16 Great Stops on the Drive from Christchurch to Dunedin

Along the east coast between the South Island’s two largest cities—Christchurch and Dunedin—you’ll find rural scenery, wildlife-spotting opportunities, gorgeous surf beaches, and some seriously delicious local food and craft beer.

I’ve heard others say that the drive from Christchurch to Dunedin is one of the most boring road trips in New Zealand, and I wholeheartedly disagree. 

To enjoy this road trip, you just have to know where the best stops and detours are. 

And that’s why I’ve written this guide—to help you experience the magic of this road trip, so you’ll hopefully love it as much as I do!

This drive makes for a great long weekend trip from Christchurch; or, if you’re visiting from afar, it’s an excellent road trip for wildlife-lovers looking to spot penguins and seals in New Zealand.

So, without further ado, here are my favourite stops along the Christchurch to Dunedin drive—plus some handy tips to help you make the most of your roadie!

Christchurch to Dunedin Drive Map

How long is the drive from Christchurch to Dunedin?

The drive from Christchurch to Dunedin takes about 4.5 hours from point to point, and you could technically drive it in a day.

There is so much to see and do along the way, though, and it can easily stretch out to a 2-3 day road trip.

Oamaru is the perfect place to stay a night or two to break up this drive.

1. Triangle Espresso, Ashburton

First things first: if you’re anything like me, you can’t imagine a road trip without coffee. And by the time you reach Ashburton—just over an hour south of Christchurch—it’ll likely be time for a pick-me-up.

Triangle Espresso in Ashburton is the perfect place to fuel up with a coffee before heading further south. They use Allpress beans and their coffee is delicious.

If you didn’t already have breakfast at one of Christchurch’s great cafes, you’ll find some good food options here, too. 

2. Caroline Bay, Timaru 

The port city of Timaru is a good stop for a leg-stretch at Caroline Bay, where you’ll find a beautiful golden-sand beach and a free disc golf course (byo discs!).

There is also a little blue penguin colony at Caroline Bay, but you’ll need to be here at nighttime to see them. The penguin colony is guarded over by a lovely group of volunteers.

If you’re travelling in a self-contained campervan, you can camp for free at the Caroline Bay carpark, which is within close walking distance of the penguin colony (but be warned that boy racers do frequent this area at night, so pack earplugs). 

3. Riverstone Kitchen 

Riverstone Kitchen is a fabulous restaurant known for their fresh farm-to-table food. They grow or locally source the produce used in their dishes.

This is a place for a special meal and if you plan to eat here, I recommend booking ahead. 

Even if you don’t try the food here, it’s still well worth a visit to wander around their incredible vegetable gardens (they’re free to see). 

Just be warned that if you’re an apartment-dweller like me, it might give you some serious garden envy. 

4. Whitestone Cheese, Oamaru

As you enter Oamaru from the north, there is one stop you shouldn’t miss: the Whitestone Cheese Diner & Deli.

This delightful spot serves up the best Southern cheese rolls I’ve ever tried – they are the ideal road trip snack, full stop. 

They also have a full menu offering breakfast items, burgers, a decadent mac & cheese, and a lot more.

And if you’re not feeling hungry, pick up some of their handcrafted cheeses to enjoy later.

5. Victorian Precinct, Oamaru

Oamaru’s Victorian Precinct is a must-see place along the drive from Christchurch to Dunedin.

This historic area is home to beautiful Victorian buildings, charming shops, and two fantastic craft breweries—Craftwork Brewery (my favourite) & Scott’s Brewing.

Park your car and stroll along Harbour Street and its surrounds to best experience this unique and quirky part of New Zealand.

A popular place here is the Steampunk Museum, which houses a large collection of steampunk art installations and contraptions. It’s not really my thing, if I’m being honest, but I still think it’s worth visiting when you’re in Oamaru.

After wandering through the Victorian Precinct, make sure to walk over to the beautiful Oamaru Harbour—there is a super cool steampunk-inspired playground here, by the way. 

Nearby, you’ll also find the Oamaru Little Blue Penguin Colony, although it’s best to visit here if you’re staying overnight in Oamaru; the ideal time to see penguins is around dusk.

One more note: if you like op shopping (like I do), there are some excellent op shops around Oamaru!

6. Bushy Beach, Oamaru

Just a short drive up the hill from the Oamaru Victorian Precinct, you’ll find Bushy Beach, a golden-sand beach that’s home to New Zealand fur seals & yellow-eyed penguins.

It’s a quick walk from the carpark to a viewing platform over the beach, and just a bit further down the track is a penguin hide, from which you can look out for penguins crossing the beach (although I’ve spotted some from the first viewing platform, too!).

I recommend bringing binoculars with you for the best chance of spotting wildlife.

If you’d like to try your luck at seeing a yellow-eyed penguin, visit Bushy Beach before 9am or after 3pm. And good luck—it’s such a magic feeling when you get lucky enough to spot one!

Where to stay in Oamaru

If you’d like to break up this drive with an overnight in Oamaru, here’s where I recommend.

• Poshtel: a charming boutique hotel in Oamaru
  
  
• Old Bones Lodge: an excellent budget-friendly option (with ocean-view outdoor hot tubs for hire!). They have campervan sites here, too.
  
  
• Oamaru Harbour Tourist park: If you’re in a campervan, this is a great spot to camp; it’s within walking distance to everything.

7. Oamaru Organics

I always stop at the Oamaru Organics farm shop to pick up seasonal produce—they grow such great stuff, including some of the best freshly-dug potatoes you’ll ever try. 

8. Campbell’s Bay

Right by the settlement of Kakanui is Campbell’s Bay, my favourite beach near Oamaru. 

Campbell’s Bay is a beautiful surf beach with a 2 km stretch of soft golden sand. There’s a popular surf break here, and it’s also one of my favourite swimming beaches in the South Island.

If you’re lucky, you might spot Hector’s dolphins out in the water here.

Near the parking area is a toilet block with an outdoor shower, which is so handy for rinsing off the sand before hopping back in the car.

At the southern end of the beach (known as All Day Bay), there’s a lovely freedom camping spot for self-contained vehicles (I think this is one of the best free camping spots in the South Island, even though it’s close to the road—you just can’t beat beachfront camping!).

9. Moeraki Boulders Beach (Koekohe Beach)

Moeraki Boulders Beach is another unmissable stop on this Christchurch to Dunedin road trip.

This unique beach features large spherical boulders that emerge from the sand. They look like dinosaur eggs and are so weird and cool! 

It’s one of the neatest geological wonders in New Zealand.

To see the boulders, you’ll need to visit the beach around low tide.

Just above the beach is the Moeraki Boulders Cafe, which has great sea views and is a good spot to sip on a coffee and look for dolphins in the ocean.

10. Moeraki Village 

The charming fishing village of Moeraki is a lovely stop for a wee wander and some seafood.

Park in the village and walk along the Moeraki Esplanade Reserve for nice views of the village and fishing harbour. 

And if you’d like to sample some local seafood, head to Fishwife, where they make fantastic fish & chips (get the blue cod if you can!) and crayfish, too. You can enjoy your fresh seafood while gazing out at the sea—there’s nothing better!

11. Katiki Point 

Wildlife enthusiasts shouldn’t miss the Katiki Point walk. 

This is undoubtedly one of the best (free) places in New Zealand to see yellow-eyed penguins, and also NZ fur seals.

From the parking area, walk along the track past the lighthouse towards the end of the peninsula, and you’ll get incredible coastal views pretty much the entire way.

Make sure to stay behind the fences and barriers, which are put in place to protect the wildlife. 

You won’t always see a penguin here, but I’ve been lucky enough to spot them on multiple occasions. 

I recommend bringing binoculars with you for the best chance of seeing penguins from afar. I also use a zoom lens on my camera to snap close-up photos of the penguins without actually getting close.

The seals are easy to spot with your bare eyes, though—they’re usually all over the place here, particularly in the cove at the end of the peninsula.

12. Karitane 

The seaside settlement of Karitane is a beautiful detour along the drive from Christchurch to Dunedin.

When the conditions line up, there is a good surf spot here at Karitane Point. There is also a beautiful little surf beach on the other side of the Huriawa peninsula.

And speaking of the peninsula…it’s a stunning spot for a walk. 

The Huriawa Pa walk weaves along the peninsula and offers up incredible coastal views. You’ll also find informative plaques along the way that give you insight into the special history of this place. 

I absolutely love this walk and highly recommend it.

And if you need to refuel after walking or surfing, head to the lovely Karitane General Store for a hot coffee and bite to eat (I had a delicious potato leek soup on my last visit). 

13. Doctor’s Point Beaches

Located in beautiful Blueskin Bay, Doctor’s Point Beach is one of the South Island’s hidden gems.

Like the more famous Cathedral Cove Beach (in the North Island’s Coromandel Peninsula), Doctor’s Point Beach has an epic rock archway that you can walk through at low tide.

If you continue walking along the beach, you’ll find yourself at Canoe Beach, a gorgeous little cove that’s usually empty (although you may spot some penguin tracks!). 

And just beyond the headland over Canoe Beach is yet another gorgeous beach: Purakaunui Beach. 

This whole area is basically a beach-walker’s heaven!

Definitely plan your visit here around low tide, otherwise you won’t be able to easily access these beaches.

14. Arc Brewing Co

Open on weekends only (Friday through Sunday), Arc Brewing Co is one of my top craft breweries in the South Island.

This is such a gem of a spot, with excellent small-batch beers and a bright, airy atmosphere. They usually have a food truck on site, too, and it’s a real locals’-favourite kind of spot with friendly vibes.

If you’re the driver, you obviously shouldn’t try too much beer here, but you can always get a flagon for takeaway to enjoy later.

15. Orokonui Ecosanctuary

I drove past Orokonui Ecosanctuary way too many times before I actually visited this incredible spot.

Don’t let my mistake be yours: this native bird sanctuary is a must-visit place for wildlife-lovers! 

The property is protected by a tall fence that keeps out predators and this—combined with other conservation efforts—has allowed native wildlife and plants to thrive.

There’s an entry fee to visit Orokonui ($22 per adult; $11 per child), but it’s so worth the cost—and you’ll know your money is going to a good cause, too.

Within the ecosanctuary, there are networks of trails to explore under the cloud forest. 

You may get to see endangered New Zealand birds like kākā and takahē, and rare NZ reptiles: geckos, tuatara, and Otago skinks. 

The ecosanctuary is home to kiwi, too, but they’re nocturnal, so you’re unlikely to see them (but it’s so cool just knowing they’re there).

The cafe at the entrance to the park is also a delightful spot to have a coffee and gaze out at the native forest. The views are spectacular from here.

I really can’t recommend Orokonui enough (if I lived in Dunedin, I’d be here all the time!).

Side note: If you like this spot, make sure to visit Zealandia in Wellington sometime, too, if you haven’t been already!

16. Dunedin

And now we’ve finally reached your destination: Dunedin!

Dunedin is my favourite “big city” in the South Island. 

Thanks to Otago University, it’s home to a large population of students, and there’s a creative energy here that I just love.

The city is also surrounded by a ton of gorgeous nature, including coastal walks, surf beaches, and places to see wildlife.

Things to do in & around Dunedin

• Visit Saint Clair Beach. My partner loves to surf here, and I usually go for a nice, long beach walk down to Saint Kilda Beach and back. Get pizza at Esplanade when you’re here!

• Pick up local produce & flowers at the Otago Farmer’s Market (held on Saturday mornings).

• Walk the Tunnel Beach Track.

• Head out to the Otago Peninsula for gorgeous coastal walks and wildlife-spotting opportunities. The Sandymount Track & Sandfly Bay are both wonderful. And the drive to Taiaroa Head and the Royal Albatross Centre is too pretty for words.

• In the city itself, the Otago Museum, botanic gardens, & Baldwin Street (the steepest residential street in the world) are all worth visiting.

• For breakfast/brunch, I love Buster Greens or Beam Me Up Bagels.

• For lunch/dinner, I like Jizo (Japanese), Pizza Bar, Good Good (burgers), and Patties & Cream. The Emerson’s Tap Room is also an excellent spot for craft beer and pub meals.

Where to stay in Dunedin

• In the city centre, I always stay at the 858 George Street Motel. It’s a lovely spot within walking distance to all sorts of good places.
  
  For a wonderful boutique hotel in Dunedin, stay at the Ebb.
  
  
• As a beach person, I also love staying out at Saint Clair. The Majestic Mansions are great, and the Hotel Saint Clair is always a treat.
  
  
• Camping: There aren’t any campgrounds I recommend in Dunedin city, to be perfectly honest. The Portobello Village Tourist Park on the Otago Peninsula would be my choice for a campervan site near Dunedin.

Where to go next?

If you’d like to continue your road trip, here are some great destinations to carry on to! 

You could even loop together all three of these following trips to create an epic South Island road trip itinerary.

• The Catlins: the drive from Dunedin to Invercargill via the Catlins is packed with more wildlife and beaches—plus some stunning waterfalls.

• Te Anau & Milford Sound: the road from Te Anau to Milford Sound is one of the most scenic in the world. 

• Queenstown: drive from Dunedin to Queenstown, where you’ll find jaw-dropping alpine scenery, plus some awesome hikes, bike trails, & wineries (and so much more).
  
  From Queenstown, you could drive back to Christchurch via Wanaka, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, & Lake Tekapo. (Follow my Christchurch to Queenstown road trip in reverse for this route!).

Thanks for reading my guide to the drive from Christchurch to Dunedin!

I truly hope it’s helped you plot out your next road trip.

As always, please leave a comment if you have any questions or feedback for me. I always love hearing from you!