My Favorite roads in New Zealand

New Zealand is one of the best countries for road trip – it’s also one of the only way to truly visit since public transport is not really well developed there.

I have driven around twice now and here are the road sections that I have found the most beautiful and interesting. That was a hard list to make, every day offered great moments.

1.    Auckland to Hamilton (Road 39)

Especially in Summer or at its beginning. This portion we drove to reach Waitomo Glowworm caves were a successions of prairies and pastures. What we like was that we almost forgot that we were in New-Zealand. It has this UK feel, with nice little edges, green pastures but mostly a carpet of cute yellow and white flowers all around the roadside. On a sunny day, it was just too cute.

2.    Whangarei to Whangarei Heads

As you go towards and end at Ocean Beach, you will drive along a coastal road that just goes from creeks to creeks and the background is an impressive rocky cliff and mountains ( that you can hike through if you do the Te Whara trail ). Blue waters and wide crescent shaped roads with little to no traffic.

3.    The last section from Christchurch to Kaikoura

This one is a short but impressive portion and beware, there is only ONE viewpoint stop to take pictures at the beginning of it, do not miss it. ( we did ). 

The road is at the bottom of the cliff and is a narrow two way lane. Left is vertical cliff, right is turbulent sea that licks at the edge of the road. Amazing.

4.    The Buller Gorge

As you make your way down from Lyell campsite ( sandfly infested and the start of the Old Ghost Road trail ). You wind down along the river. In the morning there is a small amount of mist which gives this section the creeps and a foreboding feeling. It has nice pine vegetation. It’s a gorge with high cliffs on each side, and the road is twisting at the bottom. It has a certain spooky charm.

5.    From Punaikaki to Greymouth

Another coastal road that has gorgeous views and some nice picnic stops and viewpoints, like Knight’s point. When Kaikoura coast had water level road, the one from Punakaiki is a little elevated and gives a nice vantage point above the shore. There is also more palmtrees and denser vegetations. I enjoyed this coastal road the most.

6.    The Haast Pass

One of the main pass in the South island that links Aspiring National Park and the West Coast to Wanaka and Queenstown. It’s a beautiful day of driving at a slow pace enjoying the numerous waterfalls, pic nic and viewpoints. There are plenty of signage, so you shouldn’t miss any.

7.    Queenstown to Glenorchy road

I was told it had been voted one of the most scenic road in New-Zealand to drive. This little 45min section is along Queenstown lake and ends in the little town of Glenorchy. Its reputation is well deserved.

8.    The last section from Te Anau to Milford Sounds

While the first part from Te Anau is really flat, straight and fairly boring, the closer you get to the Fjordlands the more drastic the landscape becomes. There are plenty of viewpoints that are properly signed to stop and enjoy this portion of the road. The road goes up and down and provides beautiful mountain views.

9.    The way from from Wanaka to Queenstown

Probably not “beautiful” per say, but frightening ( at least to me ). There is section of the road that goes really steep down with an immense unobstructed view of Queenstown below. I had vertigo.

10.    From Blenheim to Pelorus Bridge

Blenheim is a great spot to stop at if you want to enjoy some of New-Zealand great wines. From there you can go up the mountains and this road links the back of inlets and fjords ( It’s called the Bay of many coves ). This section is famous for mussels ( you could stop at one of Havelock’s restaurant to enjoy the local specialty ). It goes up and down, and as you pass some hills, you are greeted with the view of calm water with bobbing boats.

 I am sure I will update this list, as I am not done with New-Zealand ! I will be back for more road trips in the coming years, as I have not well explored the North island. Let's hope these section of roads will be just as beautiful for you as they were for me !