Great driving roads in NZ

Great driving roads in NZ

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driverrob

Original Poster:

4,687 posts

202 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
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This article [ur]http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/motoring/great-nz-roads/6399770/New-Zealand-a-drivers-paradise[/url] has (just?) appeared on Stuff.
What do the local PHers think? I might give one or two recommended ones a go next time I'm over.

RCK974X

2,521 posts

148 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
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Done a couple of those, they are great scenic drives.

If you want one that's more of a driving challenge, (and it's not that far away from me) try the short sharp tricky SH2 over the Rimutakas between Upper Hutt and Featherston. It's only about 15Kms or so, but it's a true challenge to do quickly, especially for overtaking trucks etc. Some nasty blind corners, hairpins, reverse cambers, regular rockfalls, logging trucks, traffic, it has the lot.

It's actually quite scenic too, but that's secondary to its challenge.

driverrob

Original Poster:

4,687 posts

202 months

Sunday 12th February 2012
quotequote all
RCK974X said:
Done a couple of those, they are great scenic drives.

If you want one that's more of a driving challenge, (and it's not that far away from me) try the short sharp tricky SH2 over the Rimutakas between Upper Hutt and Featherston. It's only about 15Kms or so, but it's a true challenge to do quickly, especially for overtaking trucks etc. Some nasty blind corners, hairpins, reverse cambers, regular rockfalls, logging trucks, traffic, it has the lot.

It's actually quite scenic too, but that's secondary to its challenge.
Did that one as a passenger in Mark's Elise Xmas 2010 and did it myself this time. As you say, great drive. OH said the German hitch-hiker in the back said he really enjoyed it!

GravelBen

15,655 posts

229 months

Monday 13th February 2012
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An odd selection in some ways - just a few obvious (larger scale) exceptions...

Milford Road
Lindis Pass
Arthurs Pass
Buller Gorge
Haast Pass
West Coast (pretty much all of it!)
Chaslands Highway
Crown Range

Edited by GravelBen on Monday 13th February 04:34

RCK974X

2,521 posts

148 months

Monday 13th February 2012
quotequote all
Arthurs Pass - does it still have that bit where the rocks are almost overhanging into the road? Haven't been over there in a while, but that too is very scenic in some spots.

Let's face it though, there's MASSES of places which are bloody fantastic scenery, and many with a driving challenge tacked on as well....both South and North Islands

I still talk to some of my old UK workmates, I told them that the Lord of the Rings scenery was all real apart from the end Mt Doom part, and they were (and are) suitably impressed....

driverrob

Original Poster:

4,687 posts

202 months

Monday 13th February 2012
quotequote all
RCK974X said:
Arthurs Pass - does it still have that bit where the rocks are almost overhanging into the road?
.
If you mean the overhanging rock face with the man-made steel overhang to shed water and rock falls into the river, then it was there a year ago. It hadn't helped with the rock fall a few metres before it, though. It was absolutely pissing down for most of the drive through but I wouldn't have missed it for anything. If you make the drive, try to stop of at this place

Flock Hill Lodge garden by driverrob, on Flickr

RCK974X

2,521 posts

148 months

Tuesday 14th February 2012
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driverrob said:
If you mean the overhanging rock face with the man-made steel overhang to shed water and rock falls into the river.....
OH, yeah, now I remember that it WAS man made.... It was a nice day when we crossed that bit, I bet it's a challenge in the rain...it's quite narrow too as I remember

Oscar the Grouch

213 posts

183 months

Wednesday 15th February 2012
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It isnt that bad going across to Otira now - there used to be a narrow one way section which was replaced by the viaduct.

Its a fantastic drive from Kumara Junction to Springfield - well worth including on any trip down south.

I found this on youtube - shot starting coming up from the Otira side
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyZbgtgfRbI





Exige46

318 posts

235 months

Wednesday 15th February 2012
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Don't have a fun car anymore, but the Forgotten World Highway is superb, with a nice piece of gravel thrown in too.

GravelBen

15,655 posts

229 months

Wednesday 15th February 2012
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Exige46 said:
..with a nice piece of gravel...
My favourite so far is this one, probably posted it before but hey:



Atom Johnny

1,072 posts

175 months

Wednesday 15th February 2012
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GravelBen said:
Exige46 said:
..with a nice piece of gravel...
My favourite so far is this one, probably posted it before but hey:

Gravel eek ...not fun in the Atom.
Otherwise nice road despite a few too many straight bits. wink
How's this?....




driverrob

Original Poster:

4,687 posts

202 months

Wednesday 15th February 2012
quotequote all
No-one warned me about the stretch of deep gravel towards the end of this road when I said we were off to Ocean Beach. Nor about how steep the final stretch was!

Road to Ocean beach by driverrob, on Flickr
Nice twisty drive, though.

GravelBen

15,655 posts

229 months

Wednesday 15th February 2012
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Atom Johnny said:
How's this?....
thumbup

Looks fun!

Esprit

6,370 posts

282 months

Wednesday 15th February 2012
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Rob, is that all sealed now? It was ALL gravel last time I drove it, mind you that was about 10 years ago!

driverrob

Original Poster:

4,687 posts

202 months

Thursday 16th February 2012
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Just after Christmas, roughly the last 100m before the steep drop to the beach. Came as a surprise as I was doing about 60 odd km/h and didn't get much chance to brake before I was in the gravel and stones - some quite big! The hire car took it well, though smile

Fulvisti

320 posts

169 months

Thursday 16th February 2012
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That Mangamuka gorge looks good. That's what I love about NZ, we're so lucky that there are good driving roads all over the place, it's just finding them. A couple that you wouldn't normally take that are a lot of fun-the road from Culverden through Waiau to Kaikoura, and from Murchison through the Buller gorge to Westport, very scenic and nice and windy. Oh Westport to Karamea is quite nice too. There isn't usually much traffic which is good.

alex.tvr

329 posts

257 months

Friday 17th February 2012
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Anyone seen any "Safer Speed Zones- 90", came across a few on way from Coromandel to Bombay Hills..... One of the zones included a dual carriage way with steel wire centre reservation !!! Now if that isn't a money making exercise I don't know what is ( lots of billboards with cops pointing speed cameras).
Some nice roads in the Coromandel though......

Steve*B

670 posts

207 months

Wednesday 29th February 2012
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driverrob said:
Just after Christmas, roughly the last 100m before the steep drop to the beach. Came as a surprise as I was doing about 60 odd km/h and didn't get much chance to brake before I was in the gravel and stones - some quite big!
This is how I like it, sealed to the beach





I was a little surprised about the west coast comment particularly as I headed that way only yesterday to Omamari. Fortunately, I went in the ML but all I can say is never trust a sat nav, particularly when you're settings are for 'fastest route'.







The end result was worth it although I'd never attempt it in anything but a 4x4




GravelBen

15,655 posts

229 months

Wednesday 29th February 2012
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Looks a nice smooth bit of gravel to me!

I was talking about South Island West Coast though, sometimes forget the North Island has one too. hehe

Zoom in pretty much anywhere along it and you'll see what I mean smile

http://maps.google.co.nz/?ll=-43.309191,170.425415...

SkylineObsession

255 posts

220 months

Wednesday 29th February 2012
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I found it really hard to scroll past the first image. eek

DBS is the best looking Aston ever, i'd love one of them and a Vanquish S (big version from the mid 2000's).

Edited by SkylineObsession on Wednesday 29th February 05:13