Best roads around NZ

[.:Ross]

So after a crazy idea conjured up on the drive home from the nationals on Sunday, I'm trying to find out where the best "driving" roads are around the country. Can be anything from most scenic to most frightening and everything in between.

Cheers

[00quattro00]

Seafeild Rd is good fun

[Toro]

Here's a start:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/motoring/great-nz-roads/6324231/Top-10-NZ-roads-Number-10

[.:Ross]

Seafeild Rd is good fun

Wheres Seafield Road? And whys it good fun??

Here's a start:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/motoring/great-nz-roads/6324231/Top-10-NZ-roads-Number-10

Yeah just been reading those....also been looking at a bike forum link aswell....just wanted to get some first person experiences. My favourite has to be Queenstown to Wanaka across the Crown Range, just a fun road, plenty of twists, straights and camper vans to keep it interesting 

[00quattro00]

Wheres Seafield Road? And whys it good fun??

Yeah just been reading those....also been looking at a bike forum link aswell....just wanted to get some first person experiences. My favourite has to be Queenstown to Wanaka across the Crown Range, just a fun road, plenty of twists, straights and camper vans to keep it interesting 

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?saddr=Puketitiri+Rd&daddr=Hill+Rd&hl=en&sll=-39.425984,176.820831&sspn=0.089637,0.20977&geocode=Fa0Rpv0dLNqICg%3BFYKEpv0dVMaKCg&t=h&mra=dme&mrsp=1&sz=13&z=13

[KARTS]

One of my favourites is the drive from Thames heading up the coast north to Coromandel township. You need it to be quiet traffic wise though so I leave Auckland super early to make sure of it. Full of tight twisties and some very fast flowing sections and all with a great view. Then head over the hills to the east coast. The hill road is a Targa Bambina stage and lot's of fun!

[80 Vert]

Wheres Seafield Road? And whys it good fun??

Yeah just been reading those....also been looking at a bike forum link aswell....just wanted to get some first person experiences. My favourite has to be Queenstown to Wanaka across the Crown Range, just a fun road, plenty of twists, straights and camper vans to keep it interesting 

Yep I'd vote for that, just did it a few times this week.
The other would be Queenstown to Glenorchy

[RobClubley]

The old road from Hastings to Taumaranui - great driving road and awesome scenery. And the bits either side of the gravel part of the Forgotten World Highway.

[.:Ross]

Do enjoy Glenorchy to Queenstown. Have a mate that used to do the rally they had on that road before they sealed it all. Sounded like quite an event. The drive upto Mt Cooks pretty cool aswell, once you turn off the main highway. Roads not that old and still feels fresh, did it in an RS6 a while back. Couldn't wipe the grin off my face, scenery was outstanding, engine noise was sublime and the weather was perfect.

[the phantom]

the drive from the King Country to Taranaki is good, particularly through the Awakino Gorge

[Gordo]

more scenic, Gisborne to Wairoa via Tiniroto, especially in the autumn. For driving, over the Rimutakas - if you got a clear run, also good brake test...

[qta4]

It really depends just where you guys want to drive.
If you were to take off from Tekawa crossroads, through to Maihiihi through to hoddles rd intersection to barbers road to te kuiti, used for many years on various rallies.
Simple to get there and a blast and also not a huge amount of traffic.
I could give you guys lots of options about here.

[FFS]

Just give me a road without roadworks every 5min I'll be happy.

[Simon*]

Always liked Tokoroa to National Park (down the Westsiiiiiiiiide    of lake Taupo)

It's SH32 apparently  http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Maraetai+Rd%2FState+Highway+32&daddr=Western+Bay+Rd%2FState+Highway+32&hl=en&ll=-38.578232,176.263275&spn=0.899657,2.108002&sll=-38.927366,175.892487&sspn=0.447635,1.054001&geocode=FWKIuP0dBCZ7Cg%3BFV27rv0dMKV4Cg&mra=mift&mrsp=1&sz=11&t=m&z=10

[Toby]

So after a crazy idea conjured up on the drive home from the nationals on Sunday, I'm trying to find out where the best "driving" roads are around the country. Can be anything from most scenic to most frightening and everything in between.

Cheers

I don't think it was a crazy idea.... just gonna take some planning!!! The Crown Range has to be one of the best... 

[vwrally]

The devils staircase (Queenstown to Kingston) can be a blast especially with no traffic,

the crown range was much better before they tar sealed it all

The Catlins coast road from Waikawa through to Owaka has some great bits and great scenery to match

In the north island, moonshine valley road is a blast as is Paikokareki Hill (No idea how to sell that one) and some of the back country roads   around Kawerau and Martinborough are pretty good as well

Have to say that the best roads in NZ don't have tar seal on them, an absolute classic is Cannibal Bay Road in the Catlins.

Other good ones are the the road into Bulwer in the Marlborouh sounds, the Skippers Road in Queenstown and the Black Forest Road that follows the pylons into the Benmore power station.

 

[Audidude]

Depends if you mean scenic or driving. I don't do scenic when I'm driving 

One of the best drives has to be the Vinegar Hill run from the turnoff from Sh1 by that name through to Cheltenham near Feilding in either direction.
There are lots of off the beaten track roads used by Targa - one of the best ways to find these, apart from looking at the route maps, is to take a week off and chase the event. You can't usually drive the stages unless in the Targa Tour but getting to and from the stages uncovers some fantastic driving roads.
WARNING: I did that in 2005 and it's cost me a small fortune since then!!

[the phantom]

we drove from Auckland to Russell today, S1 to Whakapara then ou towards the coast, mostly third and fourth gear with brief flurries of excitment in fifth at 80 ks

was taking it reasonably gently for the copilot, but an interesting road

[FFS]

Depends if you mean scenic or driving. I don't do scenic when I'm driving 

One of the best drives has to be the Vinegar Hill run from the turnoff from Sh1 by that name through to Cheltenham near Feilding in either direction.
There are lots of off the beaten track roads used by Targa - one of the best ways to find these, apart from looking at the route maps, is to take a week off and chase the event. You can't usually drive the stages unless in the Targa Tour but getting to and from the stages uncovers some fantastic driving roads.
WARNING: I did that in 2005 and it's cost me a small fortune since then!!

I was thinking the same thing about the Targa stages, Greg. Pretty much any route which they use is a great driving road. There are some brilliant sealed roads meandering through Northwest Waikato  some of which have featured of late in the Targa, and they're pretty quiet. I also enjoy SH22 Drury, Pukekohe through to Ngaruawahia via Naike. A good alternative to SH1 if time is not an issue. South of Tuakau the road is all but your own.

[Audidude]

There are some brilliant sealed roads meandering through Northwest Waikato  some of which have featured of late in the Targa, and they're pretty quiet. I also enjoy SH22 Drury, Pukekohe through to Ngaruawahia via Naike. A good alternative to SH1 if time is not an issue. South of Tuakau the road is all but your own.

Couldn't agree more, and you can extend it to SH23 near Raglan if you turn right at Rotowaro onto Rotowaro road, then Waignaro Rd, through to SH23:

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Pukekohe+East+Rd&daddr=-37.2931,174.94548+to:-37.58434,175.08703+to:SH23+raglan&hl=en&ll=-37.581589,175.024567&spn=0.582251,1.094513&sll=-37.403983,174.846039&sspn=0.583637,1.094513&geocode=FQZryP0d_BhtCg%3BFdTzxv0dyHRtCikhNwbzTFNtbTEArhMHYe8AEw%3BFSyCwv0dtp1vCilThqN6CzdtbTGh3JMGYe8AEw%3BFYu1vv0d60BsCil_UpMk0NUSbTHCHAk5vvPbHA&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=10&via=1,2&t=m&z=10

Cheers

PS: if you are heading that way and it's a weekend you can pop in for a cuppa at our bach at Waitetuna (pm me for the phone number and directions):
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Waitetuna+Valley+Road,+Waitetuna,+Waikato,+New+Zealand&daddr=State+Hwy%2FState+Highway+23&hl=en&ll=-37.840292,174.994354&spn=0.072527,0.136814&sll=-37.837625,174.940855&sspn=0.14506,0.273628&geocode=Fegdvv0drr1uCil_5WoZ4SltbTE-WsrdZzVK7w%3BFTPSvv0dIuxtCg&oq=Waitetuna+road&mra=dme&mrsp=1&sz=12&t=m&z=13

Note: "A" is not where we are of course