Driving from Dunedin to Queenstown, New Zealand, is a great way to take in the South Island’s amazing landscapes, history, and tiny towns.
To travel from Dunedin to Queenstown, you can choose between two routes: State Highway 8 or the Southern Scenic Route. Whichever one you take, you’ll experience an epic road trip revealing iconic scenery that spins the wheels and plucks the heartstrings.
What is the travel time from Dunedin to Queenstown?
There are two main routes from Dunedin to Queenstown: the direct inland route via State Highway 8, or the longer, coastal Southern Scenic Route. This guide covers the best stops along both.
Distance from Dunedin to Queenstown
- Dunedin to Queenstown via State Highway 8: 278.5 km (around 3.5 hours non-stop)
- Dunedin to Queenstown via the Southern Scenic Route: 610 km (around 11 hours non-stop)
Which route should you take for your Dunedin to Queenstown road trip?
If you’re not sure which path to take, ask yourself these questions:
- Are you confident driving on New Zealand roads? The direct route via SH8 is the better option if you’re less confident on New Zealand roads, particularly during the winter months when snow, ice, and heavy rainfall can cause delays.
- Are you looking for the best scenery? For the prettiest drive, the best route is the Southern Scenic Route, as you’ll pass beautiful gems such as Te Anau, Invercargill, and the Catlins region.
- Do you have time? If you want to take your time and savour all the sights along the way, choose the Southern Scenic Route. This drive can take anywhere from one to nine days.
Driving the shortest route from Dunedin to Queenstown
The quickest way to drive from Dunedin to Queenstown is along State Highway 8, past vineyards and the charming towns of Central Otago.
Lake Waihola
Image credit: cluthanz.com
Picturesque Lake Waihola is New Zealand’s most inland tidal lake and is famous for its stunning reflections and black swans. You’ll also find a holiday park if you fancy a break in your journey.
Gabriel’s Gully Interpretation Walk
Image credit: newzealand.com
Three kilometres from the small town of Lawrence is Gabriel’s Gully, site of New Zealand’s first major gold rush. Trek the 1-hour-long Gabriel’s Gully Interpretation Walk to see where gold was first discovered and try searching for gold yourself at the designated spots.
Cherry picking
Image credit: Clyde Orchards
Otago grows far more cherries than any other region in New Zealand. If you’re travelling from Dunedin to Queenstown in summer (December to February), make a stop at one of the many local orchards that offer fresh cherry picking by the kilo.
Otago wineries
Image credit: mtdifficulty.nz
The Central Otago region is also known for its abundance of wineries specialising in Pinot Noir and other cool-climate varieties. Many offer cellar door tastings or vineyard tours, including Cloudy Bay Shed, Mt Difficulty, Judge Rock, and Grey Ridge.
Earnscleugh Castle
Image credit: centralotagonz.com
The magnificent Earnscleugh Castle is a Category 1 heritage landmark recently restored into a luxury accommodation destination. Even if you don’t stay the night, you can explore the castle on a guided group tour; bookings are essential.
Cromwell’s giant fruit sculptures
Image credit: Bernard Spragg
The next stop in Central Otago is nestled on the shores of Lake Dunstan. Cromwell has a rich gold mining history, and today, its summer stone fruit is the town’s highlight. Take a picture with its unmissable giant fruit sculpture, then visit the historic town precinct or catch some racing action at the Highlands Motorsport Park.
Kawarau Gorge
Image credit: Bernard Spragg
The Kawarau Bridge Bungy has been attracting adrenaline junkies to Central Otago for years. If you’re not up for trying it yourself, watch the action from the bridge or grab a cuppa at the on-site café.
Lake Hayes
Image credit: Bernard Spragg
Lake Hayes offers the most stunning reflections of the surrounding mountains and is a popular spot for walking, kayaking, and cycling.
Driving the Southern Scenic Route from Dunedin to Queenstown
The Dunedin to Queenstown scenic route showcases spectacular landscapes full of natural wonders. You’ll enjoy stunning mountain vistas, deserted beaches, pristine lakes and rolling farmland along this stretch of road. Stretch your legs in the small towns along the way, exploring farmers’ markets and galleries full of landscape artworks.
Dunedin Railway Station
Featured image credit: newzealand.com
This railway station was constructed in the Flemish Renaissance style and features dark basalt with white Oamaru limestone facings. Inside, the booking hall’s mosaic floor consists of almost 750,000 Royal Doulton porcelain tiles.
Tautuku Estuary Boardwalk
Image credit: cluthanz.com
Explore the trails and boardwalks that weave through podocarp forests into the Tautuku Estuary. The walk will take about 30 minutes. Keep an ear out for the shy but noisy Mata (Fernbird).
Nugget Point Lighthouse
Image credit: Pseudopanax
Take a quick detour to photograph the oldest lighthouse in New Zealand. See if you can spot seals and the world’s rarest penguins on the rocks below.
Cathedral Caves
Image credit: Jan Helebrant
The Cathedral Caves are an iconic feature of the Catlins. These two sea-formed passages are located in cliffs at the northern end of Waipati Beach and are only accessible at low tide.
Curio Bay
Image credit: Karora
Delve into the site of an 180-million-year-old petrified forest — one of the only three accessible in the world. At low tide, you can explore Curio Bay’s ancient fossilised forest floor on foot. Look out for the rare Hoiho Yellow-Eyed Penguins and Hector’s Dolphins while you’re there.
McLean Falls and Purakaunui Falls
Image credit: Pseudopanax
The Catlins are famous for their sea caves, rugged coastline, and cascading waterfalls. The best-known are the McLean Falls and Purakaunui Falls, accessible via an easy 20- and 40-minute walk, respectively.
Slope Point — The Southernmost Point of the South Island
As you drive down the South Scenic Route, take a stop at Slope Point. A 20-minute walk will take you to the southernmost point of New Zealand’s South Island — grab a photo with the iconic yellow AA sign while you’re there.
Demolition World
Image credit: atlasobscura.com
Walk back in time at Demolition World, a model village constructed entirely from recycled items pulled from demolished buildings. Located right outside central Invercargill, this is a quirky pit stop with endless things to see.
Queens Park, Invercargill
Image credit: gardens.org.nz
Invercargill is a great place to recharge and spend the night. Take a walk around Queens Park, an 81-hectare park right in the middle of the city. Walk through the beautiful gardens, meet native species at Tuatara Island, and take the kids to the adventure playground, which features its own wonderland castle.
Devil’s Staircase
Image credit: Barry Beavis
On the edge of Lake Wakatipu, the Devil’s Staircase offers some of the best views in Queenstown. For a great photo opp, pull over at the lookout at the top of Devil’s Staircase.
Wye Creek Track
Image credit: tripideas.nz
The 7km Wye Creek Track is located on the west face of the Remarkables mountains and is considered one of the best day hikes in Queenstown.
Skyline Queenstown
Image credit: Skyline Queenstown
Cap off your Dunedin to Queenstown road trip with a ride up the Skyline Gondola, climbing high above town for sweeping views over Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables.
Get the adrenaline going on the Queenstown Luge. Feel the rush as you navigate two twisting tracks in a gravity-powered kart, taking in the view from the top before heading back down. Start off with the leisurely Arrow Track, then race friends and family on the thrilling Dart Track!
Find more fun things to see and do in Queenstown
Whether you took the quick route or the scenic one, we hope this Dunedin to Queenstown road trip has inspired your next adventure.
Visit the Skyline blog for more Queenstown travel ideas! Our guide to how many days to spend in Queenstown can help you map out the rest of your trip. For more things to do in Queenstown, check out the city’s best hot pools and summer activities.
Featured image credit: Avenue via wikipedia.org