The South Island Road Trip Serving Up Legendary Pies, Saunas And A UNESCO Global Geopark

From tussock-covered ridgelines and snowy mountains, to astounding rock formations and beech-forested lakes, Te Wāipounamu / the South Island serves fierce natural beauty, and we have no notes. 

The best way to explore it? Overland. With a pie in hand, ideally. 

And while you absolutely could base yourself in just one of the island’s regions, you’d run the risk of missing out on the treasure trove that is the deep south. So instead, plan to land in one city, then indulge in a slower style of cross-country travel, uncovering gems along the way. 

Read on for the must-try New Zealand South Island road trip itinerary, so you can dive headfirst into Te Waipounamu, with thanks to the good folks at the Southern Way. 

Ōtepoti / Dunedin 

Dunedin is far more than a student city (or a doppelgänger of its Scottish namesake, Edinburgh). In fact, it's a UNESCO Creative City, so it’s fitting to start your exploration on foot, following the city’s street art trail, dipping in and out of curious haunts that spring up along the way. Perhaps a refuel at Big Lizard, a spot of native potions from Wild Dispensary, or a solid rummage through Guild’s current stash of locally-made designer items.

Give it your darndest by attempting a dash up Baldwin Street. Then, accept the inevitable defeat and tend to your aching muscles with contrast therapy, shuttling between one of Oranga Sauna’s darling wood-fired saunas and the hella fresh waters of whatever local beach they’re parked up at that day. Or, take a more leisurely soak at the St Clair Hot Salt Water Pool, a coastline pool open from October to march that is straight out of the 1800s and heated to beautiful 28 degrees.

For an adventure a little further afield in the warmer months, jump in the car and head two hours out of town to the base of the Rock and Pillar Range to gaze upon the cracked biscuit-like appearance of Sutton Salt Lake. Or if you’re feeling energised, scarper up the range itself and check out the views from Big Hut. After that, you’re sure to need a good stretch, like this yin yoga with butterflies (yes, really). 

Back towards the coast, you’ll find Dunedin’s own pair of pyramids—made from basalt columns—perched on the fringe of Okia Reserve and Victory Beach. The perfect photo op or backdrop to a layered-up beachside picnic with treats you snagged from The Tart Tin earlier, or a couple of rolls slathered in a pail of peanut butter from Bay Road.

Mata-Au / Clutha

Another Scottish dub, Clutha (which takes the title for the longest river in the South Island), is named after the River Clyde in Scotland. Nature has really outdone herself here, and if you love a road trip with a mission, add this region to your hit list. 

For one, there’s The Catlins, a 100km coastline boundary between Central Otago and Southland, where you’ll likely happen across triple-tiered waterfalls, sea caves, fur seals and sea lions, and the lighthouse at Tokata/Nugget Point, which is a short (but worthy) 20-minute return walk. 

Curio Bay is another gem in The Catlins, complete with a resident pod of Hector’s dolphins and a 170 million-year-old petrified forest. You might just spot the Aurora Australis from Florence Hill Lookout. 

The Clutha Gold cycle trail (135km) bridges the gap between here and the Roxburgh Dam in Central Otago, and kilts are the recommended attire if you happen upon the trail during the annual Teviot Tartan Time Scottish festival around Easter. 

And after all that activity your going to need the ultimate Kiwi carby feed so head to Waihola Fresh Fish Supply for some of the freshest fish and chips in the country. 

Waitaki

Bust out your vintage goggles, because every year in late May/early June, Ōamaru throws a wild multi-day festival dripping in steampunk aesthetic. Don your Victorian, retro-futuristic garb and get around all manner of curious festivities like tea duelling, trinket swaps, teapot racing and the highly-anticipated Grand Parade. And if you roll into Ōamaru outside of the festival, Steampunk HQ, an interactive museum inspired by steam-powered tech, is an all-year-round spectacle inside an historic 1883 stone building. 

But steampunk oddities are just the start of what you’ll find in Waitaki. The region is studded with awe-inspiring natural and cultural geosites, from elephant-shaped rocks formed by whale bone fossils and shells compacted into limestone, to the spiky Paritea Ōmārama Clay Cliffs and the giant and impossibly smooth Te Kahina Moeraki boulders. The Waitaki Whitestone Geopark is a road trip in its own right (and the only UNESCO global geopark in the country). 

Stretch your legs on the Benmore Peninsula Track, or if you’d rather put pedal to the metal, tackle the Alps 2 Ocean cycle trail. Riding from the base of Aoraki/Mt Cook to Ōamaru over six to eight days, the trail is especially fitting given Waitaki means ‘the waterway of tears’ of Aoraki/Mt Cook. 

And because anything cheesy contributes to the perfect packed lunch, be sure to hit up Whitestone Cheese for some artisan award-winning goodies. From blue, to brie, to euro style and camembert, you can rest easy knowing that this hotspot will have your whole crews cheese preferences covered. 

Central Otago 

Glossy cherries, juicy apricots, and the finest wine in all the land await you in Central Otago, a region that’s the epitome of a summer snapshot, and five days cycling the Otago Central Rail Trail is a next-level way to immerse. The 152-kilometre stretch runs from Clyde to Middlemarch, officially crossing through 12 towns but with loads of opportunities to freestyle your own side trips.

The Roxburgh Gorge Trail is shorter, clocking in at just 21km—plus a boat ride—so it's easily completed in a day, especially if you’re fuelled by Jimmy’s Pies. Or if you prefer your odyssey with a glass of pinot (or three) in hand, Bannockburn is the spot to hit. With over 40 cellar doors, Cromwell and surrounds is utterly crawlable. Speaking of, orchard-hopping is a prime summer activity in Teviot Valley. 

And because two trails is never enought, from late September add the brand new Kawarau Gorge Trail to your list.  Following the footsteps of the Maori, Pioneers and Gold miners beside a majestic river, this trail with the numerous styles of bridges, ambitious engineering and courageous trail building is breathtaking, playful and a workout.

Central Otago’s Scottish heritage also practically demands at least one game of curling. Fortunately, there’s a year-round indoor ice rink in Naseby that’s dedicated to the ancient Scottish sport. 

Wānaka 

Snow season runs from July until mid-October in Wānaka weather willing, so if you’re a bit of a snow bunny (or an aspiring one—Wānaka means ‘place of learning’ after all), you won’t want to settle until Snow Farm sits firmly atop your to-do list. Aotearoa’s only dedicated cross-country ski area, it’s a 55km wonderland of groomed trails, plus three log fire backcountry huts. And if you’ve ever wanted to fly through the sky and then soar down a slope, then don't skip the heliskiing.

In the warmer months (and beyond), there’s enough heart-pounding excitement to sate any adrenaline junkie with skydiving, canyoning and bicycling through Wānaka’s mountains and surrounds. Or for less hair-raising activities, The Secret Sauna on the banks of Lake Hāwea is bliss. Somewhere in the middle lies Rhythm and Alps, a New Year’s Eve festival that’s equal parts snow globe and dirty bassline. 

No matter the season, highbrow tapas-style restaurant, Kika (helmed by the multi-award-winning chef James Stapley), or sister restaurant, Arc, are the places for a feed. Along with the iconic Cadrona Hotel, which is a vibrant piece of history, courtesy of the gold rush era. 

As for libations, make a beeline for friendly local watering hole Wanaka Brewbar with a 16-strong beer and cider-forward taproom, or Paloma Taqueria, where the vibes are strong, and the tequila is stronger. 

Tāhuna / Queenstown 

Bordered by the snow-capped peaks of The Remarkables, the sheer natural beauty of Tāhuna/Queenstown outshines all else (including the sense of elation when you’ve been blessed with a queue-free Fergburger). So it only makes sense to don your boots and attempt to make a dent in the endless number of incredible walks around Queenstown. All best enjoyed with a lakeside contrast therapy chaser at Watershed Saunas.  

Jet boating, skydiving, white water rafting, paragliding and hang gliding, night skiing, quad bike tours and bungy before it was a thing—in this alpine town practically anything is on offer. Plus, it’s the gateway to Fiordland, which throws down a convincing argument for some of the most stunning landscapes on planet Earth. 

Te Anau / Fiordland

Named (in both Māori and English) for its swirling waters, Te Anau delivers on all nature fronts. Chances are, you’ve heard of The Great Walks. And if you haven’t, prepare yourself for some of the most beautiful views known to humankind. To date, there are 11 hikes scattered across the country, and four are in Fiordland: Milford, Kepler, Routeburn and—the newest walk (only open as of October 2024)—Hump Ridge. Each hike offers a unique multi-day edit (that’s just a little bit spicy) that’ll drop you right into the heart of postcard-perfect Aotearoa. 

Booking in advance is essential, but if you don’t quite manage to snag a ticket, rest easy knowing you can always jump into a day trip version, or run it instead with the Routeburn Classic every April, and the Kepler Challenge every December. Or if you prefer your nature-bathing less of a slog, you can book yourself into a cruise around Piopiotahi Milford Sound and forgo the hiking boots entirely. 

Fiordland gets perhaps more than its fair share of rain, so come prepared, but catch a trail on a bluebird day and nothing compares. The ultimate chaser? A pie (or three) from Miles Better Pies in Te Anau’s town centre, followed by an overnight stay at the insanely beautiful Tukare Lookout. 

And because after a day of exploring you'll likely be a little peckish, be sure to head to the locally loved pan asain favourite ditto for an epic feast. Serving crispy katsu, Fillipino inspirred broths and a kimchi loaded fries that will have you ordering another bowl at first bite, it's a must for any food lover.

Murihiku / Southland 

Any number of reasons could draw you to Southland, but high up on the list is a hankering for a cheese roll. Known as the sushi of the south, what would seem like a hulking great lot of cheese rolled up in an unassuming piece of white bread with busted crusts is actually the holy grail of Southland snacking. Try as many as you can. 

Gore is the land of rolled Rs and moonshine, where once upon a time the hills were soaked in illegal whisky, thanks to a family of bootleggers. Today, you can sip on (perfectly legal) Hokonui Moonshine and delve into the details at the Old Hokonui Moonshine Museum & Distillery. 

By now, you know Aotearoa’s pie culture is unrivalled, so, of course, a road trip through Southland would be incomplete without a stop at Fat Bastard Pies in Invercargill. If you’re not going to make it, arrange to have one sent to your door with overnight delivery. Yep, we care *that* much. 

Another rite of passage is slurping back a bed of Bluff oysters, ideally while spotting a bedraggled thru-hiker reach Stirling Point, the last pitstop in Te Araroa, a 3,000-kilometre hike from Cape Reinga to Bluff, they'd have started some four to five months earlier. If oysters aren’t your thing (or even if they are), pull up a pew at Hayz @ The Anchorage, where you’ll be treated to seafood in a modern Māori format. Their cream pāua wontons make for essential eating. 

Traverse the Foveaux Strait by ferry from Bluff, or by small plane from Invercargill, to step foot on Aotearoa's third-largest landmass: Rakiura / Stewart Island. Load up on supplies from the Kai Kart, then start exploring, and you might be blessed with a sighting of the ever-elusive kiwi. 

Keen for more? Check out Southern Way for even more of the best things to do, eat and experience in our gorgeous Te Waipounamu. 

Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Southern Way and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why, read our editorial policy here.

Image credit: Supplied