Queenstown to Dunedin via Central Otago route planner
Step back in time to the gold rush as you travel through Central Otago, a land of pioneer history, golden orchards and tantalising Pinot Noir.
- Minimum Length: 278km
- Minimum Duration: 1 day
- Start: Queenstown or Dunedin
- Finish: Dunedin or Queenstown
Trip Planner
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Queenstown
Enjoying great outdoor pursuits in Queenstown Enjoying great outdoor pursuits in Queenstown
Having experienced all the thrills of the adventure capital, it’s time to take your leave of Queenstown and head for back country charms.
- Queenstown attractions
- Find accommodation in Queenstown
- Find a rental car or motorhome in Queenstown
Cromwell
The big fruit sculpture in Cromwell. The big fruit sculpture in Cromwell.
Our tip: Stop and taste the Pinot Noir
Brisk cold winters and hot dry summers have helped create the unique Central Otago terrain which produces internationally-acclaimed wines. Many local wineries have tasting rooms and restaurants.
If you visit in summer, you’ll also experience the sweet aromas of ripening fruit in the orchards and roadside stalls, or the lingering perfume of thyme flowering on the hillsides.
Hidden gem: Lake Dunstan
Cromwell sits next to the brilliant turquoise waters of Lake Dunstan. Relax at a cafe in Old Cromwell Town and absorb the exquisite view.
Alexandra
Manorburn Dam, Alexandra Central Otago Manorburn Dam, Alexandra Central Otago
Driving on through the little settlements along the road, you’ll be reminded of another time – a golden era when men seeking their fortune crowded these wild mountain valleys. In the late 1860s, when the Otago gold rush was in full swing, gold miners from Europe, China and Australia flooded into this land.
Clyde and Lawrence
Biking the Lake Dunstan Ride. Biking the Lake Dunstan Ride.
Hidden gem: Clutha River
The Clutha River is open year round for trout and salmon fishing. If you've got a taste for fresh fish, grab a rod and have a go.
When you're ready, carry on down the valley and get ready to swap the thyme studded hills for coastal views on the way to Dunedin.
Dunedin
Tunnel Beach, Dunedin Tunnel Beach, Dunedin
- Dunedin - Coastal Otago attractions
- Find accommodation in Dunedin - Coastal Otago
- Find a rental car or motorhome in Dunedin - Coastal Otago
Where to Next?
Dunedin doesn't have to be the end of your South Island adventures. From here you can go north to Christchurch or back towards Queenstown via the southern scenic route.
