Roads of New Zealand

Nestled in the vast expanse of the southwestern Pacific Ocean, New Zealand is a land of enchanting contrasts and surreal beauty. A paradise for road trippers, the nation offers some of the most spellbinding drives in the world.

Imagine challenging the twists and turns of Skippers Canyon Road, a daunting yet historic scenic drive etched into the cliffs, promising both adrenaline and awe-inspiring panoramas. Venture along the Forgotten World Highway, a road that, true to its name, takes you on a journey to a time and place almost untouched by modernity, offering vistas that seem sketched from fantasy tales.

The Remarkables Road, as its name suggests, is truly a remarkable drive with a backdrop of imposing mountain ranges that leave an indelible impression. Traverse the Crown Range Road, a majestic alpine route where shimmering snow often drapes the landscape, turning it into a winter wonderland. Every twist, every turn, every ascent in this land seems to narrate tales of the Maori legends, the undulating valleys, and the echoing calls of the Kiwi bird.

As you navigate these roads, you're not just traversing tar and gravel; you're journeying through the very soul of Aotearoa, the 'Land of the Long White Cloud'. Strap in, and let the captivating roads of New Zealand guide your senses through spectacles both wild and wondrous.

Located in the Canterbury region, on the South Island of New Zealand, Mount Cook Road is a very scenic drive along the turquoise coloured Lake Pukaki. It's one of the best coastal drives in the world.

Paekakariki Hill Road is the name of a very scenic drive, located in the south-western North Island of New Zealand. Built in 1849, it's one of the most beautiful coastal drives in the world.

Ohakune Mountain Road is a sealed road with sweeping views located in the North Island of New Zealand. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Summit Road is a very scenic yet challenging drive located in Canterbury, on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island.

Tasman Valley Road is a very scenic curvy but fairly paved drive located on New Zealand's South Island, that takes you out to Tasman Glacier.

Te Mata Peak is a mountain peak at an elevation of 389m (1,276ft) above the sea level, located in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. The drive is a real thrill and the views from the top are amazing.

Haast River Bridge is one lane bridge over the Haast River on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world. 

Treble Cone is a ski resort at an elevation of 1.260m (4,133ft) above the sea level, located in Otago, a southeastern region on New Zealand's South Island.

Acheron Road, nestled in the picturesque Marlborough high country of New Zealand's South Island, offers a thrilling drive known for its evolving landscapes of shifting screes, vast grasslands, and steep hillsides. This route promises an unforgettable journey.

The Cape Palliser Lighthouse, set in the Wellington region on the southern coast of New Zealand's North Island, is not just a beacon for sailors but also the finishing point of one of the most scenic drives in New Zealand.

Located in Dunedin, New Zealand, Baldwin Street is often cited as the world's steepest residential street. It has an incline of 35 per cent. Notably, the steepest section is made from concrete because asphalt would melt and flow down the hill on particularly hot days.

Porters Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 948m (3,110ft) above the sea level, located in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island.

Located on the south-west of New Zealand's South Island, the Skippers suspension bridge over the Shotover River near Queenstown in Central Otago is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Located in the central South Island of New Zealand, the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road is a very scenic drive winding alongside the shimmering blue Lake Wakatipu, a deep glacial lake surrounded by soaring mountains, famous for its scenic beauty. It's one of the most scenic coastal drives in the world.

Mount Dobson is a ski resort at an elevation of 1,748m (5,734 ft) above the sea level located in the Mackenzie region of the South Island in New Zealand. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

Mount Olympus is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.643m (5,360ft) above the sea level located on New Zealand's South Island. The road to the summit is best negotiated by high-clearance 4WD that is able to be equipped with chains if required. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

Ohau Mountain Access Road is a 9.3km good metal access road located in the Ohau Range in the Mackenzie High Country, not far from the Mt Cook region on the South Island of New Zealand. The road is extremely steep, with a gradient average of 10.1%.

Otaki Gorge Road is a very scenic yet challenging drive following the Otaki River, in the Kapiti Coast District of the North Island of New Zealand. The drive has a history of slips and road damage in heavy rain events.

Island Saddle is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.371m (4,498ft) above the sea level located on the boundary of Canterbury and Marlborough, in New Zealand. 

Wards Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.145m (3,757ft) above the sea level, located in the Rachel Range of the Inland Kaikoura Ranges of New Zealand's northern South Island. 

Access Road to Mount Cheeseman is an unsealed road located in New Zealand's South Island. The access road is suitable for 2WD vehicles with chains. The road climbs up to 1.550m (5,085ft) above the sea level. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

Located on the west of the North Island of New Zealand, Moki Tunnel is a 180-metre-long, single lane tunnel.

Takarau Gorge Road is a very scenic drive located in northern Wellington, New Zealand. Sections of this road are often closed due to flooding.

Whatipu Beach is the name of a remote black sandy beach located on the wild west coast of the Auckland region of the North Island of New Zealand.

Haast Highway is a spectacular and scenic drive located on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It's one of the most scenic coastal drives in the world. 

Located in Taranaki, New Zealand, the Bertrand Road Swing Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world. It’s 67 m long.

Located within the Arthurs Pass National Park, the major national park in the center of the South Island New Zealand, the old Arthurs Pass road is known as The Zigzag. It was built across a huge scree slope and was subject to erosion due to earthquakes and flooding. In the last century the road was cut further and further back into the hillside, until it was 20 metres higher and 65 metres further back into the slope than it had been seventy years earlier.

Tasman Valley Road 4X4 track is a very scenic yet challenging drive located on New Zealand's South Island.

Karamea Highway is a very scenic drive at the most northern end of the South Island's West Coast of New Zealand. In some ways, this road is special because it's a "road to nowhere", ending spectacularly as the southern access point to the Heaphy Track.

Old Woman Range is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.739m (5,705ft) above the sea level, located in the Otago region of New Zealand. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Waipu Gorge Road is a winding but fairly smooth metalled road located in the Northland Region of New Zealand.

Pembroke Road is a very scenic drive in the Taranaki region, on the western coast of New Zealand's North Island. The road is pretty steep, with an average gradient of 5.75%.

Lake Ohau Road is a very scenic drive located in the Ohau Range in the Mackenzie High Country, not far from the Mt Cook region on the South Island of New Zealand. The road features gravel and asphalt sections.

Duffers Saddle is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.275m (4,183ft) above the sea level, located in the Old Woman Range, in Central Otago, New Zealand. 

Located on the West Coast of the North Island of New Zealand, the narrow Waikawau Tunnel Beach is used by people for accessing the beach.

The South Island, also known as Te Waipounamu, offers some of the New Zealand’s most beautiful coastal drives. The island hosts the purest natural landscapes you’ll ever experience. There are lots of places to stop, little hidden bays and places to take in the scenery. From wildlife to wineries, from glacial valleys to star-filled skies, nature's best flourishes against a palette of dramatic scenes.