20 October 2024
Dunedin was the furthest point south on our mini road trip, and so today we duly turned and headed back to Timaru. It was a trip of two halves. For the first part we used the same coastal route as on the way down, with the addition of the Port Chalmers leg, which kept us off SH1 until we rejoined it at Waitati. We turned off again a couple of times to follow the same route as we took on the way to Dunedin, first through Warrington, Seacliff and Karitane and a bit later from Waianakarua though Kakanui to Oamaru. This time, though, the coast, and sometimes the countryside, was layered in sea mist, rendering the coast invisible.
Following a pit stop in Oamaru, we decided to keep off SH1 by taking the inland route through the Waitaki Valley and the MacKenzie Basin–Kurow, the hydro lakes, and on through Tekapo and Fairlie to Timaru. The journey took longer than if we’d stuck to SH1, but it was a much more enjoyable route to take. Less traffic and way more scenic. A good last minute decision. The day finished with dinner with friends M and K at the Oxford in Timaru–great evening, and top-notch service and meals. Highly recommend the Oxford.
Off Highway One 