Esim
-
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…
-
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…
-
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.…
-
The Thermal Explorer Highway.
A central spine through the North Island’s volcanic heart. From Auckland south to Hawke’s Bay, mostly along State Highway 1 and 5. Steam rises from the ground, lakes fill old craters, mountains stand sharp against the sky. I’ve driven it north to south and back. Summer brings clear days for hikes, winter fog in the…