New Zealand’s Best Road Trips

11 of the most scenic drives in new zealand

If you’ve followed me, or come across one of my New Zealand Guides, you’ll know that the number one piece of advice I give to those coming to New Zealand is to drive. Hire (rent) a car, campervan, motorhome, jump on a tour bus, or whatever floats your boat because this is the best way to maximize your Kiwi experience.

The roads of Aotearoa are unlike the roads in most densely populated areas. We have no highways that stretch over eight lanes, distracting billboards don’t block our views, and road rage is rare. In New Zealand, our main highway is a two-lane country road that weaves through the beauty of this two-island nation.

After living in New Zealand for nine years, I can happily say my favourite place is being on the road. There, you will find kindness between strangers, wake up to birdsongs you’ve never heard, and stroll on beaches without a soul in sight. On a New Zealand road trip, you’ll pass through small towns, get stuck in sheep traffic, eat petrol station pies, lose cell service and radio coverage and mostly stare out your windows because almost every road is a scenic road in New Zealand.

While I’ll happily sign up for a drive anywhere in this country, I do have favourites.

introducing my top 11 best scenic drives in New Zealand

South Island

Devil’s Staircase
Starting in my hometown of Queenstown, on the South Island, the Devil’s Staircase is a skinny, windy road that travels along Lake Wakatipu between Frankton and Kingston. This road heads south to Invercargill, Te Anau, Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound. I highly recommend being the passenger princess so you can enjoy the staggering peaks rising above NZ’s longest lake. Be mindful when taking the corners on this road and save snapping photos and videos for the dedicated pullover stops (two next to each other).
location: Queenstown to Kingston
drive time: 45mins
The Road to Glenorchy
On the other side of Lake Wakatipu is a similar road with tight squeezes, spectacular mountain-lake viewpoints and as you head closer to Glenorchy, many glaciers. This is a one-way road and takes about 45 minutes from Queenstown. Walk up Bennet’s Bluff (about halfway on the drive) to catch the iconic view down the lake. Hang out in Glenorchy, visit the iconic red building next to the jetty, and take the road to Paradise. There are plenty of side trips down this road, including the popular Bob’s Cove walk and a visit to Moke Lake, a remote mountain valley with horses, tall grass and zero cell service.
location: Queenstown to Glenorchy
drive time: 45mins to 1 hour
Arthur’s pass
The next South Island scenic road sits between the West and East Coast. From Christchurch head northwest and if time allows, make a pitstop at Castle Hill where enormous boulders dot the rolling green hills beneath the Southern Alps range. Enjoy the winding, mountain drive into Arthur’s Pass National Park. Reach the village, one of the highest settlements in all of New Zealand, and grab a pie and coffee. Spend a few days here hiking or skiing in winter. If you’re passing through, make sure to do the popular walk to Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall, a 131m tall waterfall in a lush beech forest. Heads up: break-ins happen often in the parking lot, be smart with your valuables.
location: Arthur’s Pass, South Island
drive time: 2 hours from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass Village

4. Mount Cook Road

When you search New Zealand’s most scenic places, a photo of the road to Aoraki Mount Cook, New Zealand’s tallest mountain, will probably appear. And for good reason — this is our favourite place in New Zealand. Coming from Lake Tekapo, I love it when the road curves and Aoraki comes into view. Standing tall beside other snowy peaks with the electric glacial blue waters of Lake Pukaki below it, it’s easily the best view of New Zealand. You may need luck on your side. It took me four times to finally see the viewpoint and my goodness was it worth the wait. Pull over, picnic, snap photos, catch a sunrise/sunset here if you can and it’s a clear day. There are multiple parking areas for visitors to hang out in, including a shop where you can purchase the famous Mt Cook Alpine Salmon. From here, the road trip is only going to get better. Turn onto Mount Cook National Park and enjoy the road as it snakes alongside the lake, making you want to photograph every moment. Stop at Peter’s Lookout. Only pullover where there are designated spots and try to snag the passenger seat, you won’t be disappointed. Once you’re in the park, the views are incredible no matter where you look. Drive to White Horse Hill Campground where you’ll find multiple trailheads, including the ever-so-busy Hooker Valley Track. The road to Tasman Glacier is just as impressive.

location: Lake Pukaki to Mount Cook Village

drive time: 45 minutes from the turn-off, 1 hr 15 min from Lake Tekapo

5. Road to Milford Sound

One of the most popular New Zealand natural wonders is Piopiotahi - Milford Sound located in the lush, lively Fiordland National Park. From Te Anau embark on a long, windy road where glaciers appear around corners and you start losing count of waterfalls. Take your time on this road (at least one way) and stop at the safe pullovers. Check out Lake Gunn & Mirror Lakes or if you want to day hike, look up Lake Marian and Key Summit. Drive through the one-way Homer Tunnel. Prepare to wait in a valley of waterfalls. Get out of the car if you have time on the stoplight clock. Also, look out for the cheeky Kea birds — the world’s only alpine parrot. Keep an eye on them, they’ll eat the rubber off cars and swipe anything within reach. My #1 favourite view of the entire drive is coming through Homer Tunnel and looking at the massive sheer rock faces pummeling with waterfalls and the windy road leading into the picturesque valley. There’s a safe pullover 300m after you exit the tunnel.

location: Fiordland National Park, South Island

drive time: 2 hours from Te Anau

6. Kaikōura Coast

I think this can compete for my top coastal road in New Zealand. There’s just something magical about it. Maybe it was the long wait until I could experience it. Unfortunately, the 2016 earthquake hit the small coastal town of Kaikōura and left it inaccessible due to landslides. After years of construction, the coastal highway finally opened up for all to enjoy. Whether you come from the north or Christchurch, you’ll know when you’re getting close. The road leans into the coast, alongside cliffs and winds through tunnels as the water sparkles in the sunshine. Mountains loom around, often snow-capped and if you look out the window, you’ll spot seals basking in the daylight

location: north and south of Kaikōura (from Ward to Oaro)

drive time: 1.5 hours

7. Wānaka to the West Coast

Ready to leave cell service and say goodbye to bigger towns? Then this is the drive for you. Leave Wānaka towards Albert Town, and you’ll soon reach Lake Hāwea, my favourite lake in the Otago region. Why you may ask well, it’s a bit of a love story. It’s crazy, clear waters feel like I’m being baptised each time I take a dip, and I’m not a religious person. The lake feels cleansing and rejuvenating (also freezing). The mountain views are vast with little human development in sight. I highly recommend staying at The Camp for a night if time allows it. But moving forward, past the lake and into Mount Aspiring National Park where the forests come alive. Pull over at the waterfalls along the road, check out the Blue Pools (if they’re open), and reach out if you want to find the secret chasm. Continue on the West Coast to Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, both incredible spots to call home for the night.

location: Wānaka to Fox Glacier

drive time: 3.5 hours

8. Crown Range

If you’re visiting the Queenstown-Wānaka region, driving over the Crown Range is a must. It is the highest (main) road in New Zealand, and its curvy, steep sections may be nerve-wracking for first-timers, but the views are worth it. Stop at the main car park at the top (Crown Range Summit) and enjoy a little hike for a sweeping view over Queenstown. This spot doubles as a freedom camping spot, but beware that the winds can roar and snowfall often covers the lot in winter. Make a point to stop at the nostalgic Cardrona Hotel, a 150-year-old pub with an expansive outdoor beer garden and a great playground for the kiddos. Cardrona Distillery is just down the road as well as the notorious bra fence — a place where women have hung their bras since 1999 that now promotes funding for NZ Breast Cancer Foundation.

location: leave from Wānaka or Queenstown

drive time: 1 hour

north island

9. desert road

Highway 1 on the North Island stretches from the tip of the island (Cape Reinga) to the bottom (Wellington) and smack dab in the middle is the Desert Road. Leaving Taupō’s lakeshore, the road winds along the lake, past Tūrangi where a giant trout stands proudly and soon enough you’ll see the Tongariro Ranges in view. The two-lane highway opens to a vast valley with three volcanoes looming to the right; Mount Ngauruhoe, Ruapehu, and Tongariro. If you’re heading into Tongariro National Park, you might skip this drive, but the views on Highway 47 are just as good. If you have time drive up the ski resort road (see below) to catch the golden light sweep across the Mars-like landscape.

location: Taupō to Waiouru

drive time: 2 hours

10. Forgotten World Highway

The Forgotten World Highway is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a road less traveled I’d highly recommend experiencing especially if you plan to cruise from Tongariro National Park to Mount Taranaki. The highway winds through dense native bush, gorges, tunnels, and plenty of places worth stopping on this 150km stretch. It was an ancient trading route used by Māori and early settlers. Whangamōmona is a pioneer village about halfway in between the drive and in 1989 it became its own Republic. Make sure to fuel up before taking this petrol-free road and add in time for stops like the Lavender Farm and Pohokura Saddle.

location: Taumarunui to Stratford

drive time: 3 hours

Surf Highway near Mount Egmont Lighthouse

Road photoshoots are very popular in this country. If you want to know where to capture the best spots, check out my guide here, but promise me, you will be extremely safe if doing so.

11. Surf Highway

The next scenic road isn’t too far away from the previous mention. Aptly named for its incredible surf, Surf Highway 45 cruises from New Plymouth to Hāwera with the sea glistening on one side and Mount Taranaki standing tall on the other. If you’re spending time in New Plymouth, check out the Coastal Walkway and Te Rewa Rewa Bridge. Run down the dunes at Paritutu Rock-end of Back Beach. Stop in Ōakura, the favourite surf artsy town on the route and check out the Cape Egmont Replica Lighthouse. Favourite beaches on the Surf Highway include: Fitzroy Beach, Komene Beach, and Kaupokonui Beach.

location: New Plymouth to Hāwera

drive time: 1.5 hours

If you’re coming to New Zealand, I highly recommend planning a few of these road trips into your itinerary. If you live here and haven’t cruised on some of these scenic roads, do it!

Feel free to let me know if I’ve missed any of your favourite New Zealand scenic roads — easy to do so when almost every drive is scenic in this country!

If you need help planning a trip to Aotearoa, dm me on Instagram, I’m always happy to help!

x

p.s. if you are driving here, please take care and concentrate on the road.

New Zealand's Most Scenic Drives