MrsFychan

want to the bottom of the south island.
so thinking fly into Dunedin, then onto Invercargill, Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound, then a stop :where:, then back to Dundedin.

so where can we go from Milford before Dunedin. With kids in the car I really don't like to drive more than 3 1/2 hrs hence the need for a stop over between Milford and Dunedin

Kotare

Poor Stewart Island - ignored again

Stormer999

Looks like Gore then!

Snap Shot

You could drive right down to Bluff and on a clear day you can see Stewart Island. If you drive to the café at the end of the road at Bluff there is a sign post in front of it with loads of overseas cities names on it and the distance to them from that point.

There's a nice little cliff top walk from the café there too.

If you really want to get away from it all, the drive to Bluff from Invercargill is where to go.

Parnell

If your Australian or a politician you could try swimming to Stewart Island

Mark Smith

If you call into Invercargill, check out the Bill Richardson Transport Museum. Plenty of hands on for the kids and lovely cafe. We called in last month on a rainy day. Bill Richardson - Transport World / Invercargill, New Zealand

Snap Shot

That would be quite bracing at this time of year !

Justcol

Cromwell, Alexandra, Cardrona.

Choose the long way round (sh8) to get from dunners to Invercargill
Sh1 is a fairly drab drive. Be prepared to stop for photos every 5 minute's

LittleGreyCat

We did it in the opposite direction, starting from Doubtful Sound.

Between Invercargill and Doubtful Sound, if you go along the 99 you should get to Orepuki where there is Gemstone Beach. A bit of excitement and interest for the kids.

Looking at the map, Gore is about half way (as stormer999 said). Not much there unless you are a fan of Country and Western and porridge.

On your way down to Invercargill , the Catlins are lovely.

southerner

Read this a couple of times before I spotted you had missed the obvious stopping point, which is Te Anau. Te Anau is about 2 hours back from Milford, and not far from your starting point for the Doubtful Sound trip, so you may already be planning to spend some time there. It has lots of accommodation and activity options, and is the main point from which people do day trips into Milford. From there is a 3 hour drive to Dunedin.


Alternatively if you have an extra day then going back through "Central" (Queenstown, Cromwell, Alexandra) is a good scenic option.


Like LittleGrayCat I would also recommend Southern Scenic (99) route to get from Dunedin to Manapouri/Te Anau. Goes Balclutha, Catlins, Invercargill, Riverton, Tuatapere, Manapouri if you are looking for it on the map.