Dunedin to Invercargill road trip - 7 must-do stops

Ready to explore the South Island’s South East Coast? While a Dunedin to Invercargill road trip only has to take you under three hours in one go, you’d be missing out on many amazing places along the way if you didn’t stretch it out.

From the stunning views at Purakaunui Falls and spotting the yellow-eyed penguins at Curio Bay to the famous surfing beach at Kaka Point, it pays to do your research and add a few stops along the way to make the most of your adventure.

It’s time to hire a campervan and hit the road, with so many sights not to be missed on this road trip from Dunedin to Invercargill.

Best Dunedin to Invercargill Road Trip: 7 places you can’t miss

Total distance: about 300 km | Recommended days: 5 to 7 days | Best time to do the route: between June and September | See route on Google Maps

1. Dunedin

The starting point in your Dunedin to Invercargill road trip, don’t be too eager to hit the road without first checking out the sights. No Dunedin road trip is complete without a visit to the Otago Peninsula, which is one of the best spots in New Zealand to see the Southern Lights. There’s also plenty of wildlife to watch, including sea lions, fur seals, little blue penguins and more, along with some incredible views to soak in during your visit.

Tunnel Beach is another popular attraction, where you can check out the arches that have been carved by the waves and take a walk through the manmade tunnel. For a bit of history it’s worth heading over to Toitu Otago Settlers Museum, where you can step into old Maori Villages and enjoy plenty of interactive fun.

New Zealand’s only castle - Larnach Castle - is also a must on your to-do list, carefully restored to its original grandeur with rooms and gardens open to the public. At the end of a busy day visiting the sights, there’s nothing better than relaxing back at one of the city’s many pubs, including Emerson’s Craft Brewery, for a local beer.

2. Lake Waihola

Ready to get out on the water and enjoy some adventure on your Dunedin to Invercargill road trip? Lake Waihola is known for its gorgeous mirror-like reflections and the black swans that live there. Surrounded by the Sinclair and Waipori Wetlands, you can take one of the many walks in the area, or head a little further to check out Waipori Falls.

Only 15 minutes down the road from Lake Waihola is Whale Fossil Lookout. Here, you’ll find lovely views of Lake Waihola and the surrounding farmland. You can check out the 30-million-year-old whale and dolphin fossil, while soaking up your surroundings.

3. Kaka Point

Kaka Point is a popular town to stay on your Dunedin to Invercargill road trip, attached to a famous surfing beach with plenty of restaurants and cafes for you to sample as you come up for a break with the waves. Set off on the Kaka Point Bush Walk, where you can hike into the native podocarp forest.

Just a short drive away, you will find Nugget Point Lighthouse, which is particularly stunning at sunrise and sunset. It’s just a short walk from the parking lot, offering up some incredible views of the steep cliffs and small islands surrounding. Just 800m away, you will find Roaring Bay Penguins & Seals Observatory where you have the opportunity to spot rare yellow-eyed penguins.

Down the road you will find Jack’s Blowhole, which you can plan as your first break on the way to your next stop, Purakaunui Falls. The 3km walking track takes you to a viewing spot where you can watch the waves crashing into caves and shooting out Jack’s Blowhole. It’s a must-stop on any road trip from Dunedin to Invercargill.

4. Purakaunui Falls

Just a 25-minute drive from Jack’s Blowhole, there’s no need to stay the night at this spot (unless you have plenty of time to spare!), but be sure to stop off during your travels.

No Dunedin to Invercargill road trip is complete without a visit to one of the most stunning waterfalls in the Catlins. settle back and watch as Purakaunui Falls cascades down three tiers before your eyes. It’s one of the most-photographed spots with a viewing platform offering up an optimal vantage point.

As you keep travelling to check out Cathedral Caves, it’s also well-worth stopping in at Florence Hill Lookout. It’s the ideal location to enjoy sweeping views over Tautuku Beach, while also using the information boards scattered around to learn even more about the area.

5. Cathedral Caves

A must-stop on your Dunedin to Invercargill road trip, Cathedral Caves is only accessible at low tide, so you want to plan out your driving day to make sure you arrive at the optimal time. Located at the northern end of Waipati Beach, the two sea-formed passages measure about 200m together and go up to 30m. The caves are also closed from May through to October each year.

There’s an entrance fee of $10 for adults (15+) and $2 for children (5-14 years) that’s payable at the gate on the way in, which goes towards managing this sacred Maori space.

6. Curio Bay

This small coastal town is a great spot to break up your Dunedin to Invercargill road trip. The first thing on your sight-seeing list should be to take on the Curio Bay Penguin Walk, where you have the opportunity to spot yellow-eyed penguins and possibly even some dolphins.

It’s also worth sitting back on your road trip to Invercargill from Dunedin and watching the outgoing tide as it reveals an 180-million-year-old Jurassic fossil forest.

As you continue your journey to Invercargill, be sure to plan a break at Slope Point in your travels. This is the most Southerly point in New Zealand’s South Island, so well-worth the token photo.

Just beware, there’s no railing here so keep a hand on the kids during your visit.

7. Invercargill

As your Dunedin to Invercargill road trip comes to an end, it’s worth spending a day or two exploring New Zealand’s most southern city.

Take a trip to Queens Park, which is home to an animal park, kids playground, aviary and stunning gardens for you to wander through. If you have a lover of cars on your hands, then head to Bill Richardson’s Transport Worldto view a huge museum, or Class Motorcycle Mecca to view the largest collection of motorcycles in New Zealand.

Oreti Beach is just 10-minutes away and is famous as the spot where ‘The World’s Fastest Indian’ was filmed, or with a little extra time up your sleeve you can jump on the ferry to Stewart Island and spot a wild kiwi or hike the Rakiura Track!

Hire a van for your Dunedin to Invercargill road trip

Ready to explore the sights of the South Island’s southeast coast? From incredible waterfalls to yellow-eyed penguins and everything in-between, there’s so much to see and do in your travels. Start planning your ultimate Dunedin to Invercargill road trip with the help of our incredible itinerary outlined above.

After sorting out campervan hire in Dunedin, you’re free to hit the open road and start ticking the boxes on your South Island road trip from Dunedin. You can also rest your head at one of these campgrounds near Dunedin before continuing the journey!

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