Otago Peninsula: Highcliff Road

Highcliff Road, Harington Point Road, Portobello Road · Dunedin → Taiaroa Head

Intense16.3 mi45 min1,700 ft climbHigh point ≈ 1,100 ftOne way

Scan to drive it in CarvePoint a phone's camera here. It opens ready to drive.

Drive it in Carve, free

Opens this route in the app, or where to get it.

The drive

The Otago Peninsula road out of Dunedin goes 26 km (16 mi) to Taiaroa Head at the harbour entrance. It leaves the city on Highcliff Road, which runs along the spine of the peninsula high above Otago Harbour with views over the city and the surrounding country.

The road then drops to Portobello, a harbourside township on the old Portobello road, and continues along Harington Point Road toward Taiaroa Head. The drive ends short of the albatross centre car park. Taiaroa Head has a northern royal albatross breeding colony, the only albatross colony on an inhabited mainland, and a lighthouse dating from 1864.

Curves are mostly moderate, with three twisty stretches, and the drive takes about 45 minutes. Portobello Road along the harbour is the usual alternative to Highcliff, and the two meet at Portobello.

Along the way

Dunedin
Portobello
Taiaroa Head

Elevation

1,700 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 1,100 ft

DunedinTaiaroa Head

Curves

Mostly moderate, with three twisty stretches

mi 1–3mi 4–12mi 13–15

DunedinTaiaroa Head

GentleHairpins

Good to know

Highcliff Road is narrow and steep, with constant bends.
All roads on the peninsula open to cars are also open to cyclists and pedestrians.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Dunedin City Council: notified road closures.

Questions about this drive

How long does the Otago Peninsula Highcliff Road drive take?

Dunedin to Taiaroa Head via Highcliff Road, Portobello and Harington Point Road is 26 km (16 mi) and takes about 45 minutes.

What is at the end of the Otago Peninsula road?

Taiaroa Head, with a northern royal albatross colony, a viewing centre and a lighthouse dating from 1864.

Is Highcliff Road narrow?

Yes. Highcliff Road is narrow, steep and constantly bending, along the ridge above Otago Harbour.

What is the alternative to Highcliff Road on the Otago Peninsula?

Portobello Road along the harbour is the usual alternative, and the two meet at Portobello.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.

Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.

Drive it with no signalAPEXDownload the map and every turn before you go.

Live Group TrackingAPEXEveryone on the route, on the map, by name.

Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.

Record your drivesAPEXRecord a drive and turn it into a route to drive again or share.

Free on iPhone and Android. CarPlay and Android Auto come with Apex.

Download on theApp Store Early access onGoogle Play

More drives near here

All 10 drives in Otago, New Zealand ›

Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

+ Plan a new route