Kiwi Road, a narrow drive in Taranaki's most isolated countryside
Kiwi Road is a scenic narrow and rough track located in northern Taranaki, in the North Island of New Zealand.
The road is difficult, with uncountable turns and twists. It’s mostly unpaved and runs parallel to State Highway 3, through some of Taranaki's most remarkable landscape. Ideal time to travel is daylight. Not advised night drive. The winding track has some narrow parts, impassable for 2 medium cars and the edges are starting to slip away in places. Not recommended to newbies.
The winding, narrow, bush-clad road is 17.9 km (11.12 miles) long, running south-north from Moki Road to Okau Road. It is not suitable for heavy vehicles or caravans. Most of the surface is in good condition. This is a remarkable road trip in the wilds of northeast Taranaki. Make sure you leave enough time to make plenty of stops along the way: the scenery is breathtaking.
The drive is pretty steep, topping out at 363m (1,190ft) above the sea level. Drive at moderate speed: at times feels more like a goat track than a road. The most challenging part of the drive is at the end of the road: the Kiwi Road Tunnel, a short narrow tunnel (154m/507ft long) constructed in 1915. It’s sometimes known as the Eastern Kiwi Road Tunnel.
Road suggested by: Don Fisher
Pic&video: sean turner