Driving Route : DHL Lions Series - Ultimate Route
- Overview
- Day 1 : Rotorua to Taupo
- Day 2 : Taupo to Wanganui
- Day 3 : Wanganui to New Plymouth
- Day 4 : New Plymouth to Hamilton
- Day 5 : Hamilton to Raglan
- Day 6 : Hamilton to Napier
- Day 7 : Napier to Masterton
- Day 8 : Masterton to Wellington
- Day 9 : Wellington to Christchurch
- Day 10 : Christchurch to Dunedin
- Day 11 : Dunedin to Invercargill
- Day 12 : Invercargill to Stewart Island
- Day 13 : Invercargill to Queenstown
- Day 14 : Queenstown to Lake Tekapo
- Day 15 : Lake Tekapo to Christchurch
- Day 16 : Christchurch to Blenheim
- Day 17 : Blenheim to Palmerston North
- Day 18 : Palmerston North to Masterton
- Day 19 : Masterton to Martinborough
- Day 20 : Martinborough to Wellington
- Day 21 : Wellington to Turangi
- Day 22 : Turangi to Auckland
- Day 23 : Auckland to Whangarei
- Day 24 : Whangarei to Dargaville
- Day 25 : Dargaville to Auckland
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Day 10 : Christchurch to Dunedin
Travel time is approximate only, based on an average driving speed under normal road conditions.
Travel time | Km | (Miles) | |
---|---|---|---|
Christchurch - Ashburton | 1.25 hrs | 89 | 56 |
Ashburton - Timaru | 1 hr | 77 | 48 |
Timaru - Oamaru | 1 hr | 80 | 50 |
Oamaru - Dunedin | 1.5 hrs | 119 | 74 |
Totals for Day | 4.75 hrs | 365 | 228 |
Christchurch - Ashburton
89 km (56 miles)
Approximately 1.25 hours
Road Conditions: Motorway/State Highway
The South Island's largest city, Christchurch is an entertaining mixture of refined lifestyle and cultural excitement.
The tranquil Avon River meanders through the city and adjacent Hagley Park, historic buildings house a lively arts community and restored trams make it easy for visitors to get around. Visit heritage sites, museums and art galleries, and enjoy the highly developed restaurant scene.
The route to Christchurch is about as straight and flat as roads get in New Zealand. On a clear day, the Southern Alps provide outstanding scenery.
The town of Rakaia sits on the southern side of the Rakaia River, and it's ‘the salmon capital of New Zealand’. The Rakaia bridge spans 1.8 kilometres of one of the world's best examples of a ‘braided’ river system.
Ashburton, which sits between the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers, is a large town that serves the local rural community. It has about six museums and some excellent craft galleries. Trout fishing is the local obsession, and the skifields of Mt Hutt are an easy drive away.
Ashburton - Timaru
77 km (48 miles)
Approximately 1 hour
Road Conditions: State Highway
Ashburton is a large town that serves the local rural community. It sits between the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers, so fly fishing is the local obsession. Ashburton also has about six museums and some excellent craft galleries. The skifields of Mt Hutt are an easy drive from here.
Your trip south is straight and flat. It's worth taking the loop road to Geraldine to visit the gourmet cheese factory and vintage car museum. Rafting in the Rangitata Gorge is another possibility.
Just before Timaru you'll drive into Temuka, a town that produces high quality pottery—look for the factory shop if you'd like a useful souvenir.
Timaru is a small but beautifully formed city. The historic walk will introduce you to many of the heritage buildings. Enjoy the boutique brewery, botanic gardens and the park at Caroline Bay, which has an aviary and a maze.
Timaru also has the third largest public art gallery in the South Island and an excellent museum—the Richard Pearse (kiwi pioneer aviator) exhibit is particularly good.
Timaru - Oamaru
80 km (50 miles)
Approximately 1 hour
Road Conditions: State Highway
Timaru is a small but beautifully formed city. The historic walk will introduce you to many of the old buildings. Enjoy the boutique brewery, botanic gardens and the park at Caroline Bay, which has an aviary and a maze. Timaru also has the third largest public art gallery in the South Island and an excellent museum.
River crossings are a feature of the journey south. If you enjoy fly fishing, you could make this trip last a long time.
Just beyond the town of Hook, take a detour to Waimate to see the museum and an original thatched cottage—it was made from a single tree. In summer the Waimate District is overflowing with delicious berry fruits.
The town of Oamaru has a population of around 12,000 and an impressive heritage. Many of the elegant historic buildings were made from the local sandstone.
Visit the Harbour-Tyne area—the best-preserved collection of historic commercial buildings in New Zealand. You should also check out the penguin colony, the museum and the pretty public gardens.
Oamaru - Dunedin
119 km (74 miles)
Approximately 1.5 hours
Road Conditions: Motorway/State Highway
Oamaru has a population of around 12,000 and an impressive heritage. Many of the elegant historic buildings were made from the local sandstone.
Visit the Harbour-Tyne area—the best-preserved collection of historic commercial buildings in New Zealand. You should also check out the penguin colony, the museum and the pretty public gardens.
Your journey south is flavoured with history. First up is Totara Estate Centennial Park, where you can see restored 1860s farm buildings. Clark's Mill is next—a limestone flourmill built in 1866.
You could pick up some interesting, ancient stones on the beach at Hampden before visiting the mysterious spherical boulders at Moeraki. The town of Palmerston has a museum devoted to the region's Scottish past.
In the late 19th century, Dunedin acquired an impressive amount of ostentatious Victorian architecture. No expense was spared.
Today you can enjoy the historic public buildings, imposing churches, palatial homes and ornate hotels. There's even a castle. Eco-tourism is the other face of Dunedin—visit penguin, albatross and seal colonies.
- Overview
- Day 1 : Rotorua to Taupo
- Day 2 : Taupo to Wanganui
- Day 3 : Wanganui to New Plymouth
- Day 4 : New Plymouth to Hamilton
- Day 5 : Hamilton to Raglan
- Day 6 : Hamilton to Napier
- Day 7 : Napier to Masterton
- Day 8 : Masterton to Wellington
- Day 9 : Wellington to Christchurch
- Day 10 : Christchurch to Dunedin
- Day 11 : Dunedin to Invercargill
- Day 12 : Invercargill to Stewart Island
- Day 13 : Invercargill to Queenstown
- Day 14 : Queenstown to Lake Tekapo
- Day 15 : Lake Tekapo to Christchurch
- Day 16 : Christchurch to Blenheim
- Day 17 : Blenheim to Palmerston North
- Day 18 : Palmerston North to Masterton
- Day 19 : Masterton to Martinborough
- Day 20 : Martinborough to Wellington
- Day 21 : Wellington to Turangi
- Day 22 : Turangi to Auckland
- Day 23 : Auckland to Whangarei
- Day 24 : Whangarei to Dargaville
- Day 25 : Dargaville to Auckland
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Directory Information
Christchurch:
Accommodation,
Attractions and Activities,
Tours,
Transport,
Visitor Information
Ashburton, Canterbury:
Accommodation,
Attractions and Activities,
Tours,
Transport,
Visitor Information
Timaru, Canterbury:
Accommodation,
Attractions and Activities,
Tours,
Transport,
Visitor Information
Oamaru, Otago:
Accommodation,
Attractions and Activities,
Tours,
Transport,
Visitor Information
Dunedin:
Accommodation,
Attractions and Activities,
Tours,
Transport,
Visitor Information