hills, with forest walks, a historic centre and a curling rink.
History · OturehuaHidden gem
Gilchrist's Store
Historic 1899 general store on the rail trail, still selling groceries and coffee.
Walk · BannockburnHidden gem
Bannockburn Sluicings
Eroded gold-mining landscape of ridges and gullies, with a walking track and hut ruins.
Activity · Queenstown
Skyline Queenstown gondola
Gondola up Bob's Peak for the classic view over Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu.
- Scenic drive
Scenic drive · QueenstownHidden gem
Skippers Canyon road
Narrow gravel road into a gold-era canyon above the Shotover River.
Activity · Queenstown
Shotover Jet
High-speed jet-boat ride through the Shotover River canyons.
- Walk
Walk · GlenorchyHidden gem
Lake Sylvan and Routeburn Flats
Short forest walk to Lake Sylvan, with a longer option to the Routeburn Flats.
- History
History · Oamaru
Oamaru Victorian Precinct
A street of pale limestone warehouses, studios and bookshops that feels like a stage set.
- Beach
Beach · Otago PeninsulaHidden gem
Allans Beach
Wide, wild beach on the Peninsula where sea lions often haul out on the dunes.
- History
History · Dunedin
Dunedin Railway Station
Grand Edwardian station with mosaic floors and stained glass, plus a Saturday farmers market.
Walk · DunedinHidden gem
Mount Cargill and Organ Pipes
Hill walk to a column of volcanic basalt, with views north over Dunedin.
- Town
Town · Clyde
Clyde historic village
Perfectly kept gold-rush town of stone cottages, craft shops and pubs.
- Activity
Activity · Cromwell
Deadman's Point Bridge and Lake Dunstan Trail
Cycle or walk lakeside on a scenic trail with a boardwalk and bridges.
History · Arrowtown
Arrowtown Chinese Settlement
Restored huts from Chinese gold miners in the 1860s, beside the Arrow River.
- Lake
Lake · Arrowtown
Lake Hayes
Calm lake on the Arrowtown road, with a loop track and morning reflections.
Walk · Wanaka
Mount Iron
Short climb above Wanaka with a big view over the lake and valleys.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · CatlinsHidden gem
Matai Falls and Horseshoe Falls
Two forest waterfalls reached on a short walk in the Catlins.
- Beach
Beach · WhareakeakeHidden gem
Whareakeake (Murdering Beach)
Remote beach reached by a bush and coastal walk north of Dunedin.
- Walk
Walk · PoolburnHidden gem
Poolburn Gorge viaducts and tunnels
Rail-trail stretch with stone viaducts and tunnels, one of the most scenic bits of the trail.
- Roadside oddity
Roadside oddity · Wanaka
That Wanaka Tree
A lone willow growing out of Lake Wanaka, hugely photographed at sunrise.
- Beach
Beach · PapatowaiHidden gem
Tautuku Bay
Long, empty beach below a forested coastal hill.
- Roadside oddity
Roadside oddity · PapatowaiHidden gem
Papatowai and the Lost Gypsy Gallery
Quirky gallery of inventions, wind chimes and sound toys.
Wildlife · MoerakiHidden gem
Katiki Point lighthouse
Yellow-eyed penguins and seals at a remote lighthouse.
- Museum
Museum · WānakaHidden gem
National Transport and Toy Museum
Large private collection of cars, planes and 100,000 toys beside Wānaka Airport.
Activity · Dunedin
Taieri Gorge Train (Dunedin Railways)
Scenic heritage train rides out of Dunedin Railway Station, including the Taieri Gorge journey.
Walk · PurakaunuiHidden gem
Mapoutahi Pā
Walk along Purakaunui Bay's beach to Mapoutahi Pā.
History · DunedinHidden gem
Olveston Historic Home
A preserved 1900s house showing how a wealthy Dunedin family lived.
- Wildlife
Wildlife · WaikouaitiHidden gem
Hawksbury Lagoon
Coastal lagoon packed with waders and waterfowl, a short detour off SH1.
Food stops
- Restaurant
Restaurant · Moeraki
Fleur's Place
Seafood shack on Moeraki's wharf, long loved for blue cod and the day's catch.
- Farm shop
Farm shop · Cromwell
Jackson Orchards
Cromwell orchard famed for cherries and a real fruit ice cream cart.
- Pub
Pub · St BathansHidden gem
Vulcan Hotel, St Bathans
Historic mud-brick pub in a gold-rush ghost town, famous for its character and ghost stories.
Restaurant · Queenstown
Fergburger
Famous burger shop in the middle of Queenstown, usually with a queue.
- Market
Market · Dunedin
Otago Farmers Market
Saturday-morning farmers market beside the railway station, good for local produce and food stalls.
- Bakery
Bakery · Roxburgh
Jimmy's Pies
Family pie shop in Roxburgh, selling meat pies since 1960.
- Pub
Pub · Cardrona
Cardrona Hotel
Historic 1863 pub in the Cardrona Valley, with an open fire and a beer garden.
Farm shop · RoxburghHidden gem
Berryland
Roxburgh roadside stall selling berries, cherries and stonefruit.
- Café
Café · Moeraki
Moeraki Boulders Cafe
Cafe by the Moeraki Boulders car park, handy for a coffee and chowder.
- Farm shop
Farm shop · Oamaru
Whitestone Cheese Factory
Cheese factory in Oamaru with tastings and a cafe.
- Farm shop
Farm shop · Oamaru
Whitestone Cheese
Oamaru cheesemaker with a shop and café, handy for a road snack and a cheese platter.
- Café
Café · GlenorchyHidden gem
Glenorchy Cafe
Cafe at the head of Lake Wakatipu, the gateway to the Routeburn.
Places to stay
Campground · CatlinsHidden gem
Purakaunui Bay campsite
Cliffside camp in the Catlins, a short walk from the beach and waterfall.
- Campground
Campground · WanakaHidden gem
Aspiring campsite (Matukituki)
Valley campsite at the foot of Mount Aspiring, with a gravel road in from Wanaka.
Campground · GlenorchyHidden gem
Kinloch Campsite
Lakeshore DOC campsite at the head of Lake Wakatipu, up a gravel road.
Campground · QueenstownHidden gem
Moke Lake Campsite
Peaceful lakeside DOC site above Queenstown, great for stars and kayaking.
Backcountry camp · Mount Aspiring National Park
Routeburn Flats Campsite
This is a walk-in, Great Walk campsite in the Route Burn valley, on the Routeburn Track in Mt Aspiring National Park. Bookings required in the Great Walks season.
Backcountry camp · Fiordland National Park
Lake Mackenzie Campsite
This is a walk-in, Great Walk campsite on the Routeburn Track, Fiordland National Park. Bookings required in the Great Walks season.
Campground · GlenorchyHidden gem
Diamond Lake Campsite
Small DOC site beside Diamond Lake, for campervans and caravans.
- Campground
Campground · GlenorchyHidden gem
Sylvan Campsite
Riverside DOC campsite near the Routeburn trailhead and Lake Sylvan.
Campground · TarrasHidden gem
Lindis Pass Historic Hotel campsite
Free tussock-country camp beside the ruins of an old hotel.
Campground · St BathansHidden gem
St Bathans Domain
Free tidy camp in a ghost-town setting near the Blue Lake.
- Campground
Campground · MoerakiHidden gem
Trotters Gorge Campsite
Quiet family campsite in a bush gorge near Moeraki.
Campground · Hawea
Kidds Bush Reserve
Shady beech-forest DOC campsite on the shore of Lake Hawea.
- Campground
Campground · Catlins
Papatowai campsite
Camp near the Catlins forest, close to the Cathedral Caves and Lost Gypsy Gallery.
- Campground
Campground · WānakaHidden gem
Outlet Camp Wānaka
Old-style kānuka camping at the Clutha outlet, with yurts and cabins. No streetlights or kerbs in sight.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Herbert, OamaruHidden gem
Riverside Haven Lodge & Holiday Park
Working farm stay on the Waianakarua River with a swimming hole and forest walks, near Moeraki.
- Lodge
Lodge · Otago Peninsula, Dunedin
Larnach Lodge & Stable Stay
Sleep in the grounds of Larnach Castle: harbour-view lodge rooms or budget rooms in a 150-year-old stable.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Frankton, Queenstown
Driftaway Queenstown
Lakeside Frankton camp with villas and hot tubs, opened in 2022, minutes from Queenstown Airport.
- Lodge
Lodge · Glenorchy
The Headwaters Eco Lodge
Eco-lodge chalets in Glenorchy, with a kitchen garden and an Otago river-map mosaic floor.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Wanaka
Glendhu Bay Holiday Park
Lakeside holiday park on Lake Wanaka's west shore, on the road to Mount Aspiring.
Campground · Queenstown
Twelve Mile Delta Campground
Big campground on a river delta beside Lake Wakatipu, 12 km from Queenstown.
Campground · QueenstownHidden gem
Skippers Campsite
Camp beside the ruins of Skippers township, up a winding canyon road.
Campground · ArrowtownHidden gem
Macetown Campsite
Remote camping at an old gold town, reached by a rough 4WD track.
Campground · MakaroraHidden gem
Cameron Flat Campsite
Forest campsite beside the Makarora River on the road to Haast.
Campground · St BathansHidden gem
Homestead Campsite (Hawkdun)
Isolated free camp in the Hawkdun Ranges, good for mountain biking and tramping.
Plan the drive, not just the stops
Roadtrip works out what the drive costs in fuel for your car, splits it into days with the best stops and places to sleep, and finds the cheapest fuel on the way.
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