Best Scenic Road Trips in New Zealand
One of the best ways to explore New Zealand is via four wheels. Plan your next road trip now to soak in the beauty of off-the-beaten tracks in New Zealand. You will be mesmerized by the jaw-dropping natural landscape of this remarkable country. What can be better than enjoying a good road trip that gives you the freedom to travel at your own pace? You can stop by the scenic views and enjoy activities on the route. We have brought you some of the best routes New Zealand has to offer. Take a drive through both northern and southern islands to get the best out of these beauties.
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See all the places from this guide on an interactive map, save them to your own trip, and discover more hidden spots nearby. Guarda tutti i luoghi di questa guida su una mappa interattiva, salvali nel tuo itinerario e scopri altri posti nascosti nei dintorni. Ve todos los lugares de esta guía en un mapa interactivo, guárdalos en tu propio viaje y descubre más rincones ocultos cerca de ti. Voyez tous les lieux de ce guide sur une carte interactive, enregistrez-les dans votre voyage et découvrez encore plus de pépites cachées à proximité. Смотрите все места из этого гайда на интерактивной карте, сохраняйте их в своё путешествие и находите ещё больше скрытых локаций рядом. 在互动地图上查看本指南中的所有地点,把它们保存到自己的行程,并发现更多附近的隐藏景点。
Milford Road
The Milford road trip is one of the best and most scenic roads in the world. The journey starts from Queenstown and will take you to Milford. It will not take more than four hours. Once you have been out on this trip, you will pass by the snow-capped mountains, impressive fiords, lakes, and waterfalls. Stop by to visit the worth visiting Queenstown before leaving the region. If you want to take a birds’ eye view of the town, this is one of the best sites to do so. Do add the Te Anau Glowworm Caves to your must-see destinations list. Once you see it with your eyes, you will surely know why it is one of the most visited sites in New Zealand. Who wants to miss this amazing opportunity?

Thermal Explorer Highway with Tongariro
Most visitors head towards the Southern island of New Zealand and very few people prefer to explore the Northern one. You will not find much attraction here but this landscape is very unique and diversified. Spare a few hours of your time to explore this amazing region. The Thermal Explorer Highway offers you a great opportunity to do so. Focus on the stretch between Rotorua and Taupo. Make the most of this memorable road trip. Once you reach Wai-o-Tapu, get a chance to witness the volatile and geothermal landscape. Also, make sure to add Tongariro National Park to your list and take the Alpine Crossing hike.

Canterbury
If you are out on a road trip to explore New Zealand, do add Canterbury to your list. It is just a short drive from Christchurch, and once you set off on your journey, you will start to experience the most scenic views. You will pass by the glacier lakes, gigantic mountains, and outstanding side-of-the-road allures. Explore the historically rich Christchurch before moving ahead. Canterbury Lake is a famous site here. Some of the main highlights of this road trip are Lake Tekapo, the world’s biggest dark sky reserves, the Church of the Good Shepherd, and scenic views of the Southern Alps. Spend some time in the company of mother nature to get the most of this mesmerizing road trip.

Northland and the Bay of Islands
The North of Auckland comprises of Northland and Bay of Islands and is popular among people as the Winterless North. What makes this region so special is its year-round subtropical climate. Spare a few days to get most of this road trip. Explore the dazzling surfing beaches of Mangawhai along with the artistic Whangārei city. Later move ahead to the port of Russell if you are into water sports and activities. Moreover, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds offer you a great chance to learn about and explore the colonial history of New Zealand. The spectacular dazzling scenic views will surely take your breath away.

Coromandel Peninsula
Coromandel Peninsula road trip will take you on a magical journey to a tourist hotspot. This road trip will take you to the Thames–Waihi Beach. The Coromandel Peninsula is a favorite holiday destination for people from surrounding areas like Auckland and Hamilton. You will witness the spectacular views of the beach-fringed coastline. Moreover, it is a historically rich region so look around in the streets of Thames, Coromandel Town, and Waihi to learn more about the history and past. do check out Whitianga and the nearby beaches of Mercury Bay as well to enjoy water sports.

Hawke’s Bay
The last recommendation on your list exclusively for you is the Hawke’s Bay road trip. Many reasons make it worth trying like the wineries and unique art-deco towns. Not only this, you will find many off-the-beaten-path natural wonders to observe. Start your exploration journey in Napier, a town quite popular for its architectural beauty. Move ahead to the nearby dazzling Cape Kidnappers’ coastline. If you are looking for more picturesque scenic views then hike up to the peak of Te Mata, this is where you will get the best views. Hawke’s Bay has so much to explore and once you are done with this, head towards the Bay of Plenty for Whakatane views.

Take this guide with you on the road Porta questa guida con te in viaggio Lleva esta guía contigo en el viaje Emportez ce guide avec vous sur la route Возьмите этот гид с собой в путешествие 旅途中随身携带本指南
Don’t just read about this place – use this guide while you’re actually there. Non limitarti a leggere di questo luogo: usa questa guida mentre sei davvero lì. No te limites a leer sobre este lugar: usa esta guía mientras estás realmente allí. Ne vous contentez pas de lire sur ce lieu : utilisez ce guide quand vous êtes vraiment sur place. Не просто читайте об этом месте — используйте этот гид, когда вы действительно здесь. 不要只在网上看看这个地方——真正到访时也用这份指南。
- See all these places on a live interactive map
- Vedi tutti questi posti su una mappa interattiva in tempo reale
- Ve todos estos lugares en un mapa interactivo en vivo
- Voyez tous ces lieux sur une carte interactive en temps réel
- Смотрите все эти места на интерактивной онлайн-карте
- 在互动地图上查看所有这些地点
- Save this guide as a trip and edit it on the go
- Salva questa guida come itinerario e modificala in qualsiasi momento
- Guarda esta guía como un viaje y edítala sobre la marcha
- Enregistrez ce guide comme itinéraire et modifiez-le à tout moment
- Сохраняйте этот гид как маршрут и редактируйте его в пути
- 将本指南保存为自己的行程,并随时编辑
- Discover more hidden spots around you with one tap
- Scopri altri posti nascosti intorno a te con un solo tap
- Descubre más rincones ocultos a tu alrededor con un solo toque
- Découvrez encore plus de lieux cachés autour de vous en un seul clic
- Находите ещё больше скрытых локаций вокруг одним касанием
- 一键发现你周围更多隐藏景点