The Southern Scenic Route leads from Te Anau above Invercargill to Dunedin.
background
The Southern Scenic Route was introduced to the public as the first New Zealand itinerary in 1986. It has existed in its current form since 1998. The route has a length of around 440 km, it runs along the most important tourist attractions on the Pacific coast of Southland and Otago. It is planned to extend the route to Oamaru.
preparation
You should plan three days for the route, possibly more. A start in Te Anau and the end in Dunedin assumed, of course the reverse is also conceivable. There are overnight accommodations at the beginning and at the end of the route, then you should spend another night in Invercargill or take place nearby. Possibly a detour can come on Stewart Island are planned, then it counts, the Plan a ferry and possibly to find a parking space for the time being.
getting there
Te Anau can be reached on SH 6 from Queenstown above Lumsden and Mossburn and drives through a scenic route with hilly and with Tussock overgrown farmland and with the peaks of the Alps in the background.
Here we go
Te Anau - Tuatapere (80 km)
Of Te Anau is a detour to Milford Sound a tourist necessity, it is not for nothing that this goal comes first 101 Must Do for Kiwi's. At least one afternoon should be planned for this. A stay on Lake Te Anau and a visit to the glow worm cave or the Wildlife Center offer themselves. Then it continues on the SH 95 in the direction Manapouri. The small village is the starting point for Doubtful sound, you can reach him on guided tours. Continue south on the small SH 90 past the Redcliff Wetlands, it is the habitat of rare water birds. At Clifden one crosses the Waiau River on a suspension bridge from 1899. Finally you reach Tuatapere.
Tuatapere - Invercargill (85 km)
The place Tuatapere refers to itself as Sausage capital of the world, probably because it's around 100 km from here to Te Anau and it's time for a break again. Only a few kilometers south comes McCracken's rest directly on the Pacific coast with a view of the Te Wae Wae Bay. You can follow along the coast Colac Bay and finally after Riverton. This is where it begins Foveaux Straitthat is between the South Island and the Stewart Island runs. over Thornbury you then reach Invercargill.
Invercargill - Balclutha (190 km)
In Invercargill you reach the SH 1, a small detour at the end of this street leads to bluffknown for your oysters. The tour goes back to Invercargill, then you can go west and over on SH 1 Mataura, Gore and Clinton to Balclutha to lead. However, you then miss them Catlins Coast. The way to this region is initially via narrow roads Fortrose to the coast, then through the Catlis Forest Park to Owaka. At least the petrified forests of the Curio Bay and the Purakaunui Falls well worth a visit. The next destination is Balclutha.
Balclutha - Dunedin (85 km)
Of Balclutha the journey continues on SH 1 again Milton and Mosgiel and finally ends in Dunedin.
security
trips
In Dunedin you should plan at least 2 days, at least one afternoon for them Otago Peninsula. One possibility is to post on the SH 1 Oamaru and then the Waitaki River along after Omarama and Lake Tekapo continue driving, or stay on the coastal road in the direction of Christchurch.
