Best driving roads in New Zealand

[aim]

I want peoples opinions on the best ribbon of tarmac in New Zealand. Personally, I love the roads around Queenstown, but can't be specific as I don't know them well enough! Tracks don't count

[Joker]

I feel an oncoming fail-train - FUN police will be all over this like white on rice

Paekock hill Kapiti

Saddle Road Manawatu

Vinegar Hill to Fielding

Rimataka's were cool

[Swindog]

Devils staircase - Qtown to Kingston road...mean as.

OR the West coast from Haast over Mt Hercules.

[tmuff88]

The Kaimais towards Tauranga, it's fun going up and it has two lanes!

[Flat4]

The Crown Range road between Qtown and Wanaka is a fun drive, provided you don't get stuck behind a campervan or nana driver who won't pull over for you

[ClubSub Mum]

Most of the roads in the South Island. I prefer doing a "road trip" down there compared to the North Island. We spent two weeks (in the subby) doing loops around the south island (long story but had lots of return trips around the place due to hubbys job. Some amazing roads, and scenery. And the further south and over to the west coast less cops (well it appeared that way to us lol).

[D-Style]

 JoKer said:

I feel an oncoming fail-train - FUN police will be all over this like white on rice

Paekock hill Kapiti

Saddle Road Manawatu

Vinegar Hill to Fielding

Rimataka's were cool

As long as it stays about the Road/drive/view should be find..... (but hey this is CS....)

Parapara's (wanganui to Raetihi) SH4

Rotorua to Kawerau SH30

Broadlands Rd

Goudies Rd

The Ski feild roads going up Mt Ruapehu (best views on clear sunny day)

[Johnnynz]

+1 For the Kaimais and Vinegar hill, done both often as they happen to be on routes between my stores

The para paras is also a lot of fun, Must have done these 100+ times in the last 2 years

All of these roads you dont need to be doing anuything silly to be a little challenged and just perk up your day a bit with the sights and slight challenge.

[newsuba]

 JoKer said:

I feel an oncoming fail-train - FUN police will be all over this like white on rice

Paekock hill Kapiti

Saddle Road Manawatu

Vinegar Hill to Fielding

Rimataka's were cool

Add the Pahiatua Track, where you can have fun under the speed limit.

[Joker]

of course Mike ta

Tui HQ to Pongaroa, Pongaroa back to DVKE if you do ike gravel then Pongaroa to Akitio and Akitio back to Dvke

[D-Style]

should do 2 lists. Sealed and unsealed roads

[Joker]

pfft any unsealed road is fun when its closed

[DRFVDR]

Para paras (I live in Raetihi at one end of it) actually really cool in a fire truck under lights and sirens

River Road from Raetihi to Wanganui via pipiriki NOW THAT IT IS FULLY SEALED

Gentle annie (Tiahape to Napier) 99% sealed now

SH4 between Taumaranui and Te Kuiti

Paekak hill

South island roads

[nickch]

 Flat4 said:

The Crown Range road between Qtown and Wanaka is a fun drive, provided you don't get stuck behind a campervan or nana driver who won't pull over for you

love the hairpins on this road!

[aim]

I have to admit having driven all over both the south island and north island... the south does tend to have better roads, with less traffic and cops. Not that cops should matter, of course

I love the west coast and q/town roads. CRAP. Google navigation told me to take crown range road, but I took the state highway. Dammit! Always listen to google, it really does know everything

[Johnnynz]

 DRFVDR said:

River Road from Raetihi to Wanganui via pipiriki NOW THAT IT IS FULLY SEALED

River Road FTW, cant beleive I forgot that road. I used to live up about 20kms past Artini when I was a teenager, I learned to drive up there. Havent been up in a while now.

[nickch]

yeah.. after driving the whole way up from Chch to Auckland, I must say the roads down south are a lot better...

even the surface finish was a lot better...

roads up north are alot rougher and bumpier..

[D-Style]

 Johnnynz']

[quote name='DRFVDR said:

River Road from Raetihi to Wanganui via pipiriki NOW THAT IT IS FULLY SEALED

/quote]

River Road FTW, cant beleive I forgot that road. I used to live up about 20kms past Artini when I was a teenager, I learned to drive up there. Havent been up in a while now.

I guess any back country road around that area is a nice drive

[aim]

 nickch said:

yeah.. after driving the whole way up from Chch to Auckland, I must say the roads down south are a lot better...

even the surface finish was a lot better...

roads up north are alot rougher and bumpier..

Also, one way bridges FTMFW!

[petrolheadjman]

Mt Akina...

Oh wait thats not in new zealand

[Koom]

Sealed:

The Waikato (trying to follow Clint to his mum's house).

Basically anywhere between Taupo and Hamiltron West of SH1 (+the Kaimai's).

West Coast between Hokitika and Haast.

Gravel:

Back road from Picton to Blenheim and the dead end out round Port Underwood. Av speed ~35kph ;D

Hakataramea Pass from Kurow to the Mackensie Basin (best scenery i.e. farmland to semi-high country to wild, open wilderness)

[stira]

The opotiki to gisborne gorge (140km) or the gisborne to napier road. Both plenty of corners and buggerall traffic. Great drives and long enough that you feel buggered at the end.

[nt_a_foz]

And noones mentioned the best roads around coromandel peninsula, amazing views and mint drives...and i get to drive them heaps for work yusss haha

Also yeah koom clints mums house has some mint roads around it haha

[aim]

 stira said:

The opotiki to gisborne gorge (140km) or the gisborne to napier road. Both plenty of corners and buggerall traffic. Great drives and long enough that you feel buggered at the end.

I know that road like the back of my hand (grew up in Wairoa). The layout is nice, but the surface is pretty s***. There are much better roads

[stira]

 nt_a_foz said:

And noones mentioned the best roads around coromandel peninsula, amazing views and mint drives...and i get to drive them heaps for work yusss haha

Also yeah koom clints mums house has some mint roads around it haha

Why are you two visiting clunts mum, is there some sort of american pie thing going on?