VISIT MACRAES
GETTING HERE
Macraes is located inland from Palmerston, just over an hour from Dunedin or Oamaru.
It can be incorporated in to any number of day trips between Coastal and Central Otago, or make it a round trip.
There is fuel or charging stations available in Macraes see services for the closest options.
Please be aware that Macares is at altitude and in winter snow, ice and frosty roads are possible, please check the NZTA website before you set out and drive with care. Although the main roads to Macraes are sealed there are a number of gravel roads in the area (including Ramrock Rd and Danseys Pass).
Public toilets are available on Hyde Street.
Macraes is an easy daytrip from Dunedin. Take the loop through Macraes and head home via Middlemarch and Ourtam. An alternative is to take the Moonlight Road to Middlemarch from Macraes however please be aware this route includes narrow gravel roads.
For those who like to explore, there is a loop trip via Macraes and home via the Nenthorn Valley and Ramrock Road to Waikouaiti. Includes option to stop and explore the ruins of the old Nenthorn town. This trip does include gravel roads and is more suitable for a SUV or larger vehicle.
Visit many of the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark attractions, including a stop off at Moeraki boulders, Puketapu, Macraes and Golden Point Reserve and home via the Danseys Pass and the Elephant Rocks. This loop tmakes a great day trip. The Danseys Pass is gravel and can be closed over winter.
Take an alternative route to Dunedin from Queenstown or Wanaka via Cromwell and Ranfurly. Travelling via Macraes adds less than 15 minutes extra driving time (all on sealed roads) compared with travelling the Central Otago Touring Route via Middlemarch or the Pig Route.