5 Epic Scenic Drives in New Zealand You Don’t Need to Miss

For those who’re planning a visit to New Zealand that entails a rental automobile, you’ll in all probability get all kinds of options on all the very best locations to see, eat, and keep (together with loads from me, like those in my New Zealand highway journey information!).

You’ll be advised to not miss the surroundings in locations Milford Sound. You’ll be suggested of the must-see (however smelly) geothermal exercise in Rotorua. You’ll have to make a cease in Queenstown for some journey sports activities. And the checklist goes on with a number of beaten-path options.

However what about a few of these less-traveled roads? How about these not-so-well-known spots? All of New Zealand is postcard-perfect, however there are some areas which might be barely extra excellent than others. And lots of of them gained’t present up in an inventory of high NZ locations, particularly for first-time guests.

5 nice scenic drives in New Zealand

As somebody who has spent cumulative months touring in New Zealand (together with dwelling there for about 5 months), I wish to share a few of my favourite, barely less-traveled roads. (I say barely as a result of no a part of NZ that I’d suggest to vacationers is “undiscovered,” and you will not have any of those drives utterly to your self — however you are still going to see some unbelievable locations that many vacationers will not even learn about!)

These are drives the place each the journey (the drive itself) AND the vacation spot on the finish are completely beautiful!

Observe: Most of those drives require a minimum of a full day, if no more.

1. Coromandel Peninsula

Beginning up north and inside simple driving distance from Auckland is the Coromandel Peninsula. The world markets itself as “the place Kiwis go on vacation!,” claiming to be a well-liked trip vacation spot amongst native New Zealanders.

Hop on the Pacific Coast Freeway outdoors of Auckland, and take the scenic loop across the Coromandel Peninsula. The freeway winds alongside a spectacular shoreline, with ocean on one facet and rainforest-draped mountains on the opposite.

Highlights:

• Scorching Water Seashore, the place, at low tide, you possibly can dig your individual sizzling tub, permitting it to fill with geothermally-heated water.
• Cathedral Cove, the place a 40-minute hike takes you all the way down to a spectacular seashore nestled beneath pure rock formations. Typically, in the event you’re fortunate, you possibly can spot penguins right here.
• Whitianga in Mercury Bay. In case your itinerary doesn’t permit for the hike all the way down to Cathedral Cove, join a ship tour right here (I like to recommend Cave Cruzer Adventures), which can help you see Cathedral Cove and lots of different close by pure rock formations together with a wide range of wildlife from the water.
• The cities of Thames and Coromandel.
• You probably have the time, mountaineering to the Pinnacles within the Kaueranga Valley upriver from Thames (an in a single day journey) is listed as one in all NZ’s “true hidden treasures.”

Another options for the peninsula embrace: fishing; browsing at Whangamata or Pauanui; {golfing}; and studying about gold mining in Waihi, full with a trip on Goldfields Railway by the Karangahake Gorge.

2. Castlepoint

Additional down the north island lies the small beachside city of Castlepoint on the Wairarapa coast, a few hours northeast of Wellington. Castlepoint was named in 1770 by Captain James Prepare dinner, who was reminded of chateau battlements when crusing previous Fort Rock.

Castlepoint is dwelling to a lighthouse that sits upon Fort Rock, sand dunes, and a reef that encloses a blue-green lagoon. Castlepoint is by far one of many windiest locations I’ve ever visited, but additionally one of the vital naturally stunning.

For those who’re beginning out in Wellington, the drive to this beautiful spot entails traversing by the Wairarapa wine nation.

Highlights:

• Cease at a vineyard alongside the way in which, or maybe keep at a B&B within the coronary heart of wine nation in Martinborough.
• As soon as at Castlepoint, you possibly can climb on and round Fort Rock as much as the lighthouse, the place you’ll get some spectacular views of the reef and lagoon.
• Maintain a watch out for wildlife, equivalent to seals and sea lions.

Put together to go away Castlepoint coated in sand from the sturdy coastal winds. However I promise it’s value each crunchy grain lodged between your enamel.

3. West Coast of the South Island

Hopping all the way down to the South Island, make sure you discover the rugged west coast earlier than heading additional south. Many individuals ignore the west coast of New Zealand completely after they go to the nation (particularly today with the glaciers having receded a lot). The west coast of the south island is very distant (it markets itself as “wild”), and is usually characterised by moist, foggy climate. But it surely’s stunning in its personal proper.

A favourite jumping-off level for a west coast journey is Greymouth, located within the northern half of the south island, nearly immediately throughout the island from Christchurch. From Greymouth, hop on State Freeway 6 and uncover yet one more facet of New Zealand.

Highlights:

• For those who head north, cease on the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks, situated about midway between Greymouth and Westport, which mark the gateway to Paparoa Nationwide Park.
• For those who head south, don’t miss out on seeing the Franz Josef and/or Fox glaciers in Westland Nationwide Park. And, when you’ve got time, positively go glacier trekking.

Be ready for the west coast’s quickly-changing climate — there is a purpose that the forests listed here are thought of temperate rainforests! However simply know that, regardless of the climate, you may be handled to some spectacular coastal vistas.

4. Otago Peninsula

Whereas within the South Island, make sure you permit time to discover the Otago Peninsula in the event you’re going to spend any time in or round Dunedin. Take the harborside highway from Dunedin, which will provide you with views of bays and inlets, sandy seashores, and sheep-dotted hills in your strategy to Taiaroa Head.

Highlights:

• Larnach Fort and gardens. Touted as the one fortress in Australasia, Larnach Fort actually does appear like one thing plucked proper out of the Scottish highlands and plunked down in New Zealand. In-built 1871 by William Larnach and restored over the previous few a long time, the “fortress” comes full with a historical past of scandal and a status for ghosts.
• Catch a glimpse of uncommon yellow-eyed penguins (among the rarest on the planet) in a wildlife protect habitat at Penguin Place.
• The Royal Albatross Colony at Taiaroa Head, the place you possibly can view a uncommon pure albatross colony — the one mainland breeding colony for the large birds within the southern hemisphere, in reality. Join a tour on the customer’s heart, watch the birds from the Richdale Observatory, tour Fort Taiaroa, or just watch without spending a dime from atop the cliff at Taiaroa level.

On the way in which again from the tip of the peninsula, take “the excessive highway,” often known as Highcliff Highway, which gives unbelievable views over the entire area. For those who can time this drive to coincide with sundown, I promise you gained’t be dissatisfied.

5. Southern Scenic Route and the Catlins

From the Otago Peninsula, the subsequent drive that makes probably the most sense is taking the Southern Scenic Route by the Catlins to Invercargill. This may probably be one in all my favourite issues I did whereas dwelling in New Zealand for 5 months — and that’s saying one thing!

Starting in Dunedin, observe the route first by rolling farmland after which alongside the south island’s rugged coast. There’s lots to select from alongside the Southern Scenic Route, so make sure you choose up an in depth map earlier than you allow so you possibly can plan your journey accordingly.

Highlights:

• Tunnel Seashore, the place a half-hour hike will take you to hanging sandstone sea cliffs, arches, stacks, caves, and a seashore accessed by a stairway tunnel. Tunnel Seashore Highway is closed throughout lambing season (September/October), nonetheless.
• Nugget Level and Roaring Bay. On the proper time of 12 months, you might even see yellow-eyed penguins, New Zealand fur seals, Southern elephant seals, and Hooker sea lions at Roaring Bay. Proceed on to the lighthouse at Nugget Level (maybe a 10-minute stroll), which has spectacular coastal views and rock formations that give the realm its title.
• Purakaunui Falls, or close by Matai Falls. Each waterfalls are situated inside podocarp forests, and take quarter-hour or much less to achieve from parking tons.
• Cathedral Caves, that are solely accessible at low tide (check the website for opening instances). The trek to those spectacular sea caves consists of bush and seashore strolling, which can take as much as 45 minutes one-way. There’s a small charge for this attraction, however the views will probably be value it.
• Porpoise Bay and Curio Bay. Uncommon Hector’s dolphins name scenic Porpoise Bay dwelling, and Curio Bay boasts one of many world’s most intensive and least disturbed examples of Jurassic fossilized forest. The petrified forest is finest considered at low tide, although the realm is worthy of a go to at any time of day.

Earlier than you head into Invercargill, think about driving all the way down to Bluff, the southern-most metropolis on New Zealand’s south island. It touts itself as being the place “the place the freeway begins,” and the worldwide signpost at Stirling Level is a well-liked spot for images. If it’s a transparent day, head as much as Bluff Hill, the place you could possibly spot Stewart Island away within the distance. You’ll be able to take a ferry over to the island, in the event you dare courageous the treacherous Foveaux Strait.

RELATED: DOs and DON’Ts for a New Zealand Highway Journey

These 5 drives don’t actually even start to scratch the floor, after all. New Zealand has so many beautiful spots to find that it might be unimaginable to checklist all of them. However these, I feel, are a very good begin, and are locations many individuals in New Zealand will not ever see!

Another drives which might be additionally nice (however which might be extra widespread) embrace the drive between Queenstown and Wanaka, the journey up the center of the south island by Aoraki/Mount Prepare dinner Nationwide Park, the drive out to Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula from Christchurch, and the north island Desert Highway by Tongariro Nationwide Park with views of the volcanoes.

Hopefully these roads much less traveled will provide you with some inspiration to your New Zealand journey. Or, on the very least, encourage you to enterprise off the crushed path.

Which of those scenic drives would you most wish to take?

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Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Harmful Enterprise Journey Weblog. She has traveled to greater than 60 international locations on 6 continents from her dwelling base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey by the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares ideas primarily based on her private experiences and locations she’s truly traveled!