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The Southern Scenic Route: The Long Way, and the Better One
A slow arc along the South Island’s southern edge. Around 610 km from Dunedin to Queenstown, or reverse if you prefer. It starts in farmland and rough coast, threads through the Catlins, skirts Invercargill, then climbs to Te Anau and Fiordland before easing into Queenstown. I’ve driven it both directions. Once in spring when the Catlins…
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The Central Otago Touring Route: Where the Towns Still Have Time for You
A loose loop through the dry heart of the South Island. Roughly 250–300 km depending on how many side roads you take. It connects Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, Arrowtown, and Middlemarch — small places linked by quiet sealed roads, schist hills, and the kind of valleys that make you ease off the throttle without thinking. Queenstown is the usual…
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The Great Alpine Highway: Crossing the Southern Alps, One Curve at a Time
State Highway 73 from Christchurch to the West Coast. About 230 km to Greymouth or Hokitika. It starts flat on the Canterbury plains — braided rivers, wide sky, sheep in paddocks. Then the land tightens. Porters Pass climbs first, around 940 meters. The road winds up through Arthur’s Pass National Park, drops through gorges, and eases out…
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One Road Leads In. Many Roads Carry You On.
South Island Theme Roads, New Zealand The South Island is where a New Zealand road trip stops being an introduction and starts becoming a commitment. Distances stretch. Landscapes sharpen. Mountains, glaciers, and coastlines begin to dominate the drive. These are not roads you rush through. They are routes you follow—often longer than planned—because stopping feels inevitable.…
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The Classic New Zealand Wine Trail (North Island ): Where the Road Tastes Like Syrah and Sea Air
A slow, deliberate run linking Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, and Wellington. Roughly 400 km if you drive straight through, but nobody does. The point is the stops — vineyards that spill over hills, cellar doors with views, and cities that know how to pour a glass without fuss. I’ve followed this trail in pieces over the years. Autumn…
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The Manawatū Scenic Route: The Road That Takes Its Time
A gentle alternative to the hurry of State Highway 1. Roughly 170 km from Palmerston North to Sanson, then looping through Feilding, Kimbolton, and back via the Pohangina Valley. Mostly sealed backroads, rolling farmland, river flats, and the occasional small town that still has a pub with a proper fire. I’ve driven it on quiet…
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The Adventure Highway: Where the Road Forgets You’re There
A quiet run through the Ruapehu heartland. Roughly 180 kilometers from National Park village south on SH4, then east on SH49 toward Waiouru. It links Tongariro National Park to the wild western edge of Whanganui National Park. No postcard views forced on you — just deep bush, empty valleys, and the kind of silence that…
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The Volcanic Loop: Where the Mountains Still Breathe Fire
A full circle around Tongariro National Park. Roughly 150 kilometers. State Highways 47, 4, 49, and 1, starting and ending in Tūrangi. One road that keeps changing its mind — forest one minute, barren volcanic plain the next, then back to alpine tussock. The Desert Road stretch (SH1) is the one everyone remembers: stark, empty, and suddenly…
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The Surf Highway 45
A 105-kilometer loop hugging Taranaki’s southwestern coast. From New Plymouth south to Hāwera, then back up if you’re circling. Mount Taranaki looms inland — sharp, snow-capped in winter, a constant reference point on clear days. Black sand beaches, rolling swells, and quiet turn-offs to breaks that often sit empty. I’ve driven it end to end…
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The Forgotten World Highway
State Highway 43. 150 kilometers from Taumarunui to Stratford. One of the quietest stretches in the country — remote valleys, dense bush, and a sense that the world moved on without it. I’ve driven it both ways. Summer for longer days, autumn when the light slants low through the trees. The road’s fully sealed now…
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