New Zealands best drives - Which have you done? Which would you add?
 

I love going for a good ride/drive and with the weather starting to get cooler it's a great way to get out of the house and go away for a weekend.

Re: New Zealands best drives
 

Rats. I missed the Motueka to Collingwood or onto Farewell Spit drive. We like to do this as once over the Takaka Hill it is like being in another land. It is stunning.

The drive down the South Island West Coast is spectacular and we've had guests that have done the OZ great ocean road trip and say that it certainly rivals that.

Re: New Zealands best drives
 

I've never done Takaka Hill, must get down to the South Island more often :).The drive I’d rank quite highly is SH35 Gisborne to Opotiki (“East Cape”), it’s the best part of a days drive became the road follows the coast but it’s so incredibly unpopulated (i.e. brim the car before starting!) and scenic.

A few of the lesser roads/tracks are also worthwhile if you happen to be in the area:
- Skipper Canyon Road is...an experience (certainly more of an experience than it is an actual road!)
- Port Jackson Road: Coromandel coast.
- Cape Palliser: Good lighthouse lookout and the pinnacles where Lord of the Rings something or other (I don't know, didn't watch the films.)
- Duffer Saddle Road: Some fords to navigate so you need ground clearance even if just a soft-roader.
- Baldwin Street (Steepest street in the world, maybe.)
- Wards Pass: Over the Kaikoura Ranges.
- Pomarangai Road: Whareorino Forest in the King Country.

Re: New Zealands best drives
 

None of the above

SH6 Wanka to Haast (between lakes Hawea and Wanaka)

Danseys pass ( mostly unsealed) between Duntroon and Naseby

Re: New Zealands best drives
 

Added to my list, have never done before.

Ocean Beach Drive in Wellington was also recommended to me but it's a 4WD track (or sometimes...just driving on the beach), you have to do it while the tide is out and you need to go round to the council offices to get the key.

Re: New Zealands best drives
 

Cross country through the Catlins Park was good to Owaka.

Cardrona Pass through the Crown Range soon after sunup in winter was fantastic, just fantastic.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...28ffa0f226.jpg

The real scenery though is when you leave the blacktop and get onto the gravel roads. This one on Banks Peninsular was genuinely awesome:


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...7a55e5b4e4.jpg

Re: New Zealands best drives
 

Spectacular scenery!