Road trips

Distances are short on the map but roads are winding, which is half the fun: New Zealand is made for slow road trips by car or campervan.

Where to go

• Twin Coast Discovery Loops of Northland from Auckland.
• Thermal Explorer Auckland to Rotorua, Taupō and Hawke’s Bay.
• Haast Pass West Coast rainforest to the Otago lakes.
• Milford Road Te Anau to Milford Sound.
• Inland Scenic Route Canterbury’s foothills and gorges.

Good to know

Allow more time than the map suggests, rest every two hours, and pull over to let faster traffic pass. See our driving guide before you set off.