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Leaving Christchurch the route is about as straight and flat as roads get in New Zealand. On a clear day, the Southern Alps provide outstanding scenery. The Rakaia bridge spans 1.8 kilometres of one of the world's best examples of a 'braided' river system. Oamaru has many elegant historic buildings made from the local sandstone. The famous Moeraki boulders lie scattered along a beach between Oamaru and Dunedin. 

Starting in the historic city of Dunedin, this route follows Southland's wild coast down to Invercargill (and continues northwest to Manapouri and Te Anau). Waterfalls, forests and marine mammal encounters await you on the Catlins Coast, a stretch of wilderness that begins just south of Balclutha. There is a track to Purakaunui Falls, a magnificent 20 metre, three tier waterfall. Nugget Point is the surest bet for wildlife viewing - it's the only place where you may find fur seals, Hooker's sea lions and sea elephants coexisting. It's also home to colonies of yellow-eyed penguins and blue penguins. At Porpoise Bay you can scan the waves for Hector's dolphins. Curio Bay has a very curious fossilised forest - it's 180 million years old.

Passing through Invercargill - Southland's only city - the Southern Scenic Route heads towards Riverton - a delightful historic fishing town and holiday spot. Tuatapere is located on the banks of the majestic Waiau River. Whilst travelling inland along the eastern edge of Fiordland National Park and of Te Wahi Pounamu, the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area, take the time to venture off the highway to discover Southland's hidden lakes, such as Lake Monowai.

There are many reasons to stop on the way, so it is wise to allow a full day for the journey from Wanaka to Franz Josef Glacier.
The first highlight fo the journey is the drive along Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka to Makaroa. Past Makaroa (last fuel stop!) follows Haast Pass. It is quite a dramatic road crossing of the Southern Alps - even though it is the lowest of the three alpine passes (563 m).The road, steep at times, now follows Haast River down to the coast. The settlement of Haast was once a construction camp for the Ministry of Works (the government department responsible for building the road from Haast to Wanaka, which was only completed in 1965). It's a town with a touch of the wild west - helicopters fly deer hunters into the rugged ranges and local pubs make a feature of stuffed animal trophies. The Haast Visitor Centre offers excellent information on the South Westland World Heritage Area, worth a stop! Just north of Haast is Lake Moeraki, a peaceful forest lake with good fishing. The terminal face of Fox Glacier is just 5 kilometres from the township that serves it. Fed by four alpine glaciers, Fox Glacier was named after an early New Zealand Prime Minister, William Fox. Lake Matheson lies just 6km from Fox Glacier. On a still, clear day it reflects the unforgettable image of New Zealand's highest peaks, Aoraki (Mount Cook) and Mount Tasman. An easy 40 minute walk leads to the first viewing platform, a complete circuit of the lake can be completed in one and a half hours.

The road north of the glaciers is rural, but with a wild streak. The farmland is trying to turn back into forest, and the beauty of the rivers is raw and primeval. In good weather the Southern Alps can be seen. The road between Hokitika and Greymouth provides great views of the wild west coast. Shantytown, just south of Greymouth, is a reconstructed 1880s gold rush town, great for families.

The road to Westport hugs the coast, providing spectacular views of wild beaches and the tempestuous Tasman Sea. At Charleston, formerly a prosperous gold town, you can arrange underground rafting and cave exploring trips. Westport is known as a coal mining town, but it's also a base for outdoor adventures such as black water rafting, jet boating, horse trekking and surf rafting. The road to Nelson is scenic and interesting, beginning with the dark, forbidding Buller Gorge. At Hawks Crag there is a dramatic rock overhang. At Lyell one can walk to a pioneer cemetery. The museum at Murchison tells visitors all about the massive earthquake that shook the region in 1929.Umfulana-Tip: The seal colony at Cape Foulwind, near Westport is worth a visit - so is the nearby cafe.

 The drive to Picton is both beautiful and interesting. At Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve one can enjoy a bush walk or a swim. Havelock is the place for a seafood meal - it's known as the Green Shell Mussel Capital of the World. The famed Queen Charlotte Drive is a popular tourist route between Havelock and Picton. This road wends its way through native bush offering several vantage points from which to enjoy views of the inner Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds. If going via Renwick & Blenheim instead, which are surrounded by vineyards, it will be clear that this is wine country.  

From Wellington the road winds through the picturesque Hutt Valley before climbing over the Rimutaka Range and descending into the tranquility of the Wairarapa region. The small town of Martinborough could be your first stop on your way north to Napier. In recent years, Martinborough has become the gourmet capital of the lower North Island. It is home to over 25 boutique vineyards and several fabulous restaurants.

The major entertainment on the road from Napier to Taupo is the scenery. There's a bit of everything - rugged hills, beautiful valleys, gentle plains and huge vistas. About Halfway, at Tarawera, there are hot springs, right above the Waipunga River. Lake Taupo is situated in a huge crater, created by an eruption so big the sun went hazy in China. It is the largest fresh water lake in Australasia - about the same size as Singapore - with water so clean a few zillion trout call it home. Water activities take place in the lake all year round, including water-skiing, parasailing, jet skiing, fishing, cruising, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and landing in it by float-plane! There are 47 rivers and streams feeding into Lake Taupo, and just one outlet - the Waikato River, New Zealand's longest river. Taupo township is located right on the edge of the lake. Located in Wairakei Tourist Park, just north of Taupo, the Huka Falls is New Zealand's most visited natural attraction. More than 220,000 litres of water tumbles over the cliff face per second. Large tracts of plantation pine forest and unusual, volcanic geography can be seen on the road to Rotorua. There are side roads to geothermal parks with geysers, silica terraces and craters of boiling mud.

The prosperous city of Tauranga sprawls along the edge of an attractive harbour. There's a well developed café culture and boat charters are available to take visitors big game fishing, snorkelling or dolphin watching. Nearby Mt Maunganui is a destination for surfing and beach walking. Fans of "Lord of the Rings" should take the inland route instead and visit the remains of "Hobbiton" near Matamata.

The relatively long drive makes sense to avoid an(other) overnight stop in Auckland. From the Coromandel Peninsula, the route whisks you over the Bombay Hills, then along the motorway straight through Auckland heading north. On the edge of the Firth of Thames, it possible to visit Miranda's hot springs and bird sanctuary. Further north, near Dargaville, a visit to the Kauri Museum is highly recommended.

On the way south, a detour can be taken to explore the beautiful Tutukaka Coast north east of Whangarei. The Whangarei Falls are also worth a visit. At the Quayside Town Basin complex a few stylish cafes and restaurants, as well as museums, art galleries and shops are worth a visit. Another detour is the loop past Waipu Cove, Langs Beach and Mangawhai Heads  spectacular surf beaches all the way. Those who like Dutch cheese, should pause in the township of Kaiwaka. Further south a drive through the Dome Forest leads into Warkworth, a pretty town on the banks of the Mahurangi River. From here Downtown Auckland is only another hour away.