Length of stay: 2 days
Visited: April 2025
The Southern Scenic Route is a 600km drive along the southern coast of the South Island of New Zealand, connecting Dunedin and Queenstown. This area is also known as the Catlins and it’s not called a scenic route for nothing. With plenty of beaches, overlooks, hiking trails and other points of interest, it’s a great way to enjoy the scenery and sights along the southern coastline.
Day 1: Dunedin to Invercargill
After spending the past couple of days exploring Dunedin, we embarked on the Southern Scenic Route towards Te Anau. We had to make a few changes to our itinerary, largely to cross a few things off our list due to closures at Tunnel Beach and Cathedral Caves, but this just meant we now had more time to make spontaneous stops along the way.
The first attraction on our itinerary was at Nugget Point Lighthouse. Nugget Point got its named from Captain Cook who thought the rocks resembled golden nuggets when they shimmered in the sunlight. From the parking lot there’s a wide gravel path (just under a kilometre one-way) that leads to a lighthouse perched up on the cliff. It was super windy as we neared the coastline, but the view overlooking the sparkly blue water and rocks was outstanding.
The area around Nugget Point is reputed to be a good spot to see fur seals and sea lions. And it lived up to its reputation. We made a random stop along the beach and were rewarded for our curiosity.
We left the coastline to head to Purakaunui Falls. It’s a short walk through the dense forest (about 10 minutes) to get to the falls. The water levels were a bit low this time of year, but the falls were still pretty and it was nice to stretch our legs.
Darker clouds were rolling in, which now became more obvious when we stopped at the Florence Hill Lookout for a view overlooking Tautuku Bay.
Our little one finally went down for a nap, so we kept driving, making a brief stop at Curio Bay where there are a few overlooks and shorter hiking trails. It’s reputed to be a great spot to see wildlife, including dolphins and yellow-eyed penguins. We didn’t see either. But we did see the fossilized and petrified remains of an ancient forest.
Our next stop was at Slope Point where there’s a short trail to the southernmost point on the mainland of New Zealand. M was still sleeping and we were reluctant to wake her since it was the only nap she took of the day. We weren’t too disappointed as it was insanely windy. And it looked like it might rain at any minute. Instead we continued driving to Invercargill where we planned to spend the night.
Day 2: Invercargill to Te Anau
We had a slow start to the morning. After packing up, we headed to the grocery store to pick up some food for the next few days. And then we were ready to hit the road. We had another long day of driving, which started by backtracking south to Bluff, a small town and seaport.
We pulled over at Greenpoint Domain where there’s a short walkway, mostly along a boardwalk, to the shoreline. A few shipwrecks are visible from the beach and even more are below the surface. Some are in decent shape while others not so much. This place has become a graveyard for the Bluff’s commercial shipping fleet.
We drove through Bluff and stopped at Stirling Point, which marks the southern end of State Highway 1, the longest road in New Zealand that runs the length of both the North and South Islands. While we haven’t encountered too many people along the Southern Scenic Route, for some reason this overlook was insanely busy.
On the way out of Bluff we made one more stop at the Bluff Hill Overlook which provides a panoramic view of the surrounding area. There’s two options to reach the overlook: you can walk or drive. Typically we’re all about the steps, but the trail is reputed to be challenging and steep. We’re not about unnecessary hardship so we decided to just drive to the summit.
We headed back towards the Southern Scenic Route. We had to make some adjustments to our itinerary as M was due for a nap. No worries as there would be more opportunities to enjoy the coastal scenery. Our next stop was at Gemstone Beach. We walked along the sandy shore which had a mixture of colourful pebbles and rocks. Semi-precious gems like jasper or quartz can sometimes be found washed up along the shore. I don’t typically collect rocks, but found an exceptionally beautiful green rock with white streaks that fit so smoothly and perfectly in the palm of my hand. I took it home with me and it still resides in my bag, a nice reminder of our time in New Zealand.
After eating lunch at the parking lot of Gemstone Beach, we continued on our way. McCracken’s Rest was our next stop which marked the end of the coastal section along the Southern Scenic Route. There’s a small viewing platform from up on the cliffs, providing a nice view of the wavy ocean below.
Leaving the ocean behind, we headed through farm fields towards the mountains. We stopped briefly at the Clifden Suspension Bridge to stretch our legs and admire the views of the river.
Back on the road, we also couldn’t help but admire the views of the mountains.
As we neared Te Anau we saw that there was a “LOTR Boulder Reach Viewpoint” along the way. Intrigued, we added a pin and followed our GPS down some sketchy gravel road. There was no signage and the road split off in multiple directions. We couldn’t figure out where to find the actual viewpoint. After several failed attempts, we gave up and headed towards our hotel. It was approaching dinner time anyway.
L
Oh, how beautiful New Zealand is, seeing those amazing photographs you shared, Linda. Seeing the sea lion closer is just pure bliss, and that lighthouse roadway feels like a walk of a magical place. The blue ocean and the majestic mountains promise for an unforgettable vacation. I think baby M enjoyed watching the sea lion. Thanks for sharing, Linda.
The coastal scenery along the Southern Scenic Route was stunning and I love how the water looked so blue and sparkly when the sun was shining. You’re absolutely right, baby M loved seeing the sea lions. We had to make sure she didn’t get too close to them! She also really enjoyed playing in the sand. Thanks so much for reading Hazel. Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Linda
I love that picture of the two ships leaning into each other! The scenery is stunning. We didn’t go this far south when we were there, so it’s all new to me. How great that little M manages the hikes and the drives.
The shipwreck graveyard in Bluff is pretty cool. We couldn’t quite time our visit to coincide with low tide when even more shipwrecks are visible, but we’re happy with what we saw. M could spend the entire day outside if she wanted to. She especially enjoys being out in nature and on the trail (she’s even able to do a bit of hiking on her own now). I’m pretty sure she was sick of being in her carseat towards the end of our road trip though!
The Scenic Route is a very appropriate description – how absolutely beautiful! Your beach trip to see those sealions close up was incredibly rewarding and every single one of your photos is beautiful 🙂 You are really inspiring me to book a trip to NZ!
Absolutely! The scenery along the Southern Scenic Route did not disappoint. And I’m so glad we managed to see some wildlife along the way. New Zealand is such an amazing country. I highly recommend visiting!!
Some stunning scenery wow! Some of those colors look almost fake they’re so pretty. I applaud you for brining M on such a long flight!
I know! The colour of the water along the coastline, especially when the sun is shining, is absolutely beautiful. I was really nervous about the flight. But it surprisingly went a lot better than expected and M mostly slept the whole time. We tried to break it up by spending a few days in Vancouver which I think helped a lot, otherwise instead of being a 14 hour flight, it would have been close to 24 hours in transit. Hope all is well with you and your little one.
What amazing views! You have captured New Zealand so well.
Thanks for your lovely comment Darlene. The pictures can definitely do the talking along the Southern Scenic Route. The coastal scenery was outstanding.
New Zealand has so much natural beauty. Very inspiring.
That it does. The scenery is one of the main reasons we fell in love with New Zealand. I would go back in a heartbeat if we could take another long vacation!
Your wonderful photos definitely show some magnificent coastline, Linda. I can understand why it was windy, though. It must really sweep across the ocean at full speed before reaching the South Island coast. Gorgeous landscapes.
Thanks Lynette. Even with the wind, thankfully we had fantastic weather. I don’t imagine our umbrellas would have been that useful (or would have survived the wind) if it was raining!
Great photos. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your kind words and for reading. It was a long two days of driving, but I’m glad there were plenty of opportunities to stretch our legs. And it helped that it was an incredibly scenic drive.
Hard to go wrong when you follow the coast Linda. We enjoyed Slope Point last time and thought we would go to Bluff this trip, but decided not to. We are spending a few days on Stewart Island in Oban and then going to Queenstown with our friends, before heading to Mt. Cook and Tekapo. It is so frustrating when you can’t find an attraction that is on the map, but not signposted. It happens frequently ion NZ. Happy Friday. Allan
I don’t blame you, it’s a lot of driving and it’s a bit out of the way. I’ve heard good things about Stewart Island, but we unfortunately couldn’t fit it into our itinerary. How are you getting to Stewart Island? Are you flying there?
We are being quite selective on this trip (we aren’t getting any younger). We are staying longer in most places and visiting old favourites and new places alike. We fly from Wellington to Invercargill one day and take the short plane ride to Stewart Island the next. We have a cottage pretty much on the beach in Oban, thanks to our Kiwi friends sussing it out for us.
Sounds lovely. It seems like flying within New Zealand is pretty common and convenient. You must be getting excited considering you leave next month.
Excited, nervous, anxious. It has been so long since I planned such a trip. What did I forget? Air Canada has already screwed with our flight to Vancouver. So glad we are going a day early. Not looking for a repeat of 2014. Cheers
Good call on going a day early. We would have done the same even if we weren’t flying with a little one. Here’s hoping things go smoothly. And if you forget something, hopefully you can just buy it there. Are you doing Skycouch again?
Never doing Skycouch again. We are flying Premium Economy, after our Kiwi friends bragged about being able to sleep 6 hours on their flight. Fingers crossed.
We reserved the seats in Economy with extra legroom which also had an option for a fold down bassinet on the wall (but it turns out our little one was not so little anymore). We were seated directly behind Premium Economy. The seats looked way more comfortable and they had much bigger pillows. We were very jealous.
Wow, New Zealand is incredibly beautiful! What a fun adventure you guys had, thanks for sharing! ❤️
Thanks for your lovely comment John. New Zealand is very picturesque. It makes me wish I had a better camera as it’s hard to do the landscape justice. It really is beautiful.
Thank you for sharing the beauty!
Anytime! I feel fortunate that we’re able to travel and see the beauty in the world around us. And there’s no shortage of that in New Zealand!
That scenic road is gorgeous….running out of words to describe the beauty!…and it looks like you had all the stops to yourselves. Perhaps that’s Mount Doom in the background of that last shot hehehe
We surprisingly didn’t encounter too many people while driving along the Southern Scenic Route. It’s a bit out of the way and there’s not much around, but the scenery is spectacular. We actually visit Mount Doom later in our trip!
I think I hear Aragorn calling my name 🙂
And my name too! I’m actually rewatching LOTR at the moment. It’s such a classic and it has really aged well.
Such beautiful views Lindaa along the Southern Scenic Route. It must have been fun spotting the sea lions and catching a glimpse of the shipwrecks.
You bet. It was lovely to explore along the coastline and all the treasures on the beach. Spotting the sea lions was a nice surprise.
Nugget Point Lighthouse looks like an unmissable stop along the scenic route, and so is the Florence Hill Lookout, Linda. I certainly love the idea of buckling up and driving the Southern Scenic Route, especially as there seems to be magic around every bend. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
It was a lot of driving over two days, but thankfully there are a lot of great options to stretch your legs and admire the scenery. I like how you phrased it, “magic around every bend”. Nugget Point Lighthouse was one of my favourite stops. Thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of the week. Linda
Oh my, absolutely stunning scenery. All your photos are spectacular. I missed out on so much during my quick visit to NZ.
Thanks so much. New Zealand is actually a much bigger country than I initially thought. We were there for five weeks and even then I feel like I missed out on so much as well!
So so pretty! Also, I got a chuckle out of the first sea lion photo. It looks like a mother scolding her child… who could not possibly be paying less attention 🤣
It was neat to see the sea lions. One minute they were basking in the sand and the next it got confrontational real quick! We made sure to keep our distance as we really didn’t want to get involved in whatever dispute was happening!
Wow! Your photos are gorgeous! Looks like paradise. 💙
Thanks for your lovely comment Michele. The landscape, especially along the coastline, looked something straight out of a postcard. It was all very photogenic and pretty.
Would be a beautiful postcard, yes. 😊
So much to love about the drive. Lighthouses, waterfalls, sea lions, beaches, and that’s just the first stop! Maggie
Absolutely, except for maybe the long distance we had to cover in two days! But it’s all part of the adventure!
So many beautiful places that you visited in NZ and your pictures are wonderful.
Thanks so much for your kind words and for leaving a comment. New Zealand if such a beautiful country and there are no shortage of picturesque places. We were there for five weeks and could have easily stayed longer.
Beautiful!
Oh I know. I’m glad we had nice weather to enjoy the coastal views.
Wonderful places !💙
Agreed. The landscape and coastal views along the Southern Scenic Route is beautiful. I’m glad we had nice weather to appreciate the scenery and stretch our legs every so often to explore our surroundings.
The mountain, coastal, waterfall and ocean sceneries are so breathtakingly beautiful. I can only imagine what it must’ve been like to experience in person.
The golden nuggets are so on point and that trail to the lighthouse is so scenic. So fun and awesome how you both plan around M’s naps and adapt with the flow.
Looks like the weather continued to cooperate for you during this leg of the trip!
I’m not going to lie, it was a long drive and by the end of it we were all ready to be out of the car. But at least it was scenic and the weather was pleasant. Ah yes, those were the days when M would nap in the car no problem. Those days are over now. And oh how I miss them!
Another stunningly beautiful part of New Zealand! I love your photos of the sea lions – I’m glad your curiosity was rewarded 🙂
Thanks for your lovely comment. The Southern Scenic Route delivered on the scenic front. I can’t believe our luck that we stumbled upon a pair of sea lions on the first spot we stopped at along the beach.
Sea lions!! What a treat!!!
It was such an unexpected surprise! We heard this area was reputed to have a lot of sea lions and pulled over at the first random spot on the side of the road to explore the beach. And wouldn’t you know it we stumbled upon these cuties right away.
I love that for you!!
Wow, you make all of New Zealand look so gorgeous! And how awesome you were able to see seals and sea lions!! It would’ve been cool to find the LOTR viewpoint.
You are too kind. We heard that this area had a lot of sea lions and we were delighted that we didn’t have to work hard to find them. And agreed, it would have been cool to spot that LOTR viewpoint, especially considering how much effort we put in trying to find it! But alas, it was not meant to be.
Wow, absolutely beautiful… I love the pictures…New Zealand looks stunning through your eyes.
Thanks for your lovely comment Willie. The scenery in New Zealand, especially along the Southern Scenic Route, did not disappoint.
That is such an amazing route, magnificent views. Another world all together. Thanks for sharing! 🇳🇿💯
I’d say it lived up to its name for being a scenic route. I’m glad we had clear skies to enjoy the views. There’s something so mesmerizing about being by the ocean and watching the waves.
When I said you didn’t really meet anyone else along this route, I was thinking, that’s right up my alley! You know, stunningly beautiful landscapes with no one else around. I come from a city of 10 million (more than 30 million if you include its surrounding cities), so sometimes I long for being at quiet places. This southern route in New Zealand’s South Island seems to really live up to its name.
I think many of us feel the same about travelling and how quiet and fewer crowds is the way to go. And it’s always nice to escape from the craziness of the city and spend time in nature. The Southern Scenic Route was indeed scenic.
My pleasure, Linda. Have a blessed Sunday as well. Thank you.
You as well. Enjoy the rest of the week.
Love and gratitude, Linda
Looks like my kind of journey. Thanks for the photos and sharing.
Thanks for your kind words. This trip was all about the journey and the destination. We had a wonderful time exploring the coastal scenery.
Awwwwwwww the sea lions look so cute !!! I love seeing videos and pictures of them beached. They look so relaxed . Great photos as well ! New Zealand looks so pretty and vast . It’s nice to get a quick tour of places. Great post !
Thanks for your lovely comment. The sea lions were a fun surprise. We heard this area was reputed to have a lot of sea lions. And wouldn’t you know it, the first spot we stopped at, we stumbled upon these cuties.
Awww the first part you stopped they were there ?? Aw it was meant to be
Totally! It was definitely meant to be! It felt like luck was on our side.
How interesting! I hope to see this all myself someday too. The photo overlooking Tautuku Bay is truly beautiful.
Thanks! I hope you’re able to visit New Zealand someday. It’s such a beautiful country. And there are no shortage of scenic drives and beautiful views of the coastline.
So wonderful beauty of New Zealand’s Ocean and grace mountains views 🌷🙏😊🌷These moments are very attractive, enjoying the beauty of nature to the fullest 👌👏 my cousins also expressed the beauty of grace New Zealand 😍👌May you and your loving families journey be filled with Sweetness and joy throughout, so well wishes 🌷🙏💞🌱🌷
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. There is no shortage of nice views to enjoy the New Zealand coastline. It’s hard to decide which I liked more though – the ocean or mountains. Hope you have a wonderful weekend. All the best to you and your family as well. Linda
Thank you so much for likes my feedback and dear you most welcome 🙏 ❤️🌷have a nice weekend wishes 🤗🥀 ( sorry for late reply dear friend)
You as well. Hope all is well.
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Gorgeous, one beautiful place after another. Florence Hill Lookout stands out for me. The quietness is also lovely (apart from the Stirling Point crowds) – just you and this vast expense of beautiful land and ocean.
It’s a wonderful feeling to be out on the road and to have many of the viewpoints and trails all to ourselves. People have a way of ruining things, especially when it’s overcrowded. It’s one of the main reasons we visited during the shoulder season.
Yes, definitely a scenic ride! A lighthouse, wildlife, waterfall, beaches, and just overall amazing views. You were lucky to have good weather again to enjoy the ride. Beautiful photos.
I know! What more could you want on a road trip!? And yes, it was nice to have nice weather to enjoy the scenery. The rain was about to catch up with us though.
You make the prospect of emigrating to Canada or NZ very appealing! My wife and I would jump at the chance these days, but, unfortunately, qualifying for any kind of visa at our ages is simply not going to happen. As always, what a wonderful travelogue you’re creating. Happy trails!
Thanks for your comment. It’s funny that you mentioned emigrating to NZ as that’s something we looked into after our trip. We still talk about it from time to time, but it likely wouldn’t happen anytime soon given how far it is from family. But you’re right, the longer you wait, the less likely it is to happen as your age starts to work against you. It’s nice to dream though.
Wow, beautiful pictures all around! I just think you can never go wrong with a scenic route, and this one certainly falls in the best of them 🙂
Very true. We’re huge fans of taking a road trip so it’s all about taking the scenic route. This one did not disappoint. And it’s always nice to take multiple breaks along the way to stretch the legs.
It looks such a beautiful country! How old is your daughter? It’s quite an undertaking to have a little one on a long trip, but I guess you just tailored your days to her. Thanks so much for sharing with me xx
She was about 16 months old at the time of our trip to New Zealand and did surprisingly well with the long flight (14 hours from Vancouver), adjusting to the time change, and moving around a lot from our road trip. She was getting pretty sick of being in her car seat towards the end though. We had to definitely adjust how we travel to take into account nap times and giving her time to play around, but it actually worked out well. And it was nice to have a bit more down time, something we’re coming to appreciate as we get older. Thanks so much for reading and leaving a comment. Cheers, Linda.
Thanks for sharing…. feels like a visit
Thanks so much for reading and leaving a comment. It was a wonderful scenic drive. Despite the distance, it was well worth the visit.
Gorgeous pictures! 📸
Thanks! It’s not hard to take a nice picture when the landscape is that beautiful!
I just saw that your tagline now reads “Three Canadians Traveling the World” ❤️💓💖
This is definitely a beautiful scenic drive. I’m sorry that your first choices were closed, but you more than made up for it. Way to go on your quick pivot.
We’ve had such a wonderful experience travelling with our little one. It’s definitely a lot more work and requires travelling with waaaay more stuff. But it’s been a lot of fun. And a road trip has been a great way to travel as we’re able to go at our own pace and can always change plans if needed. We’re all about taking the scenic route in life!
What a beautiful route to take. The scenery is incredible.
I know the “keep driving while baby is sleeping” 🤣. If I am quiet enough I do sometimes manage to stop, get out of the car to take a picture and drive again without waking him.
I can’t stop going back and check the pictures, again and again. So beautiful!
Thanks so much for your lovely comment Christie. One of the best parts about taking a road trip is enjoying the beautiful scenery. The stretch along the coastline was especially picturesque.