Southern Scenic Route travel guide

From Manapouri SH99 leaves the vast majority of tourist traffic behind, as most retrace their steps to Queenstown or cross-country east, to Dunedin. The Southern Scenic Route, which first heads south to the coast via Tuatapere and Invercargill, then north via the beautiful and underrated Catlins coast to Dunedin, provides an attractive alternative. The highlights of this trip, other than the sheer peace and quiet, are the potential stops in Tuatapere to walk the relatively new and celebrated Hump Ridge Track, an overnight stay in the pleasant seaside resort of Riverton, a day or two in Invercargill, before a trip to Stewart Island and then a thorough exploration of the Catlins Coast .