Cruise the scenic route between Invercargill and Dunedin in a stress-free one-way car hire. Enjoy the freedom of the road without the need to circle back to your pick-up location. With a friendly team and super-easy pick-up process with online check-in, you could be on the road quicker than you can say Kia ora.
The Invercargill to Dunedin drive provides you with many Kiwi experiences to immerse yourself in and some breathtaking landscapes to admire. Roll along some of the beautiful Southern Scenic route, chase waterfalls in The Catlins coastal region and spot penguins and dolphins.
Start your journey with a quick car hire pick-up. With check-in online or in our app, all you need to do is show your licence, grab the keys and get GOing.
In a modern, clean and reliable vehicle, you can truly relax on your self-drive South Island trip. With 24/7 roadside assistance, unlimited kilometres and free basic insurance, your peace of mind is a priority.
Once you arrive in Dunedin, simply drop off your vehicle and wrap up your adventure with ease.
FREE basic car rental insurance
Our basic insurance cover is included in the cost of every car hire with two upgraded insurance options available!
One-way car rentals
We can organise one-way rentals with pick-up in one location and drop-off in another. Stick to your dream itinerary without worrying about circling back.
Offset carbon emissions
In partnership with CarbonClick, you can choose to offset the carbon emission of your GO Rentals road trip.
24hr AA roadside assistance
All GO Rentals hire cars have access to the AA 24-hour mechanical breakdown assistance and our Tesla EVs have access to Tesla Roadside Assistance.
GO App
With our GO Rentals App, you can book a car, check in faster and even control your Tesla car functions, right from the palm of your hand.
Booking a one-way car hire with us is easier than spotting a Kiwi in the wild!
Simply add your car hire itinerary details to our booking widget, select Invercargill Airport pickup and Dunedin Airport dropoff, and click "Find my car". We do offer one-way car rentals at all of our 9 locations on both the South and North Islands, but please note:
Whilst our one-way rentals are dependent on seasonal peak times and vehicle availability in branches, we can create more one-way availability if we need to move vehicles to another location. If you are not satisfied with our website availability, please call us, and we will do our best to accommodate your epic one-way road trip.
You can take any GO Rentals vehicle on the Cook Strait Ferry between the North and South Island, which is perfect for a stress-free one-way road trip. We have 9 car rental branches spread evenly throughout New Zealand, in the major destinations. You’re never far from a GO Rentals car.
Get your journey started as quickly as possible thanks to our speedy check-in. Manage your booking online or download our app to get through the check-in process and on the road faster.
Our car hire at Invercargill Airport is conveniently located inside the main terminal building, so you can quickly swap the plane seat for the driver's seat. A one-way car hire is the ultimate way to enjoy the freedom of the open road, without the inconvenience of driving back the way you came.
Our Kiwi team loves this Island like a rare yellow-eyed penguin loves nesting in peace (and you could be lucky enough to spot them on the Invercargill to Dunedin drive!). So we've mapped out our favourite spots on the route, so you are ready to fill your itinerary with local tips.
Explore Invercargill before heading out on your trip. Take a visit to the awesome Bill Richardson transport world to marvel at vintage cars or spend a day discovering wildlife on Stewart Island. Don't miss your opportunity to explore New Zealand's Southland region before heading up the coast.
From thundering waterfalls to tranquil beaches, this route is packed with jaw-dropping backdrops for romantic getaways, family holidays or group road trips that finally made it out of the group chat.
So gear up for an Invercargill to Dunedin drive, and get inspired by our six must-see stops.
Your first stop should absolutely be the most Southerly point on the South Island, Slope Point. The dramatic coastline on the Southern Scenic Route has shaped this truly unique area, particularly the wind-sculpted trees that have grown sideways! It's an awesome sight you won't see in any other region, so worth the pit stop.
Head on to the Catlin route for another rare and beautiful spot! The 180-million-year-old petrified forest in Curio Bay is one of the few accessible fossil forests in the world! It's truly a breathtaking sight to behold. We recommend staying overnight in the Catlins region to fully explore the beauty of the coastal region.
We promised natural beauty on this drive, and this third stop absolutely delivers. Accessible only at low tide with a small entrance fee, the Cathedral Caves are two sea-formed passages that tower 30 meters high and provide a postcard-worthy photo opportunity. Steeped in Maori history, you can join a walking tour to learn about the culture and stories of these majestic caves.
The Catlins area is renowned for stunning waterfalls. You could fill a whole day seeking out tranquil waterfalls and hiking the beautiful native bushland. If you are strapped for time, then we recommend visiting the most iconic one, Purakaunui Falls. With a three-tiered cascade, this epic waterfall thunders over 20 meters into the pool below. Worth it for a lunch stop.
There's a reason Nugget Point Lighthouse is one of the most photographed spots in the Catlins, especially at sunrise. If you can make it for dawn, you will be rewarded with panoramic views as the sky turns pink and orange behind the picturesque lighthouse. If you're really lucky, you will also spot the smallest dolphin in the world, the Hector dolphin.
Fun fact: the coastal rocks here were once described as nuggets of gold by Captain Cook, and the name stuck.
Before dropping off your car hire at our Dunedin Airport terminal branch, take the opportunity to explore this charming city. New Zealand has only 2 castles, and Larnach Castle, located on the ridge of the Otago Peninsula, is simply stunning. The Scottish castle was built in 1871 and has been lovingly restored by the Barker family. You can pay an entry fee to learn about the history, marvel at the grandeur and explore the gardens.
We love that our stress-free rental cars do more than get you from A to B. They become part of your travel memories, and we want to see them!
Submit a happy photo to our Snap Happy Photo Competition and be in with a chance to receive up to $500 back off your booking!
New Zealand is best explored in a modern, reliable car. But don't take our word for it. Cruise through the happy customers revv'd up about their experience:
We were up from Dunedin visiting my elderly mother when we decided to take a trip to the Hamilton Gardens. My son had never been there before so hiring the rental car made it possible for us to visit this amazing spot.
We just picked up the car and we're super happy to start our road trip for 2 weeks in the South Island. Where we, in the end, drove 2000km in 10 days! It was great, so much freedom!!! We are visiting NZ and loved it!!
Gloomy and windy weather did not stop us from capturing this beautiful photo, a wonderful memory of our first South Island trip as a group. This picture featured the beautiful backdrop of breathtaking landscape on our way to Wanaka. Our journey to some of the extraordinary places in South Island would not have been possible without the reliability of our trusted companion - the Ford Ranger, provided by GO Rentals. As a group of 5 people, we found the perfect fit in this vehicle. Huge thanks to GO Rentals for making our South Island adventure an incredible one.
Beautiful views from around us. GO Rentals did us proud. Took us places where we wouldn't have gone. Great week exploring the South Island.
With a great selection of affordable vehicles, GO Rentals is ready to get you on the road for a one-way trip. Choose from 4-wheel drives and SUVs for ski or family trips to luxury electric vehicles for a stylish self-drive trip. Put your itinerary details in to see our vehicle availability and start planning your GO trip.
Traffic and Parking in Invercargill and Dunedin
Parking in Invercargill is widely available, and it's easy to find free or low-cost spots in the city centre. As one of the easiest cities to drive around in New Zealand, you will likely have no issue parking.
Dunedin, on the other hand, has fewer free parking options. The majority of central Dunedin is metered, and spaces can fill up during peak hours.
Awesome news! There are no toll roads between Invercargill and Dunedin. Cruise any road you like without needing to stress about toll payments or detours.
Although the route is well-maintained, you should expect some windy areas along the Catlins region. Even the trees grow sideways on this dramatic coastline! However, along the State Highway 1, the roads are sealed and suitable for many vehicles like a 2WD SUV, people mover or compact car.
Read our blog posts for more info on New Zealand's toll roads and New Zealand roads.
We are regularly updating our relocation deals so you can get GOing on a one-way road trip for cheaper. Check out our latest relocation deals to see if your itinerary matches our deal. Save money and still access our award-winning customer service.
