1. Lindis pass
The main inland "highway" on the South Island of New Zealand that connects Christchurch with Lakes Tekapo, Pukaki, Wanaka and Wakatipu is a sight to behold. This entire stretch of road is spectacular but one part stands out more than any other. The Lindis Pass. From Lake Wanaka to Lake Pukaki should only take around 2 hours. That is two hours continuous driving. If you were to stop every time you saw an amazing view this journey is going to take a hell of a lot longer.
2. haast pass
Located in Mount Aspiring National Park the Haast Pass joins the coastal town of Haast with the mountains of Wanaka and Queenstown. This breathtaking journey is a must do for every keen driver. Just be warned….. This road WILL test your vehicle, make sure to take some extra supplies ;) and a camera with full battery and an empty memory card.
3. west coast drive
Do you know those bags on aeroplanes that are designed to throw up in? Take some of these if you plan on driving on the west coast. It’s like driving on a roller coaster, sort of, except you’re probably going faster, it lasts hours and hours and your chances of vomiting are much higher. Sounds great I know!!!! But driving through whats known as “Glacier County” is a once in a lifetime experience.
4. golden bay
At the top of the South Island the Golden Bay connects little town of Takaka with Farewell Spit (The very top of the South Island). Perfect for a late afternoon cruise over the hill and a well needed sunset on the beach. Conveniently this road finishes at one of the most picturesque beaches I have ever been to….. Wharariki.
5. Marlborough sounds - queen charlotte scenic road
Has anybody heard of that level on Mariokart called Rainbow Road? Well thats a doddle compared to this monster. It’s like driving down an overcooked piece of spaghetti wrapped around a fork. It’s honestly a joke how windy it is and even more of a joke is how stunning it is.
6. Crown Range Road
The mountain pass taken by the fellowship of the ring ...pssssshhh.... simple compared to the Crown Range road plus they wimped out halfway and went through the mines of Moria. The main road that connects Queenstown and Wanaka offers breathtaking views around every corner, which is a huge bonus if you have an overheating car like I do, because you can wait for it to cool down whilst admiring the view.
7. Blenheim - Kaikoura
This eastern coast road is not only stunning because of the natural landscapes but because of wildlife you’ll see along the way. Baby seal pups squashed to a bloody pulp in the middle of the road is such a pleasing sight. The Perigrine hawks swooping down from up on high, landing neatly, eating their flesh and picking out whats left of their juicy eye balls, yellow eyed penguins being pestered by overzealous tourists and marooned whales make, what only can be described as, a great family fun day out……... Just kidding (to an extent) you may see a few dead seals but most of them are alive and well; and they are so cute and fuzzy.
8. Te Anau - Milford Sound
If you combine mountains, rivers, rainforest and roads then you get the journey from Te Anau to Milford Sound. From the moment you leave Te Anau you will be cut off from the cvilization (no phone reception) but instantly connected to the surrounding nature. Make sure to leave early as the viewpoints along the way get pretty crowded with the tourist buses. In the end Milford is the top attraction in all of the New Zealand. In the winter look out for weather reports. The crazy windy road can sometimes be closed due to snowfall and you might have to carry snow chains with you. Don't forget to make a stop for a short trek to lake Marian - one of my favorite day hikes in NZ.
9. Twizel - Mount Cook NP
Do you need that perfect picture from your kiwi holiday to make everyone jealous after coming back home? I suggest you take a drive to Mount Cook NP. Test your breaks before you do, because you will be slamming on them every few minutes to stop and take a photo. The icy blue lake Pukaki and the highest mountain of New Zealand, where sir Edmund Hillary practiced before climbing the Everest, will certainly make your jaw drop.
10. Queenstown - Glenorchy
And now last but not least - the road that leads to Paradise, both literally and figuratively speaking. This little gem that connects Queenstownand Glenorchy runs along the pristine waters of lake Wakatipu. It is by far my favorite road I have ever driven on and as a bonus it leads to Paradise. The aptly named place just outside of Glenorchy, surrounded by magnificent snow-capped mountains rivers and ancient beech forests served as a backdrop to the infamous Isengaard in the LOTR trilogy. Instead of orcs you are going to encounter loads of sandflies, so make sure to take some repellent with you. Don't let those suckers spoil the view!
Me and my boyfriend did all these roads in our 1996 2.5L Subaru Legacy which uses 10L gas per 100km (or 23.5 Miles per gallon). Not the most efficient. We know. In our 6 week road trip we had one exploding tyre, one burst radiator hose, one flat battery and one 80km towing session (away from where we were going). Was it all worth it? Of course it was!!!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment