McCullum and Watling took the total past 400 and have combined for more than 250 runs since shortly after lunch on day three when their side was in desperate trouble at 94 for five.
They have already passed New Zealand's highest sixth wicket partnership against India and are within sight of the record partnership for any wicket against them. Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder scored 271 for the fourth wicket at Napier in 2009.
The naturally aggressive McCullum curbed his attacking instincts and battled problems with his shoulder and troublesome back in taking his side to a six-run lead at stumps on Sunday.
New Zealand resumed on 252 for five with McCullum on 114 and Watling on 52 and faced very little penetration from the India attack on a wicket that has flattened out.
The New Zealand pair scored 56 runs in 13 overs in the first hour of play, before McCullum passed 150 when he hammered his 18th boundary off paceman Zaheer Khan to the cover fence and raised his arms to generous applause from the small crowd.
McCullum, who scored 224 in the first test at Eden Park, had said that he would probably need to score another double-century to guide his side to safety.
India must win the match to level the two-test series after New Zealand won the first test by 40 runs.
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