Good/Great Driving Roads in NZ?

[Condi]

Are there any?

Any nice mountain passes or coastal roads you HAVE to do while here?

TIA.

[sday12]

Any one that leads to an International aiport have been my favourites.

[RJ2DJ]

My personal favourite was going over Takaka "Hill" in the Abel Tasman National Park.

[GravelBen]

Its quite hard to avoid good driving roads really...

Lindis Pass
Lewis Pass
Haast Pass
Arthurs Pass (see a theme here?)
Crown Range
Milford Road
The entire West Coast of the South Island
Chaslands highway around the Catlins (southeast corner of SI) - see a snippet here: http://vimeo.com/15896697

Those are just some main roads in the South Island, fun back roads can be found practically everywhere and traffic is probably nonexistent compared with what you're used to. Others can advise you better about the North Island, I'm a southerner.

Edited by GravelBen on Monday 31st October 10:48

[Condi]

GravelBen said:

Its quite hard to avoid good driving roads really...

I know - even the road from my house to work is fantastic, if a little dangerous.

But there are good driving roads in Oz, then there are those fabled as great driving roads - the Great Ocean Road, Alpine Highway, etc. I was wondering if NZ had any must see's. I'll check out some of your suggestions when Im down there - up on the North island for the next month or so.

[GravelBen]

Another little teaser for you - obviously the driver must be just some guy I met in a pub, and please ignore the excitable passenger doing a Steve Irwin impression. This stretch is around the side of Lake Wanaka heading towards the start of Haast Pass (which leads over to the West Coast if you didn't know already).

http://vimeo.com/2481437

The Milford Road is probably the best known, and is the only way in to Milford Sound (which very few tourists are willing to miss). Google found me these photos of it:




People who don't live here might be able to give less biased advice though!

Edited by GravelBen on Monday 31st October 10:26

[redgriff500]

Its been years since I went but I remember zealous enforcement of speed limits even in the middle of no where.

[crmcatee]

Signs like this near to Fox Glacier always mean a lovely road - especially early in the morning.

[Challo]

I did a 1 week tour round the south island a few years ago. Not sure on the road names but the scenery was amazing. NZ is a very beautiful country. The drive to Milford Sound is a great trip.

Shame I did it in a sh*tty japenese hatchback and not a comfy V8 Ford or Holden

[threesixty]

GravelBen said:

Another little teaser for you - obviously the driver must be just some guy I met in a pub, and please ignore the excitable passenger doing a Steve Irwin impression. This stretch is around the side of Lake Wanaka heading towards the start of Haast Pass (which leads over to the West Coast if you didn't know already).

http://vimeo.com/2481437

Edited by GravelBen on Monday 31st October 10:26

Hey, I've driven that road, its excellent fun. Pretty much any road in the south island turns out awesome.

Not such a fan of the ones that turn from tarmac to gravel with little or no warning though, I remember having a huge tankslapper moment when the road underneath me suddenly turned to gravel at 70mph!

[Alfa numeric]

I drove round the North Island a few years ago and enjoyed it. Watch out for vans parked on the side of the road though as there's a good chance that they contain speed cameras.