Driving New Zealand’s Most Scenic Roads
New Zealand is a constant reminder that life is about the journey, and not the destination. If you rush to the destination you’ll miss the stunning scenery and beautiful landscapes that you journey through. These roads were made to be driven slowly, so take your time and make plenty of stops along the way.
Lindis Pass
The Lindis Pass is one of the South Island’s most famous routes. Endless rolling hills, grassland and blossoming lupins make up the scenery.
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Mount Cook Road
State Highway 80 runs parallel to Lake Pukaki and takes you to Mount Cook Village. The drive offers stunning views over the turquoise lake with the snow-capped mountain in the backdrop. Make sure to stop off at Peter’s Lookout to take some photos.
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Crown Range
New Zealand’s highest main road, the Crown Range is an epic drive from Wanaka to Queenstown. The road is lined with lovely lupins and rolling mountains and offers plenty of scenic viewpoints over the surrounding lake district.
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Queenstown to Glenorchy
It’s worth visiting the rustic town of Glenorchy, just so you can drive this beautiful road. The road snakes around Lake Wakatipu with epic bends and straight stretches. Stop at Bennets Bluff for panoramic views over the lake, or at any of the viewpoints which are well signposted.
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The Milford Road
This is the only road in and out of the iconic Milford Sound and it’s one you’ll want to leave plenty of time for. The road snakes through the verdant Fiordland National Park and passes every type of landscape from cascading waterfalls to glacier-carved fiords to alpine streams. There are so many sights to stop and see, but favourites include the Mirror Lakes and Money Creek.
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Devil's Staircase
Along the other side of Lake Wakatipu the drive is nearly as scenic as the one from Queenstown to Glenorchy. Take this road for a different perspective of the lake and even more beautiful viewpoints.
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Haast Pass
This verdant drive passes through Mount Aspiring National Park and will get you to the Glacier Country on the West Coast. Make sure to stop at the Blue Pools Walkway which takes you to a string bridge over crystal clear pools.
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Great Coast Road
This is one beautiful drive along the South Island’s raw and rugged coastline. Expect incredible seascapes to one side and views over the tropical rainforest to the other. Don’t miss the iconic Pancake Rocks and its unique rock formations.
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Golden Bay Drive
This road over the Takaka Hill to Golden Bay is not commonly driven by tourists, but it's one of the most spectacular roads to drive. The steep and windy route offers stunning vistas of greenery as far as the eye can see.
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Queen Charlotte Drive
For beautiful views over the Marlborough Sounds, look no further than this scenic drive. Taking this road is almost as good as cruising through the Sounds by boat. Stop at Cullens Point for a view to remember.
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