NZ Drives: The Southern Scenic Route through the Catlins
While I was writing my post on my top 5 Roads Less Traveled in New Zealand, I realized that at least one of them probably deserved some extra attention — the Southern Scenic Route drive through the Catlins.
The stunning, day-long drive from Dunedin to Invercargill was possibly my favorite thing I did while living in New Zealand for five months – and that's saying something!
So here's a closer look at the highlights of this drive, in photos.
Driving the Southern Scenic Route in New Zealand
Beginning in Dunedin, the Southern Scenic route winds first along New Zealand's rugged southern coast, where the views on a clear day will probably have you pulling over ever 100 feet to take photos like these:
The road then wanders away from the coast, taking you through gently rolling farmland, where, at the right time of year, you'll probably see some lambs gamboling about.
Stop in the town of Balclutha to stock up on snacks and perhaps sandwiches for lunch, because there won't be many large towns on the coast between here and Invercargill.
The road then leads you back to the coast, where you'll remain for a while. Try not to laugh too much at the name of this next spot: Kaka Point.
Nugget Point
About halfway through the drive, make sure to leave ample time to drive out and explore Nugget Point. Stop at Roaring Bay, where, at the right time of year, you may see rare yellow-eyed penguins, New Zealand fur seals, Southern elephant seals, Hooker sea lions, and plenty of seabirds. I, of course, saw none of these, but the area is still pretty.
From Roaring Bay, continue on to Nugget Point. You'll have to leave you car behind eventually and walk along a costal track, but the walk is easy and doesn't take long. Plus, you get endless views like these:
Continue on all the way to the lighthouse at Nugget Point, which has spectacular coastal views and rock formations that give the area its name.
Purakaunui Falls
Further along the Southern Scenic Route, if you’re in the mood for waterfalls, veer off the main road and stop at Purakaunui Falls. A 10-minute hike through a podocarp forest will lead you to the falls.
The rest of the drive to Invercargill will take place away from the coast, but various side roads will lead you to worthwhile coastal spots. For example, be sure to stop at Porpoise and Curio bays.
Curio Bay
Keep an eye out for rare Hector’s dolphins, which call scenic Porpoise Bay home, or climb down onto the rocks as the surf crashes in.
Over at adjoining Curio Bay, check out one of the world’s most extensive and least disturbed examples of Jurassic fossilized forest. The petrified forest is best viewed at low tide, though the area is impressive at any time of day.
It's at this point that the landscape will being to change. You'll see more farmland away from the coast, spy more sheep, and the scenery will take on a markedly more windswept look the closer you get to Invercargill.
Bluff
Before you head into Invercargill, consider driving the extra half hour down to Bluff, the southern-most city on New Zealand’s south island. It touts itself as being the place “where the highway starts,” and the international signpost at Stirling Point is a popular spot for photos.
If it’s a clear day, head up to Bluff Hill, where you may be able to spot Stewart Island away in the distance (not shown in the below photo, however, because it was too cloudy). You can take a ferry over to Stewart Island, if you dare brave the treacherous Foveaux Strait.
After a quick tour of Bluff, head on into Invercargill for a relaxing evening after a long day driving the Southern Scenic Route. Beware of the wind and the ever-changing weather, but enjoy the little southern town.
Note: There are numerous awesome stops along the Southern Scenic Route that did not get included in this post, mostly because driving the route from Dunedin to Invercargill in one day means picking and choosing only a few of the top spots to stop off at. Some areas are also only open at low tide, or outside of lambing season (which I was traveling during, as evidenced by all the cute, woolly baby sheep).
If you're planning to make this drive, be sure to pick up a detailed map of the route, which will give you descriptions and suggestions of the best places to stop.
And then let me know what your favorite sights were!
Is the Southern Scenic Route one you would like to drive?
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Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
Do you have any advice. I’m trying to decide between 1. Taking the TranzAlpine from Christchurch to Greymouth and then driving to Queenstown (via the glaciers). 2. Driving from Queenstown and doing the southern scenic route to Dunedin. (So we’d be flying from Auckland to either Christchurch or Queenstown.)
Note – traveling w/ my 80-something mom, so no hiking or walking on uneven ground. Basically driving (or train) and enjoying the sights and eating fabulous food.
Oooo, tough choice! If you wouldn’t be doing much walking, I would probably do the TranzAlpine and then drive to Queenstown. The train really is beautiful, and the West Coast is impressive even if you’re just driving. (The West Coast can be quite rainy, though, so be aware of that!)
[…] accessible glaciers like Fox and Franz Josef, the tallest mountain in New Zealand (Mount Cook), the Southern Scenic Route along the coast, the Southern Lakes region around Lake Wanaka, strange rock formations like the […]
[…] of my favorite drives in New Zealand is the drive along the Southern Scenic Route through a particularly scenic areas known as the Catlins. There are some incredible coastal views […]
I’ll be doing this route from Dunedin in late Mar/early Apr 2014 – thinking of doing the drive over 2 days.
I am interested in wild life, outdoor and photography. Any suggestion/recommendation of where I should stay overnight?
Thanks!
Hmm, to be honest I don’t know that there are any large towns that are actually ON the route. I did the drive all in one day, and so I never had to look into places to stay overnight…
You definitely will enjoy the drive if you like the outdoors and photography, though!
This was an incredible drive for me. Such a beautiful under-the-radar part of the country.
Right?!? Glad to hear you liked it!
Great photos! Between your posts and Backingpacking Matt’s, I definitely want to make it to NZ soon.
Thanks, Suzy! And you should totally get to NZ if you can. It’s such a great little country.
Great article about our area – thanks – I have posted on fb group the catlins new zealand.
Awesome, thanks! I’ll have to look for that group on FB!
Beutiful pics – a great drive and lucky to get some sunny skies…
ohmigod, i love this route! i wish i did it in two days, but oh well. something to come back for! it looks like your weather was awesome! i had the opposite: rainy and windy weather, but saw lots of animals!!!
beautiful!
Yes, my friends and I got so lucky with the weather on that trip!
If I ever do it again, I’ll definitely allow 2 days for this drive.