Driving Route : Queenstown - Te Anau - Queenstown

Day 3 : Dunedin to Queenstown

Featured Tourism Operators

Click to view featured operator Web site

Route Summary

Travel time is approximate only, based on an average driving speed under normal road conditions.

	Travel time	Km	(Miles)
Dunedin - Alexandra	2.5 hrs	193	121
Alexandra - Queenstown	1 hr	87	54
Totals for Day	3.5 hrs	280	175

Dunedin - Alexandra

193 km (121 miles)
Approximately 2.5 hours
Road Conditions: State Highway

In the late 19th century, Dunedin acquired an impressive amount of ostentatious Victorian architecture. Today you can enjoy the historic buildings, imposing churches, palatial homes and ornate hotels. There's even a castle. Eco-tourism is the other face of Dunedin—visit penguin and albatross colonies.

There are three ways to get to Alexandra. The fruit route takes you south to Milton, then on through the orchards of Roxburgh. The Middlemarch route takes you through the Rock and Pillar Range.

The Dunback route travels up the coast to Palmerston before it turns inland. The Middlemarch and Palmerston routes merge before the art deco town of Ranfurly. Explore the historic mining area of St Bathans before you reach Alexandra.

As the main centre for Central Otago, Alexandra is a prosperous, attractive town. Walk up to the huge clock on the hill and explore the gold mining displays at the local museum. In winter, Manorburn Dam freezes to become a skating rink. In summer, you can enjoy the delicious stone fruits that grow in the region.

Alexandra - Queenstown

87 km (54 miles)
Approximately 1 hour
Road Conditions: State Highway

As the main centre for Central Otago, Alexandra is a prosperous, attractive town. You can walk up to the huge clock on the hill and explore the gold mining displays at the local museum.

In winter, Manorburn Dam freezes to become a skating rink. In summer, you can enjoy the delicious cherries and apricots that grow readily in the region.

Just beyond Alexandra, you'll encounter the charming, historic town of Clyde and the huge Clyde Dam. Cromwell is next, for more historic buildings, or can take a detour to the old gold fields of Bannockburn.

The vineyards of the Gibbston area and bungy jumpers at the Kawarau River Bridge are interesting distractions towards the end of your journey.

The alpine resort of Queenstown is exciting, sophisticated and fantastically scenic. It's the place to source almost any kind of adventure, including bungy, jet boating, horse trekking, rafting and river surfing. It's also a destination for luxury experiences—gourmet food and wine, spa treatments and leisurely games of golf.

View more Queenstown driving routes.