Southern Scenic Route

July 22, 2020

Southern Scenic Route

This journey between Queenstown and Dunedin is approximately 610 kilometres (km) of natural and cultural attractions laid out one after the other – wildlife viewing, short walks, mountain-biking, fishing, hunting, boating, camping, tramping and caving – making it an ideal drive for those with time to explore. Alternative inland roads provide a more direct path between the main centres. However, the Southern Scenic Route (SSR) is a journey that allows access to deserted beaches, lush rainforest, pristine lakes and stunning mountain vistas.

 

1. Arrive into Queenstown

Hire a Car

Bus: Tracknet, Ph +64 03 249 7777

Te Anau Transfers:  teanautransfers@gmail.com or 0204832628

Envy Experiences, Fully Electric Tesla

Queenstown Harbour, New Zealand

Begin your journey in Queenstown

 

 

 

2. Along the drive from Queenstown to Te Anau

Great Photo Stops along the Devils staircase, there are several places to safely pullover for a scenic photo

Kingston

Real Country”; Great Farm Tour/Country Experiences about 2km south of Kingston, Archery, Stock whips training, all the animals you can think of, to touch, feed and mob up some sheep.

Mossburn

The Dome at Mossburn have great coffee and homemade delights.

Bracken Hall many gift lines and New Zealand made items and tasty real Fruit Ice Creams

 

3. Te Anau

Radfords on the Lake – Premium Lakefront Accommodation right on the Lakefront.

Stay in Te Anau and explore Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Glow Worm Caves, Faith in Fordland, a day walk on one of the Great walks, Milford, Kepler, or Routeburn Tracks. Book an unforgettable New Zealand helicopter tour with Southern Lakes Helicopters https://southernlakeshelicopters.co.nz/

Restaurant Options

Sandfly Café for delicious breakfast and coffee

Bao Now for delicious Baos a great option for lunch

The Fat Duck is a wonderful Gastro Pub serving up great NZ food

Lake Te Anau, Te Anau

Visit beautiful Lake Te Anau

 

4. Head South via the Southern Scenic Route

Manapouri

Just 20kms from Te Anau, stop and admire Lake Manapouri, Lake Manapouri is the second deepest lake in New Zealand and has a large hydro power station at the end of its west arm.

Lake Huroko

Remote Lake Hauroko, NZ’s deepest Lake

Orepuki Beach Café – this is a great lunch stop right on the coast.  Find them on Facebook

Cosy Nook and Monkey Island

13 kms from Cosy Nook is a wonderful 2hr15min walk called Round Hill/Long Hilly Track

  • This walking track is an extensive historic trek through New Zealand gold mining history with relics left from the Chinese and European settlement from the 19th century. Walkers will enjoy quiet native bush as they walk the gravel track, spot old saw milling artifacts, look out for native birds, and view the crumbling earth dams.
  • There are multiple tracks that start and end from this point but there is a loop track available for day-walkers which takes 2hr15min.

Riverton

A small town 30 kilometres west of Invercargill and located on the south-eastern shorelines of the Jacobs River Estuary, while there be sure to check out the Riverton Rocks – great photo opportunity.

Invercargill

Fondly dubbed the “City of Water and Light”, referring to the long summer daylight hours, frequent appearances of the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights), and the city’s position beside the Waihopai River estuary, Invercargill has plenty of character and a friendly, laid-back atmosphere

For Invercargill, this was only the beginning. Now called New Zealand’s “Classic Motoring Capital”, the city boasts an impressive vintage truck collection at Bill Richardson Transport World – the largest private collection of its type in the world, a world-class display of over 300 motorcycles and motorcycle related artwork at Classic Motorcycle Mecca, and a celebration of the legend of speed himself, Burt Munro, at E Hayes Motorworks.  Click here for restaurants, accommodation and things to see and do

 

5. Stewart Island

Whether you have come to enjoy the land, sea and night-scapes, view the wildllife, walk, boat, fish, dive, kayak, hunt or just relax – a Stewart Island holiday will be an experience that will draw you back again and again.

 

Stewart Island Beach, New Zealand

Venture down to Stewart Island and enjoy the untouched landscape

 

6. Catlins

The Catlins, the spectacular coastal stretch between Invercargill and Balclutha, boasts a rugged beauty and untouched quality that is magnetic. Here you’ll find a world of native forests fringed by high cliffs, deserted sandy beaches, sparkling bays, cascading waterfalls, hidden lakes, blowholes, caves, picturesque lighthouses and even a petrified forest. These environments are home to an array of fauna, from native birds, to seals, sea lions, dolphins, and penguins. The Catlins’ natural landscapes are enthralling, and the wildlife is extraordinary.

5 things to do in the Catlins

  • See Purakaunui Falls. The cascading, multi-tiered Purakaunui Falls are said to be among the most-photographed in New Zealand, and can be easily reached via a short bush walk.
  • Visit Nugget Point. …
  • Explore Cathedral Caves. …
  • Mclean Falls
  • Get curious at Curio Bay.

Balclutha

The mighty Clutha river, New Zealand’s most voluminous goes through the heart of Balclutha. The river is an important part of the town’s history – it encouraged farmers to the area and brought fame but mainly fortune with the discovery of gold.

 

7. Dunedin

Dunedin is a city in New Zealand, at the head of Otago Harbour on the South Island’s southeast coast. It’s known for its Scottish and Maori heritage, Victorian and Edwardian architecture, and a large student population. Hiking and cycling trails crisscross the dramatic landscape of the adjoining Otago Peninsula, home to colonies of albatross, sea lions and rare yellow-eyed penguins.

Fly out from Dunedin Airport

  • This place was phenomenal!! Wonderfully situated on the lake with an ideal view and convenient (walking distance) to literally everything. Clean, comfy, and well-appointed. An excellent hostess who gave wonderful advice, booked all experiences, made reservations for dinner, you name it; this cannot be under-rated, as the weather conditions change rapidly in Fjordland and having someone who can help with bookings, advice, and changes of plans was immeasurably helpful! The little touches were amazing - water on hand to refill bottles, great laundry facilities, ease of parking, etc...Cannot recommend this place highly enough!
    Ronald – September 2024  Read Reviews
  • We could not have been happier with this place. The room was very clean and comfortable with a stunning view. The location is perfect as it is a quick (10 min walk) walk away from everything downtown. Reception was extremely kind and welcoming, and gave us amazing recommendations for restaurants and hikes that we would have totally missed! They even had two high quality bikes that we were able to take out all morning with ease. Absolutely cannot recommend this place more and will never stay anywhere else in Te Anau if I’m ever lucky enough to return!
    The Perfect Stay – Joseph April 2025  Read Reviews
  • We had a great stay at Radfords on the Lake in March 2025. Our apartment was very clean and spacious with a beautiful view of the lake. Kerry at reception was soooo friendly and helpful , she made us feel at home. She also recommended things to do and places to eat and was even happy to book dinner for us. Location was great, only a short walk into town. We would stay here again.
    A great place to stay in Te Anau – Mnass April 2025  Read Reviews
  • Radfords on the Lake is a wonderful place to stay in the beautiful Te Anau. We had a really great time. The unit was really comfortable, and the staff incredibly welcoming. Kerri and Steve and the staff went out of their way to make our stay special. They were incredibly helpful and nothing was too much - they were so a no paying and went out of their way to assist us with anythjng. I can't recommend Radfords on the Lake highly enough - it is a really great place to stay and made our time in the Fiordlands special.
    A welcoming, friendly and very comfortable place to stay! – Geoff March 2025  Read Reviews
  • Wow ! Such a kind woman at check in. Helpful with where to go for dinner and breakfast, gave us milk for our coffee at check in . Walked us to our room , and wow the rooms were gorgeous . We did get the 2 bedroom, beautiful view of the lake, large open doors, big spa towels, great shower , comfortable bed and within walking distance of city center. Great walking paths. I wish we had another night here
    Wow – Temerald March 2025  Read Reviews
  • This is a beautiful property right by the lake. All units have views! The accommodation is lovely with a sitting area, kitchenette and bedroom. Parking on site. Short walk to plenty of eateries, shopping and soaking in the slice of heaven. Kerri, our host is the nicest person I have met on my travels. She knows everything and everyone one. Trust the folks with your trips and tours - they can arrange with efficiency. We can’t say enough good things. We will be back.
    Amazing place – AJ_wanderlist February 2025  Read Reviews

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🌿 Start and End Your Great Walk in Comfort! 🥾

Radfords on the Lake is the ultimate base for your Fiordland adventure. Rest up pre-hike with peaceful lakeside vibes, then return post-hike to luxury, hot showers, and unbeatable comfort.

📍 Book now and make your Fiordland experience unforgettable!

#RadfordsOnTheLake #GreatWalksNZ #ExploreFiordland #fiordland #fiordlandnz #lovefiordland #fiordlandbeyondbelief #radfordsonthelake
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Just taking a moment between jobs around the motel, to stop and appreciate where we live and these stunning views.  We love spring in Te Anau.
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#fiordland #fiordlandnz #lovefiordland #fiordlandbeyondbelief #radfordsonthelake
#fiordland #fiordlandnationalpark #fiordlandnz #nz #destinationnz #milfordsound #laketeanau #teanau #doubtfulsound #nzmustdo #southislandnz #southisland #newzealand #purenewzealand #purenz #newzealandguide #newzealandvacations #newzealandtravel #dosomethingnewnz #mysouthland #southland
Still searching for the perfect Christmas gift? Treat your loved ones to a slice of paradise this festive season with a Radfords on the Lake Gift Voucher!  Whether it's a peaceful lakeside retreat, a romantic getaway, or an adventure in Te Anau, this gift promises unforgettable memories. 

Give the gift of relaxation and exploration this Christmas. Vouchers can be personalized and are perfect for family, friends, or someone special.

Check out our website for more information. Link in our bio.
Chief welcoming officer Dexter Dude ready to greet guests to Radfords on the Lake.
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#fiordland #fiordlandnz #lovefiordland #fiordlandbeyondbelief #radfordsonthelake
#fiordland #fiordlandnationalpark #fiordlandnz #nz #destinationnz #milfordsound #laketeanau #teanau #doubtfulsound #nzmustdo #southislandnz #southisland #newzealand #purenewzealand #purenz #newzealandguide #newzealandvacations #newzealandtravel #dosomethingnewnz #mysouthland #southland
Sometimes you just need to stop and take a moment to enjoy the view. . . and it doesn't get much better than the views from our Premier Lakeview Studio units 😍😍😍
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#fiordland #fiordlandnz #lovefiordland #fiordlandbeyondbelief #radfordsonthelake
#fiordland #fiordlandnationalpark #fiordlandnz #nz #destinationnz #milfordsound #laketeanau #teanau #doubtfulsound #nzmustdo #southislandnz #southisland #newzealand #purenewzealand #purenz #newzealandguide #newzealandvacations #newzealandtravel #dosomethingnewnz #mysouthland #southland
We're still on a high after we were awarded Best Motel at the Hospitality New Zealand Business Awards 2024! This prestigious recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to excellence and the high standards we strive to achieve in hospitality. We couldn't have done it without our amazing guests so a big thank you from us to all of the amazing visitors we have hosted over the years. 

Link in our bio for the full story.
Steve and I are immensely honored to receive the award for Best Motel in our industry. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. We extend our appreciation to @seekom_ for sponsoring this award and to @hospitalitynz for organizing such a fantastic event that celebrates the best in hospitality.
Did you know that Fiordland is a great place to explore the night sky? There are some great spots along the Milford Road perfect for some stargazing. Chat to our team before you head off and we can provide you with ‘Star Charts’ and a ‘planisphere’ and instructions on how to use them. Along with binoculars so you can get a closer look. 
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#fiordland #fiordlandnz #lovefiordland #fiordlandbeyondbelief #radfordsonthelake
#fiordland #fiordlandnationalpark #fiordlandnz #nz #destinationnz #milfordsound #laketeanau #teanau #doubtfulsound #nzmustdo #southislandnz #southisland #newzealand #purenewzealand #purenz #newzealandguide #newzealandvacations #newzealandtravel #dosomethingnewnz #mysouthland #southland
The last of the winter light over Lake Te Anau captured beautifully from the front of Radfords on the Lake by @travelnewzealandwithme 
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#fiordland #fiordlandnz #lovefiordland #fiordlandbeyondbelief #radfordsonthelake
#fiordland #fiordlandnationalpark #fiordlandnz #nz #destinationnz #milfordsound #laketeanau #teanau #doubtfulsound #nzmustdo #southislandnz #southisland #newzealand #purenewzealand #purenz #newzealandguide #newzealandvacations #newzealandtravel #dosomethingnewnz #mysouthland #southland
Did you know that last winter we completed new fit-outs to all the kitchens in all our units? This included adding dishwashers and coffee pod machines. The kitchens now have a modern finish with a contemporary feel. 

Every year we set out to refurbish or improve an area of the property ensuring we are always providing the highest quality accommodation to our guests.
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#fiordland #fiordlandnz #lovefiordland #fiordlandbeyondbelief #radfordsonthelake
#fiordland #fiordlandnationalpark #fiordlandnz #nz #destinationnz #milfordsound #laketeanau #teanau #doubtfulsound #nzmustdo #southislandnz #southisland #newzealand #purenewzealand #purenz #newzealandguide #newzealandvacations #newzealandtravel #dosomethingnewnz #mysouthland #southland
Are you planning your next winter escape in Fiordland. Once you book your accommodation with us make sure you book in dinner in one of the many delicious Te Anau restaurants. If you're not sure where to go, click the link in our bio to see some of few of our favourites.
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#fiordland #fiordlandnz #lovefiordland #fiordlandbeyondbelief #radfordsonthelake
#fiordland #fiordlandnationalpark #fiordlandnz #nz #destinationnz #milfordsound #laketeanau #teanau #doubtfulsound #nzmustdo #southislandnz #southisland #newzealand #purenewzealand #purenz #newzealandguide #newzealandvacations #newzealandtravel #dosomethingnewnz #mysouthland #southland