Southern Way - Central Otago Touring Route

The Central Otago Touring Route

The 341-kilometre Central Otago Touring Route, officially opened in 2020, was established to encourage travellers to take a different way between Queenstown and Dunedin, following the beautiful Strath Taieri and Maniototo Plains and scenic highways that stretch from the foothills of the Southern Alps to the Pacific Ocean. This is a journey where time slows right down, giving road trippers the chance to explore the quirky, fun and fascinating small towns dotted between the major centres.

A big part of the experience is sampling the incredible bounty of this region - lamb, stonefruit, vegetables, cheese, beer, and of course, Pinot Noir! From breweries and cellar-door restaurants to much-loved local cafés, the only real challenge is deciding where to stop. Here are some of our picks.

Starting in Queenstown

If you’re kicking things off in Queenstown, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to eating and drinking. Book in for award-winning cuisine at Rātā or The Bunker, or seek out exceptional real-deal Japanese at Tanoshi Cow Lane or Kappa. Lunch at Sundays in a beautifully restored church in the gorgeous Country Lane village is also a must - and don’t miss Black Lab Coffee Roasters and the Remarkable Cookie while you’re there too.

Arrowtown

Just down the road in Arrowtown, award-winning Aosta from one of New Zealand’s favourite celebrity chefs, Ben Bayly, never fails to deliver exceptional Italian dining, and there’s always time for a drink at The Blue Door, a speakeasy-style cosy spot with plenty of stories to tell within its historic walls. Gold-rush history is woven through every street here, and you can explore both ends of the story, from the poignant Chinese Settlement, where hardship shaped daily life, to the beautifully preserved heritage buildings that now house boutique shops, galleries and restaurants.

Central Otago

After Arrowtown, wind your way through the stunning Kawarau Gorge and into the heart of Central Otago, passing plenty of wineries and restaurants along the way. If time allows, The Bannockburn Hotel is a magical stop, with sweeping views, excellent food and a seriously impressive wine list. Many people pause at the picturesque Cromwell Heritage Precinct to explore its historic buildings and lake views, but in town itself, you’ll also find Wooing Tree’s deservedly popular cellar-door restaurant and The Stoaker Room, where everything is smoked or steamed in pinot noir barrels. Very Central Otago. Don’t miss a stop at Jackson Orchards while you’re in this part of the country, not just for some of the best fruit in the land, but for plenty of other artisan goodies and grab-and-go options too.

Many visitors come to cycle the incredible Lake Dunstan Trail or Central Otago Rail Trail, and there are plenty of places to refuel between pedal strokes. Dunstan House is a favourite in the charming historic town of Clyde for great home baking and coffee, while Olivers offers everything from a café and restaurant to an onsite brewery, plus a gorgeous store crammed with artisan food products, many made on site. In the evening, head to The Old Clyde Bank for excellent, creative dining with a strong focus on local produce.

St Bathans is a must-visit, with lake views that look straight out of a photoshopped brochure and a wonderfully quirky former mining town atmosphere. A cheese scone or roll (or a full lunch or dinner) at The Vulcan Hotel is never a bad decision, and the staff will happily tell you all about the famous resident ghost. Speaking of historical buildings, if you stop in tiny Ophir, Pitches Store has been around since 1883 and is now a very popular local restaurant.

Ranfurly

In Ranfurly, plenty of spots will compete for your appetite, but Floral and Feast and Fantail Kitchen and Larder offer a fantastic taste of small-town hospitality, with generous daytime food made from scratch, with love.

Middlemarch makes a great place to break journey en route to Dunedin. Take a walk around Sutton Salt Lake, New Zealand’s only inland salt lake, then finish up with exceptional home baking at Kissing Gate Café.

Dunedin

On the final stretch into Dunedin, Arc Brewing in Blueskin Bay is known for its constantly changing line-up of beers and the rotating cast of food trucks that park up alongside. And when you finally arrive in Dunedin, you’re spoiled once again - from wonderful brews at Emersons and locally distilled spirits, tours and workshops at Dunedin Craft Distillers, to Italian with beach views at Esplanade or creative, modern, locally inspired cuisine at Tītī, also in St Clair. There are heaving Saturday markets and Scandinavian flavours at Adjo - way too much to list in one place.

The Experience

This is a road trip where the landscapes are spectacular, but the meals are just as memorable. From cellar doors and bakeries to pubs steeped in history, you’ll find great food and great people, often in delightfully unexpected places. Take the road less travelled and see the real South Island.