DHL Lions Series - Ultimate Route

Day 10: Christchurch to Dunedin

On this page: 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 - Timaru - Oamaru - Dunedin

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.

Scenic Highlights

Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Founded more than 140 years ago, the Christchurch Botanic Gardens has many special areas to explore.

Mount Somers Conservation Area
What's an old volcano doing at the edge of the Southern Alps? Around Mount Somers, the usual greywacke rock is upstaged by lava formations.

Cathedral Square
From the charming historic trams to the tall spire of Christ Church, Cathedral Square is a picturesque place to organise your day.

Canterbury Plains
Like a patchwork quilt made with every shade of green, the Canterbury Plains lie serenely between the mountains and the sea.

Activities

Christchurch - Canterbury
Bird Watching (3), Climbing (2), Gardens (8), Weddings (11)

Tour and Sightseeing

Christchurch - Canterbury
Bird Watching (1), Gardens (1)

Christchurch - Ashburton - Timaru - Oamaru - Dunedin

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.

Scenic Highlights

Mount Somers Conservation Area
What's an old volcano doing at the edge of the Southern Alps? Around Mount Somers, the usual greywacke rock is upstaged by lava formations.

Canterbury Plains
Like a patchwork quilt made with every shade of green, the Canterbury Plains lie serenely between the mountains and the sea.

Activities

Christchurch - Canterbury
Heritage Attractions (2), Off Road Driving Adventure (6), Wineries (6)

Tour and Sightseeing

Christchurch - Canterbury
Off Road Driving Adventure (4), Wineries (1)

Christchurch - Ashburton - Timaru - Oamaru - Dunedin

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.

Scenic Highlights

South Hill and Skyline Walks
Work up an appetite with one of Oamaru's scenic walks. Choose the challenging Skyline Walk or the relatively easy South Hill Walkway.

Totara Estate
Explore four carefully restored stone farm buildings and find out about farming life in the 1800s.

Spying on the Little Blue Penguins
The Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony offers a unique opportunity to observe the world's smallest penguin.

Harbour & Tyne Historic Precinct
Steam train rides and a lively market make Sundays fun in Oamaru's Harbour & Tyne Historic Precinct.

Moeraki Boulders
You simply can't drive along the North Otago coast without stopping to stare at the Moeraki Boulders - they're amazing!

Oamaru Public Gardens
A botanical wonderland from Victorian days, the Oamaru Public Gardens are a beautiful place to stroll and dream.

Activities

Christchurch - Canterbury
Heritage Attractions (2), Museums (5)

Dunedin - Coastal Otago
Heritage Attractions (7), Horse Treks (1), Museums (3)

Tour and Sightseeing

Dunedin - Coastal Otago
Heritage Attractions (2)

Christchurch - Ashburton - Timaru - Oamaru - Dunedin

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.

Scenic Highlights

South Hill and Skyline Walks
Work up an appetite with one of Oamaru's scenic walks. Choose the challenging Skyline Walk or the relatively easy South Hill Walkway.

Karitane
Walk, swim, surf, fish or simply relax in this picturesque village on the coast north of Dunedin.

Totara Estate
Explore four carefully restored stone farm buildings and find out about farming life in the 1800s.

St Clair Beach
Only minutes from the city centre, this sweeping surf beach is a place to walk, swim, surf or dine out.

Mount Cargill
Walk to the top of Mount Cargill and enjoy spectacular views of Dunedin, the coast and the surrounding countryside.

Tunnel Beach Walkway
Explore the sea-carved sandstone cliffs, rock arches and caves at Tunnel Beach; look for fossils as you descend through the pioneers' hand-carved tunnel.

University of Otago
Of all New Zealand's cities, Dunedin has the largest concentration of grand Victorian and Edwardian buildings. The university's clock tower is a particularly handsome architectural landmark.

Spying on the Little Blue Penguins
The Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony offers a unique opportunity to observe the world's smallest penguin.

Dunedin Railway Station
Marvel at the size, architecture and rich embellishments of Dunedin Railway Station - it's the grandest 'Gingerbread House' you'll ever see.

Dunedin's inner city heritage walks
Two inner city heritage walks make it easy to explore Dunedin's outstanding collection of Victorian and Edwardian buildings.

Middlemarch
Experience the Central Otago wilderness by making the charming town of Middlemarch your local base for hiking, biking and river fishing.

Dunedin Botanic Garden
Enjoy native birdsong and hillside views as you encounter more than 6,800 plant species in Dunedin's beautiful 28 hectare botanic garden.

Glenfalloch Woodland Garden
Follow the trails around beautiful Glenfalloch Woodland Garden, which has been has been named a "Garden of Regional Significance" by the New Zealand Garden Trust.

Harbour & Tyne Historic Precinct
Steam train rides and a lively market make Sundays fun in Oamaru's Harbour & Tyne Historic Precinct.

Moeraki Boulders
You simply can't drive along the North Otago coast without stopping to stare at the Moeraki Boulders - they're amazing!

Oamaru Public Gardens
A botanical wonderland from Victorian days, the Oamaru Public Gardens are a beautiful place to stroll and dream.

Otago Peninsula
Put a day aside to explore Otago Peninsula, where eco-experiences range from penguin and fur seal colonies to the toe-tingling cliffs of The Chasm and Lovers Leap.

Pineapple Track
Hike along the Pineapple Track high above Dunedin and enjoy magnificent views of the city and Taieri Plains.

Activities

Dunedin - Coastal Otago
Bird Watching (5), Heritage Attractions (7), Penguins (5)

Tour and Sightseeing

Dunedin - Coastal Otago
Bird Watching (2), Heritage Attractions (2), Penguins (1)