Next 7 departures
- SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 4–13°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Christchurch7 AM NZDT Fog4°C Ashburton8 AM NZDT Sunny6°C Timaru9 AM NZDT Sunny8°C Ōamaru10 AM NZDT Sunny11°C SH1 north of Dunedin11 AM NZDT Sunny11°C Dunedin11:15 AM NZDT Sunny11°C Balclutha12:15 PM NZDT Sunny12°C Invercargill1:45 PM NZDT Sunny13°C - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 4–14°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Christchurch7 AM NZDT Fog4°C Ashburton8 AM NZDT Partly sunny5°C Timaru9 AM NZDT Mostly sunny9°C Ōamaru10 AM NZDT Partly sunny10°C SH1 north of Dunedin11 AM NZDT Mostly sunny11°C Dunedin11:15 AM NZDT Sunny12°C Balclutha12:15 PM NZDT Partly sunny13°C Invercargill1:45 PM NZDT Mostly sunny14°C - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 5–15°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Christchurch7 AM NZDT Cloudy5°C Ashburton8 AM NZDT Partly sunny9°C Timaru9 AM NZDT Mostly sunny9°C Ōamaru10 AM NZDT Partly sunny12°C SH1 north of Dunedin11 AM NZDT Mostly sunny12°C Dunedin11:15 AM NZDT Partly sunny14°C Balclutha12:15 PM NZDT Partly sunny15°C Invercargill1:45 PM NZDT Cloudy15°C - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 11–15°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Christchurch7 AM NZDT Partly sunny11°C Ashburton8 AM NZDT Cloudy13°C Timaru9 AM NZDT Cloudy12°C Ōamaru10 AM NZDT Cloudy14°C SH1 north of Dunedin11 AM NZDT Cloudy11°C Dunedin11:15 AM NZDT Cloudy13°C Balclutha12:15 PM NZDT Partly sunny15°C Invercargill1:45 PM NZDT Rain12°C - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 6–11°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Christchurch7 AM NZDT Rain8°C Ashburton8 AM NZDT Light rain7°C Timaru9 AM NZDT Cloudy9°C Ōamaru10 AM NZDT Partly sunny8°C SH1 north of Dunedin11 AM NZDT Partly sunny6°C Dunedin11:15 AM NZDT Partly sunny8°C Balclutha12:15 PM NZDT Mostly sunny9°C Invercargill1:45 PM NZDT Mostly sunny11°C - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 6–16°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Christchurch7 AM NZDT Partly sunny7°C Ashburton8 AM NZDT Partly sunny6°C Timaru9 AM NZDT Mostly sunny8°C Ōamaru10 AM NZDT Mostly sunny10°C SH1 north of Dunedin11 AM NZDT Sunny9°C Dunedin11:15 AM NZDT Sunny10°C Balclutha12:15 PM NZDT Partly sunny13°C Invercargill1:45 PM NZDT Sunny16°C - SatOct 10
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 6–14°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Christchurch7 AM NZDT Partly sunny9°C Ashburton8 AM NZDT Sunny6°C Timaru9 AM NZDT Cloudy6°C Ōamaru10 AM NZDT Sunny9°C SH1 north of Dunedin11 AM NZDT Sunny8°C Dunedin11:15 AM NZDT Sunny10°C Balclutha12:15 PM NZDT Cloudy14°C Invercargill1:45 PM NZDT Partly sunny14°C
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Christchurch (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Christchurch, NZStart 10 melevation
- Ashburton, NZKm 87 · 1 h 100 melevation
- Timaru, NZKm 163 · 1 h 56 min 10 melevation
- Ōamaru, NZKm 248 · 2 h 56 min 9 melevation
- SH1 north of Dunedin, NZKm 349 · 4 h 5 min 376 melevation
- Dunedin, NZKm 360 · 4 h 14 min 18 melevation
- Balclutha, NZKm 439 · 5 h 11 min 20 melevation
- Invercargill, NZKm 565 · 6 h 38 min 5 melevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with 2.5 cm (an inch) or more of snow, at Christchurch and Invercargill.
| Month | Christchurch 37 m | Invercargill 2 m |
|---|---|---|
| High / low °C | High / low °C | |
| Jan | 23° / 11° | 19° / 9° |
| Feb | 23° / 11° | 19° / 9° |
| Mar | 20° / 9° | 18° / 7° |
| Apr | 17° / 5° | 15° / 6° |
| May | 15° / 3° | 13° / 4° |
| Jun | 12° / 0° | 10° / 2° |
| Jul | 11° / 0° | 10° / 1° |
| Aug | 13° / 1° | 11° / 2° |
| Sep | 15° / 3° | 13° / 4° |
| Oct | 17° / 4° | 15° / 5° |
| Nov | 19° / 7° | 16° / 7° |
| Dec | 21° / 10° | 18° / 8° |
1991–2020 averages computed from NOAA NCEI daily station records (GHCN-Daily): CHRISTCHURCH INTERNATIONAL, NZ (NZM00093781, 37 m); INVERCARGILL AIRPOR, NZ (NZ000093844, 2 m). Snow days are days with at least 2.5 cm (1 inch) of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for New Zealand rather than repeat them.
- New Zealand · NZTA Waka KotahiNZTA journey planner and road conditions
Check the official forecast from MetService and each road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Christchurch to Invercargill with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Christchurch to Invercargill?
565 km (351 miles), about 6½ hours of driving without stops, by way of SH1. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
SH1 north of Dunedin, at 376 m (1,234 ft). It comes at km 349, about 4 h 5 min of driving after you leave Christchurch.
How cold is Invercargill in July?
Invercargill averages a high of 10°C and a low of 1°C in July (1991–2020 averages).