AI-planned road trip

Round trip from Rolleston

“A five-day South Island loop through Dunedin, the Catlins and the Mackenzie Basin”

5days

1,461 kmDistance

24stops

NZ$2,571Est. cost

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~20h 5m driving
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1

Rolleston → Mosgiel

388 km5h 7mDepart 07:36

Start

Rolleston

Food4.7Christchurch, New Zealand

Unknown Chapter Coffee Roasters

07:59–08:4445m hereNZ$90

Attraction4.4Hampden, New Zealand

Moeraki Boulders Beach

12:22–13:1250m here

Spherical boulders scattered along Koekohe Beach

Use the public beach access for a free visit; lower tide exposes more of the boulders and firmer walking sand.

Walk 0.4 km in ~5min uphill from the public beach access to the café entrance.

Food4.2Hampden, New Zealand

Moeraki Boulders Cafe

13:12–14:0250m hereNZ$90

Convenient coastal lunch above the boulders

Order at the counter before tour coaches arrive; the terrace overlooks the beach and keeps the onward schedule efficient.

Drive 74 km in ~56 min south on SH1 into Dunedin, using Great King Street for museum access. 74 km56m

Attraction4.7Dunedin, New Zealand

Tūhura Otago Museum

14:58–17:282h 30m here

Natural history and Māori heritage collections

Park in the paid Great King Street spaces; prioritize Southern Land, Southern People and the Māori galleries before closing.

Drive 2 km in ~10min through central Dunedin and park near Rattray Street. 3 km7m

Food4.4Dunedin, New Zealand

The Speight's Ale House Dunedin

18:00–19:151h 15m hereNZ$120

Straightforward pub dinner in central Dunedin

Reserve a table for the pre-Christmas week and use the Dowling Street car park; portions suit a quick, unfussy dinner.

Walk 0.5 km in ~7min from the restaurant, collecting the car only if using the hotel's parking garage. 600 m2m

Overnight4.0Mosgiel, NZ

Hunters Moon

19:17–06:2511h hereNZ$118

Central hotel with convenient covered parking

Book a triple or twin-plus-single room with parking confirmed; the central location avoids another cross-city drive tonight.

Day 2

Mosgiel → Kaka Point

177 km3h 3mDepart 09:35

Check out after hotel breakfast, then drive 30 km in ~40 min along Portobello Road and Harington Point Road. 30 km40m

Attraction4.4Harington Point, New Zealand

Royal Albatross Centre

10:15–12:001h 45m hereNZ$180

Mainland royal albatross colony at Taiaroa Head

Prebook the first guided colony tour and bring a windproof layer; December is active nesting season at Taiaroa Head.

Drive 12 km in ~15 min back along Harington Point Road to Portobello. 12 km15m

Food4.7Dunedin, New Zealand

Cove Cafe

12:30–13:2555m hereNZ$90

Casual lunch in the peninsula village

Park behind the restaurant and choose a quick lunch rather than a long tasting meal; the afternoon coastal drive is substantial.

Drive 126 km in ~1h 53min via Portobello Road, SH1, Balclutha and Kaka Point Road. 126 km1h 53m

Attraction4.9Ahuriri Flat, New Zealand

Nugget Point Lighthouse

16:10–17:301h 20m here

Clifftop lighthouse above wave-cut rock stacks

Park at the road end and allow time for the exposed clifftop path; keep well inside barriers when strong gusts arrive.

Drive 8.8 km in ~14 min from Nugget Point along The Nuggets Road to Kaka Point. 9 km14m

Food4.3Kaka Point, New Zealand

The Point Cafe, Bar, and Shop

18:15–19:201h 5m hereNZ$105

Simple dinner near the Catlins coast

Confirm summer dinner hours that morning and order directly on arrival; options become scarce after leaving Kaka Point.

Drive 1 km in ~3min through Kaka Point to the motel entrance. 400 m1m

Overnight4.7Kaka Point, New Zealand

Kaka Point Motel

19:25–06:1510h 50m hereNZ$178

Comfortable coastal lodging with off-street parking

Request a larger unit with sea views and park outside it; an early departure avoids crowding at the waterfall trailheads.

Day 3

Kaka Point → Invercargill

205 km3h 31mDepart 07:20

Check out after hotel breakfast, then drive 32 km in ~30 min via the Southern Scenic Route and Purakaunui Falls Road. 32 km30m

Attraction4.7Purakaunui, New Zealand

Purakaunui Falls

07:50–08:3545m here

Tiered waterfall reached through native forest

Use the signed gravel car park and wear shoes with grip; the shaded forest track can remain slick after overnight rain.

Drive 30 km in ~34 min west on the Southern Scenic Route to the seasonal Cathedral Caves gate. 30 km34m

Attraction4.0Otago, New Zealand

Cathedral Caves

09:09–10:241h 15m hereNZ$30

Sea caves accessible only around low tide

Check the official tide opening before leaving Kaka Point; enter only while attendants have the gate and beach route open.

Drive 6.1 km in ~12 min west on the Southern Scenic Route and McLean Falls Road. 6 km12m

Attraction4.8Otago Region, New Zealand

McLean Falls

10:36–11:511h 15m here

Forest cascade reached by a rugged riverside track

Leave valuables out of sight and expect roots, mud and spray; the upper cascade rewards completing the full forest walk.

Drive 3.1 km in ~6 min back toward the Southern Scenic Route and Chaslands Highway. 3 km6m

Food4.0Papatowai, New Zealand

Whistling Frog - Cafe, Bar, Dining, Camping, Lodging - Catlins, NZ

12:30–13:2050m hereNZ$90

Useful lunch stop in the central Catlins

Order immediately and refill water here; services are limited between this point, Curio Bay and the southern coast.

Drive 7 km in ~8 min west on the Southern Scenic Route into Catlins Forest Park. 7 km8m

Attraction4.3Papatowai, New Zealand

Lake Wilkie Track

13:28–14:0335m here

Short boardwalk within Catlins Forest Park

Use the roadside DOC parking area and follow the short boardwalk loop; it provides an accessible Catlins Forest Park visit.

Drive 39 km in ~40 min through Waikawa on the Southern Scenic Route. 39 km40m

Attraction4.7Southland Region, New Zealand

Curio Bay Cliffs

14:43–15:3855m here

Petrified forest and wildlife-rich southern bay

Use the visitor-centre parking and stay on viewing platforms; never approach resting penguins or cross wildlife closures.

Drive 15 km in ~17 min west via Waikawa-Curio Bay Road and Slope Point Road, continuing with the travel direction. 15 km17m

Attraction4.0Slope Point, New Zealand

Slope Point

15:55–16:3540m here

Wind-battered southernmost point of the South Island

Park at the signed roadside area and remain on the marked farm route; access can close during lambing or severe weather.

Food4.8Invercargill, New Zealand

EUNA Don St.

18:00–19:151h 15m hereNZ$90

Overnight4.1Invercargill, New Zealand

Kelvin Hotel

19:17–06:3010h 35m hereNZ$125

Central mid-range hotel with on-site parking

Confirm a three-person room and secure parking at booking; central lodging keeps the morning exit toward Gore straightforward.

Day 4

Invercargill → Gore

65 km52mDepart 07:28

Check out after hotel breakfast, then drive 65 km in ~52 min via SH6 and SH1 to Gore. 65 km52m

Attraction4.8Gore, New Zealand

Eastern Southland Gallery

08:20–09:1555m here

Regional art collection in Gore's former library

Check Christmas Eve opening before departure; if closed, use the nearby Gore Historical Museum exterior and river walk.

Day 5

Gore → Rolleston

626 km7h 32mDepart 07:22

Food4.9Ranfurly, New Zealand

Floral and Feast Kitchen

09:57–10:4245m hereNZ$90

Food4.6Geraldine, New Zealand

The Running Duck

13:56–14:5155m hereNZ$90

Popular café lunch on the inland return route

Verify Christmas Day trading before leaving Tekapo; if closed, carry a preordered hotel lunch because alternatives are limited.

Drive 81 km in ~55 min via Inland Scenic Route 72 through Mount Somers and Staveley. 81 km55m

Attraction4.7Mount Hutt, New Zealand

Rakaia Gorge Lookout

15:46–16:1125m here

Turquoise river views from the inland scenic route

Use the signed lookout parking rather than stopping on the bridge; this completes the distinct inland return corridor.

65 km48m

Finish

Rolleston

Before you go

Local tips

1Visit Moeraki near the lowest practical tide for the clearest boulder formations.
2Prebook the Royal Albatross Centre tour now; nesting-season tours can fill before Christmas.
3Download offline maps before Kaka Point and refuel in Balclutha or Owaka before the central Catlins.
4Check Cathedral Caves tide access the evening before; its opening window overrides the suggested time.
5Buy Christmas Day lunch supplies in Lake Tekapo on Christmas Eve in case Geraldine cafés are closed.
6This ordering moves east to west through the Catlins: Nugget Point, waterfalls, caves, Curio Bay, then Slope Point.

Good to know

1New Zealand has no motorway vignettes or general road tolls on this South Island loop.
2Cathedral Caves opens only around safe low tides and may close for swell, flooding or track conditions.
3Slope Point crosses private farmland and may close for lambing, fire risk or severe weather.
4Catlins roads include narrow bends, loose gravel and one-lane bridges; mobile coverage is unreliable.
5Christmas Eve and Christmas Day create reduced restaurant, gallery and fuel-station hours; confirm each opening.
6Strong coastal wind can make exposed lighthouse paths and high-country viewpoints unsafe.

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