14-Day South Island Self Drive Coastal Route

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Collect a rental car of your choice and head out on your self-drive adventure. Crossing the vast Canterbury Plains you’ll head South traversing many braided rivers that start their life as glacial meltwater high in the Southern Alps. Go over New Zealand's longest bridge at Rakaia and stretch your legs in Oamaru, known for its local Oamaru stone buildings. As you arrive in Dunedin, take in the city’s Edwardian and Scottish heritage reflected in the buildings around The Octagon.

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Known as the Edinburgh of the South, Dunedin City has a heavy Scottish influence and is surrounded by rugged coastal plains and windswept beaches. Board the Monarch Boat to see the Royal Albatross as it comes in to nest on spectacular cliffs of Taiaroa, Otago Peninsula. Learn about the endangered yellow-eyed penguin when you visit Penguin Place and visit Larnach, New Zealand's only Castle, built in 1871 by politician and merchant, William Larnach, who helped shape New Zealand's early history.

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Well signposted from Dunedin the route takes you along the rugged Otago coastline and its many secluded beaches and bays. There are many are great places to spot New Zealand fur seals and sea lions. At Nugget Point, penguins and elephant seals can also be spotted. Curio Bay is home to a 160 million-year-old fossilised forest. Get an early start for this drive as you can easily pass the whole day exploring the many attractions along the Southern Scenic Route.

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Take the Southern Scenic Route from Invercargill to Te Anau passing through overlooked regions of Southland. Riverton is Southland's oldest community; Orepuki on the coast was the 'almost' gold town, you can still see gold dust on the beach at Monkey Bay. The early sawmilling settlement of Tautapere is next and then the Clifden suspension bridge dating back to 1899. The Blackmount Road continues to the township of Manapouri, the departing point for cruises to Doubtful Sound, then to Te Anau.

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The road to Milford Sound has some of the most iconic scenery in the country. Stretch your legs on the Chasm Walk, through native beech forest to powerful waterfalls. Continue on to the Homer Tunnel to Milford where you will be greeted with an amazing view of Mitre Peak. A Milford Sound cruise into the fjord is not to be missed. You’ll learn about how this magnificent area was formed and experience the wonder of the falls before back-tracking the way you came.

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Today you’ll cross vast tussock lands and through Mossburn, the deer capital of the nation. Continue on through the Southland where the road hugs the lake edge and the Remarkables mountain range towers over you as you approach the adventure capital of New Zealand, Queenstown. Jump on the Shotover Jet; skim past rocky outcrops at close range in your Shotover Jet 'Big Red', as you twist and turn through the narrow canyons at breathtaking speeds. At night, you have the option of a dinner cruise.

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From Queenstown, you'll cross the Crown Range - the highest sealed road in New Zealand - to the Alpine town of Wanaka, the gateway to Mt Aspiring National Park. Skirting both Lake Wanaka and Hawea, you enter the small town of Makarora. Stop at Blue Pools for a walk through native beech forest to a glacier-fed swimming hole. Take a scenic flight over two of New Zealand's most famous glaciers. Land at the head and view the incredible frozen river as it winds its way through ancient carved valleys.

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Driving north, you pass through many small towns. Hari Hari is where Guy Menzies landed as he became the first person to fly solo across the Tasman. Ross is an old gold mining town, you can even pan for gold. The small shops in Hokitika are excellent with any locally made items and, even further is Hokitika Gorge, a worthy detour. Be sure to go to the supermarket in Greymouth as there is not one in Punakaiki, your final stop.

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Heading north, drive along the Buller Gorge to enjoy some wonderful scenery as you follow the river. The first major town is Inangahua where a museum tells of the earthquake in 1968. Further along the river, one of the must-stop places is New Zealand's longest swing bridge. Crossing the river you get magnificent views of the gorge. Murchison is a quiet place and a great lunch stop. Following the river, you enter the Kahurangi National Park and the Nelson lakes as you head into Nelson city.

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Nelson is a great city to explore on foot. Visit the historic areas, the famous Cathedral or relax. Nelson is noted for its many artists, follow one of the art trails to explore the galleries. Around 45 minutes drive away is Abel Tasman National Park with countless opportunities to explore; from enjoying the golden sand beaches and clear warm waters to guided kayaking trips viewing seals and dolphins, to exploring some of New Zealand's finest walking tracks.

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From Nelson, you drive along Tasman Bay to the Pelorus River. From Havelock, the Queen Charlotte Drive travels the Marlborough Sounds towards Picton. You can witness magnificent views of the sound so allow plenty of time. You can take the narrow road to Portage along Mahau Sound and Kenepuru Sound. The port town of Picton has plenty of shops and cafes. Just 30 minutes south is Blenheim, in the heart of New Zealand's Marlborough region, perfect for an afternoon sampling of the local produce.

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Crossing the Marlborough ranges, head towards the spectacular Kaikoura Coast following the road that hugs the coast and offers chances to view the native wildlife. To the east, you see the South Pacific Ocean and the Kaikoura Ranges. Stop in Kaikoura, with its many cafes and shops. Depending on the season, you may also see whales migrating. Head inland through the Waipara Valley. You might take a 40-minute detour to Hanmer Springs for a dip in the thermal pools before arriving in Christchurch.