Driving SH1 from Hampden to Palmerston in Otago New Zealand

Categories: Otago Region

Tags: driving, hampden, new zealand, otago, palmerston

Added: 1 Year ago

Driving SH1 from Hampden to Palmerston, in the Otago Region of New Zealand's South Island.

The small town of Hampden offers a beachside camping ground, a popular cafe, a tavern, and a renowned fish shop serving fresh blue cod. You might notice a jump in the video when we are driving through Hampden. This is where I cut out us pulling over for Blue Cod. If not here Moeraki Tavern is just up the road.

Down at the beach, you will find a playground for the kids with pseudo-boulders and where hector’s dolphins are often spotted in the surf. If you go for a walk on the beach you may be able to see the Moeraki Boulders in the distance. You can walk all the way there if the tide is low.

Near the beach, you’ll find the Moeraki Boulders Kiwi Holiday Park with camping, motel and backpacker accommodations, and up the hill in town, the Moeraki Boulders Motel.

Check out the Heritage Trail which takes you on a walking tour of various historic sites starting from the old Hampden Hotel and includes local churches, the cemetery, war memorial and more.

Palmerston is perfectly nestled at the junction of SH1 and SH85 and is also the gateway to the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trail and Central Otago. The town's main landmark, visible from a distance, is Puketapu (sacred hill). Atop the hill sits a monument to early politician, Sir John McKenzie.

There is a walking track up Puketapu which is open to visitors for most of the year. At the top, you get stunning 360-degree views of patchwork farmland, rolling hills, distant mountains, lagoons, the Shag River and a beautiful, unspoiled coastline. This walk is on private land and is closed during lambing season.

The Shag River passes through Palmerston on its way to the nearby river mouth. It’s a small to medium-sized river which holds a reasonable population of brown trout. Between Dunback and Palmerston there are many accessible parts of the river. Locals also enjoy a summer swim and paddle on parts of the river.

Head out to Anderson's Lagoon or Tavora Reserve for magical coastal walks and wildlife viewing, or drive just 5 minutes to a lookout point to view a large colony of New Zealand fur seals. There are more great walking options and camping at the nearby Trotter’s Gorge.