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7 carNew Zealand's most spectacular trails
There are many times when driving in New Zealand is much more than just getting from A to B, It is an experience in itself. That's why we bring you in this article what for us are the 7 carNew Zealand's most spectacular quarries.
From the coasts it iscarFrom landscapes teeming with wildlife and verdant mountains to glaciers and picture-postcard lakes. Moreover, in each of these carThere are mountain passes and trails Many places to explore and viewpoints to stop atBelieve me, visiting them will be one of your best memories of New Zealand, or at least for us they are.
It was difficult for us to select the carNew Zealand's most scenic routes because there are many to choose from. Here we tell you what we think are the 7 best, but there are also some incredible ones that we have left out of this top like the Arthur Pass, on the South Island or the one known as Desert Road, a section of SH1 that passes near the Tongariro National Park with views of Mount Ngauruhoe.
By the way, before your flight you should read our list of essential tips all with travel to new zealand, the 5 most useful minutes of the day.
best carreteras from new zealand
Take note of this list of the best! carNew Zealand routes to plan your route in camper van or car and don't miss them!
1. Haast Pass (SH6)
The first carThe racket we want to talk to you about is the Haast Pass, car140-kilometer road that crosses the Mount Aspiring National Park and borders both the Lake Hawea such as Lake Wanaka separating the charming little town of Wanaka of the West Coast. Both the miles you drive parallel to the lakes and crossing the forests of the National Park and rivers of an impossible blue are a spectacle.
There are many interesting stops and hiking trails, and although it's usually done in a day, there's so much to do that we spent two full days there. In addition to the many viewpoints you'll find along the way... carretera, you can stop to see the Wilsom Creek Chasm, the waterfalls Thunder Creek or the small path that leads to an area of the river known as Blue Pools.
2. French Pass Road
To the north of the South Island is one of the largest New Zealand's little-known gems, Marlborough Sounds. Very few tourists add the region to their itinerary, and for us it was a great decision to do so; in particular, we fell in love with the French Pass, a car40km road that separates Ōkiwi Bay from the village of French Pass / Anaru.
The photos do not do it justice, it is a constant of viewpoints to crystal clear waters and green mountains, we even saw dolphins in the distance. Walking around it on a sunny day was a real pleasure and sleeping in Elaine Bay Campground also. In Marlborough Sounds Orcas come to eat rays and from the Elaine Bay jetty you can see them taking shelter during high tide.
3. Mount Cook Road (SH80)
During the 55 kilometres that separate the SH8 detour to Mount Cook Village You'll want to stop every few miles to take a picture of New Zealand's tallest mountain. carSH80 retera with the imposing Mount Cook (or Aoraki) on the horizon It is one of the most famous postcards of New Zealand. You constantly go along the edge of Lake Pukaki until you enter the heart of the Mount Cook National Park.
It is well worth trying to do the tour. at dawn or dusk, Mount Cook takes on spectacular orange or pinkish hues. We did it in the afternoon and then watched the sunset from White Horse Hill Campground, the starting point for some of New Zealand's best hiking trails, such as the Sealy Tarns.
This interests you! What to see and do in and around Mount Cook
4. Milford Road (SH94)
The Milford Road or Road to Milford Sound is one of those places in New Zealand that no introduction neededThis spectacular 120km journey from Te Anau to Milford Sound through the Fiordland National Park It is one of the most emblematic places in the country.
We were lucky enough to be able to tour it first on a sunny day and enjoy its mountain scenery, viewpoints and hiking trails. We also toured it in stormy weather, when Fiordland comes to life and dozens (or rather hundreds) of waterfalls emerge from between the rocks. So I guarantee that whenever it takes time, this is one of the carNew Zealand's most spectacular quarries.
✅ We tell you The best stops en What to see on the Milford Sound Highway.
5. Kaikoura Coastal Route (SH1)
I don't think that looking for the carOf all the scenic routes in New Zealand, this one is often mentioned, but we feel it deserves a place in this article. You might travel this section of SH1 to or from Picton to catch the ferry. The most beautiful stretch is the 60 kilometers that separate Waipapa Bay Beach.
As you walk along it you will have views of the Pacific Ocean on one side, and on the other the Seaward Kaikoura Range mountains. Some sections are a spectacle with wild beaches and cliffs, a landscape that reminded us a lot of South AfricaBut this is not the best, the best part for us was the amount of sea lions, birds and even dolphins in the distance. In almost any rocky area you'll be able to see dozens of sea lions, sometimes from the carThe retera isn't noticeable, but when you stop and look, they're everywhere.
Furthermore, the village of Kaikoura We liked it a lot and that you should add to your itinerary because It's the best place to see whales in New ZealandOn the route of 3 weeks in New Zealand We suggest you spend a day there.
6. The Forgotten World Highway (SH43) and SH3
For this recommendation, I'm going to combine two sections of carThe first is the SH43, which connects Taumarunui with Stratford in 150km, passing through historic tunnels and rural landscapes. An carIt's a narrow and winding road, but the detour is completely worthwhile if your North Island itinerary allows it.
It was built on ancient Maori trails and paths carroses from the colonial era of the 19th century, Its construction began in 1902 in Stratford and was completed in 1945, after more than four decades of work.
When combined with SH3, you will get spectacular views of the Mount Egmont or Taranaki, with a particularly impressive section near New Plymouth, where the volcano with its almost perfect cone shape dominates the horizon. If you have been to Japan, Mount Egmont will surely remind you a lot of Fuji. In fact, like Fuji, it is also quite shy and many days has a cloud on its summit.
You can read… New Zealand 15-day itinerary Includes day-by-day map!
7. Queenstown to Glenorchy Road
The last one in this top 7 carThe most spectacular routes in New Zealand are the 45 km that separate Queenstown from Glenorchy, during the tour you will skirting Lake Wakatipu to reach the Dart RiverThere are spectacular panoramic views of the deep blue lake along with the Southern Alps mountains, both from the same carFrom the viewpoints, including the designated viewpoints, our favorite was Bennetts Bluff Viewpoint.
In Glenorchy you will find a tiny town surrounded by mountains that already since the beginning of the 20th century It began to attract European tourists who arrived by steamboat across the lake. It also had a period of strong gold mining. In the red barn that stands out on the banks of the River you can see some period photos.
If you have more time you can continue a few kilometers to cross the Dart River to see the Isengard Lookout (Lord of the Rings filming location) or take a hiking route like the Glacier Burn Track.
So far, those that are for us the carNew Zealand's most spectacular trailsTo continue organizing your trip you can read all our guides and itineraries for travel around new zealand or get inspired by watching the stories on Instagram. Thanks for reading us!
