Traversing Through South Island: The Different Routes to Drive From Ashburton to Invercargill City

If you are planning to visit Invercargill City from Ashburton, Canterbury, there are different routes you can take depending on your preferences and time constraints. Here are some of the fastest and slowest routes you can take, the distances you will cover, and the estimated time of arrival based on traffic patterns.

Route 1: The fastest route

The quickest route to travel from Ashburton to Invercargill City is by taking State Highway 1 (SH1) to Gore and then onto State Highway 96 (SH96). This route covers a total distance of approximately 435 km and takes around 5.5 hours to travel by car, depending on traffic. You can expect to spend around 45 minutes to an hour driving through urban areas with traffic lights in Christchurch and Dunedin.

The best time to travel through this route is during off-peak hours, preferably during weekdays, to avoid the heavy traffic during peak hours. In heavy traffic, travel time would take an additional 30 minutes to an hour depending on the day.

Route 2: The scenic route

If you have a bit more time on your hands and want to enjoy scenic views while driving to Invercargill City, take State Highway 72 (SH72) from Ashburton leading to the scenic town of Geraldine and connect to the Inland Scenic Route 72 (SH72). This route will take you to Mount Hutt, Fairlie, and Tekapo, on towards Queenstown and finally Invercargill City. This route will cover a total distance of around 933 km and take you around 13 hours to journey.

Although this route is considerably slower than Route 1, it provides you with stunning views of snow-capped mountains, lush greenery, and scenic lakes along the way. You will encounter winding roads with sudden turns as you pass through rolling hills, valleys, and alpine terrains.

Route 3: The middle-ground

If you asked for my opinion, I would suggest you take the middle-ground, a deviation from Route 1, by taking SH1 to Rakaia and then a left turn onto State Highway 79 (SH79) towards Geraldine Town. From there, connect to SH77 heading to Methven before heading toward Fairlie, and take the SH8 to SH6 heading towards Lumsden and finally Invercargill City - a spacious, beautiful route with several scenic highlights along the way.

This route covers a total distance of approximately 639 km and takes about 8.5 hours to journey by car, depending on traffic. Much of this route can be a little different from Route 1, avoiding the traffic congestions of Dunedin. So, it’s a perfect combination of time saved and scenic beauty.

Whichever route you choose, make sure to be mindful of other drivers, take a break when needed, and enjoy the scenery without getting lost in it. Safe travels!