christchurch to dunedin

...take the scenic route with apex car rentals. Sample extract from "New Zealand Driving Holidays" guidebook Christchurch to Dunedin chapter.

South Canterbury’s flat plains, flanked by the dramatic peaks of the Southern Alps, stretch in a colourful patchwork of fields south to Timaru, the urban heart of the Central South Island. A lively, colourful town with a striking piazza overlooking Caroline Bay, Timaru has preserved much of its historical heritage in a collection of Edwardian and bluestone buildings, local museum treasures, and Maori rock art found in caves nearby. Further south, in Oamaru, a legacy in limestone awaits and the town’s wonderful Victorian architecture – from banks to basilicas – is a rare sight to behold. Oamaru is home to a large colony of blue penguins and in Dunedin, where eco-tourism activities abound, visitors can get more than a glimpse of their yellow-eyed cousins. We spend three days exploring the route from Christchurch to Dunedin. We take a historic train ride aboard the world’s only Model T Ford Railcar, and sample classic slices of kiwiana before Bob begins training for a tramp. We explore Oamaru by foot; learn all about little blue penguins; and spy on ‘Paul’ as he squats atop a large pearly white egg.

day three: oamaru to dunedin

Key
- Destinations
- Apex Locations

Next morning, true to his word, there’s no sign of Bob except a note on the table. I load our bags and drive to the top of a steep hill where I spot Bob doing stretching exercises. I pull up alongside and he hops in gratefully. A little further along is the Bushy Beach Penguin Colony, where we huddle together in the Dept. of Conservation hide with cameras at the ready.

Suddenly a penguin pops out of the grassy bank above the beach and lands on the sand. Further up the beach another follows suit, and they both waddle to the sea in unison. “Their eyes are extraordinary,” says Bob, zooming in, “but I’d like to see them closer.”

When no other penguins appear, we walk back to the car and head south towards Dunedin. Thirty-five minutes later we arrive in the tiny fishing village of Moeraki and park by the jetty, outside a popular café called Fleur’s Place. We set off briskly along the beach to the Moeraki Boulders, accompanied en route by a mischievous pod of common dolphins.

After marvelling at the perfect roundness of the large boulders, we head back to Fleur’s where we have some deliciously fresh scallops and Thai fish cakes before driving south along picturesque Katiki Beach and on through Palmerston, which gleams with fresh paint. As the sun dips low in the sky and the landscape changes to ranges and deep forested valleys, we descend into Dunedin...

Please click the link to download the full Christchurch to Dunedin scenic drive, courtesy of apex car rentals new zealand... the kiwi way

To read more extracts from our driving holiday's guidebook please click on any of the following links:

• Auckland to Bay of Islands and Northland
• Cape Reinga and the Far North
• Auckland's West Coast Beaches
• Waiheke Island
• Auckland to Whakatane and the Bay of Plenty
• East Cape and Poverty Bay
• Whakatane to Hawkes Bay
• Rotorua - Maori Culture and Adventure Activities
• Hawkes Bay to Wellington
• Wairarapa- The home of Martinborough Wine
• Wellington to New Plymouth
• New Plymouth to Auckland

• Picton to Christchurch
• Akaroa and Banks Peninsula
• Christchurch to Queenstown
• Queenstown fabulous Queenstown
• Christchurch to Dunedin
• Dunedin to Te Anau
• Stewart Island
• Fiordland to Milford Sounds
• Central Otago
• Queenstown to Greymouth
• Greymouth to Nelson
• Murchison
• Nelson to Golden Bay
• Nelson to Picton

purchase new zealand driving holidays online

If you would like to purchase a copy of this stunning nz pictorial guidebook online please click here (RRP $24.95 plus postage)

view today's best deals for christchurch to dunedin rental cars

With apex rental cars the longer you hire the lower the daily rate. Please click the link to view today's best christchurch to dunedin rental car deal.