A vision to link together the strands of the lower South Island's scenery will be marked this weekend as the Southern Scenic Route celebrates its 25th anniversary.
The route runs between Queenstown and Dunedin, via Te Anau and Western Southland, Invercargill (and Bluff) and the Catlins.
The Southern Scenic Route Committee is made up of the Southland, Fiordland, Clutha, Queenstown and Dunedin regional tourism organisations.
A public event will be held at the Tuatapere Domain on Sunday from 11am to 3pm, with entertainment, displays and activities and an official ceremony to mark the occasion.
Former Tuatapere resident John Fraser, who now lives in Dunedin, is credited as the founder of the route. He developed the original idea, along with a wide group of people throughout the South, who passionately pursued the vision, overcoming many barriers on the way.
There were ongoing spin-offs to the many small communities on the route and also to main centres such as Invercargill, Dunedin, Te Anau and Queenstown, he said.
''I think that it's probably been worth tens of millions of dollars to the southern economy,'' Mr Fraser said.
Queenstown accepted an invitation to become part of the route in 2011, and Destination Queenstown called it ''one of New Zealand's top tourist routes, renowned for its stunning coastal and inland scenery''.
Former Southland mayor Frana Cardno said the Southern Scenic Route was an inspirational project led by the community.
''It's been a fantastic success. We've seen the tourists grow steadily. More and more people are going round these areas. I believe the scenery and skies on that route are among the most outstanding anywhere. People are looking for wilderness, adventure and New Zealand as it used to be.''
Venture Southland tourism sector manager and Southern Scenic Route Committee chairwoman Tareen Ellis said the route brought together the five regional tourism organisations and helped them promote the lower South Island in a cohesive way.
The route had developed an identity and recognition over the years.
Among its successes was being included as one of the Automobile Association's ''101 Must-Do's'' in New Zealand, she said.
