On the South Island’s West Coast, State Highway 6 crosses dozens of one-lane bridges, a few of them shared with the railway, and can go more than 100 km between fuel stops. That is New Zealand road-tripping in a sentence: short distances on the map, slow two-lane roads in real life, and a lookout every few kilometres that makes you stop again. Almost every great sight, from Milford Sound to Franz Josef Glacier and Lake Tekapo, is a drive rather than a train or bus ride.
The South Island holds the famous routes: the Milford Road through Fiordland, Haast Pass and the rainforest coast, Arthur’s Pass over the Southern Alps, and the lakes of the Mackenzie Country beneath Aoraki / Mount Cook. The North Island has quieter classics in Northland, around East Cape and on the Forgotten World Highway to Mount Taranaki.
Plan for 60 to 70 km/h averages on scenic roads, not the 100 km/h limit, and drive no more than four or five hours a day so there is time to stop.
At a Glance#
- Most famous drive: the Milford Road from Te Anau to Milford Sound, 120 km through the Homer Tunnel; chains must be carried from May to November.
- Best multi-day route: Wānaka over Haast Pass and up the West Coast past Franz Josef and Hokitika to the Pancake Rocks in Paparoa National Park.
- Alpine crossing: Arthur’s Pass on State Highway 73 from Christchurch to Greymouth, through Arthur’s Pass National Park.
- Lakes and peaks: Lake Tekapo and the road along Lake Pukaki to Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park.
- North Island classics: the Twin Coast Discovery Route to Cape Reinga, the East Cape loop and the Forgotten World Highway.
- Practicalities: drive on the left, overseas licences valid for 12 months if in English, three toll roads in the North Island, fuel about NZ$3 a litre in late 2026.
Fiordland and the Southern Scenic Route#
The Milford Road (State Highway 94) runs 120 km from Te Anau to Milford Sound and is the single best drive in the country. It follows Lake Te Anau, crosses the Eglinton Valley’s open flats, passes the Mirror Lakes and Lake Gunn, and climbs to the Homer Tunnel, a single-lane bore through the rock with traffic lights at each end. On the far side the road drops in hairpins to the fiord and Mitre Peak. There is no fuel and almost no phone signal beyond Te Anau, and the road can close for avalanche danger in winter and spring. Allow a full day return, or stay in Te Anau and drive early to beat the tour buses from Queenstown.
The Southern Scenic Route continues the loop for about 600 km from Queenstown through Te Anau and Manapōuri to the south coast at Riverton and Invercargill, then up through the Catlins to Dunedin. The Catlins section is the highlight: rainforest waterfalls at McLean Falls and Purakaunui Falls, sea lions on the beaches and the petrified forest at Curio Bay. Give it at least three days.
Haast Pass and the West Coast#
State Highway 6 from Wānaka runs along Lake Hāwea and Lake Wānaka, then climbs over Haast Pass beside short walks to waterfalls such as Fantail Falls. From Haast it turns north up the coast, through rainforest to Fox and Franz Josef glaciers, then on to Hokitika and Greymouth, about 450 km in all. Allow three days with walks.
North of Greymouth, the coast road to Westport is one of the finest shoreline drives anywhere, with the Pancake Rocks and blowholes at Punakaiki in Paparoa National Park about 45 km along. Slips and washouts close parts of State Highway 6 after heavy rain a few times a year, so check before you set off.
Arthur's Pass and Lewis Pass#
Arthur’s Pass (State Highway 73) is the main road across the Southern Alps, about 240 km from Christchurch to Greymouth. Heading west you cross the Canterbury Plains, wind past the limestone boulders of Castle Hill, and climb to the village of Arthur’s Pass, where Devils Punchbowl Falls is a short walk and kea patrol the car parks. The descent to Ōtira includes the curving Ōtira Viaduct and steep grades, and is narrow and icy in winter. Combine it with the TranzAlpine train for a return trip that sees the route twice.
Lewis Pass (State Highway 7), further north, is a gentler crossing through beech forest, with the hot pools of Hanmer Springs on a short detour and Maruia Springs near the summit.
Mackenzie Country and Aoraki / Mount Cook#
State Highway 8 crosses the Mackenzie basin between Christchurch and Queenstown, and its lakes are the most photographed in the country. Lake Tekapo has the Church of the Good Shepherd and dark-sky stargazing; Lake Pukaki is milky turquoise with Aoraki / Mount Cook at its head. From Pukaki, State Highway 80 runs 55 km along the lake to Mount Cook village and the Hooker Valley track, a dead-end road with no fuel at the end.
South of Pukaki, the road continues over Lindis Pass into Central Otago. Between Queenstown and Wānaka, the Crown Range Road is the highest main road in New Zealand, topping out at 1,076 m, with a lookout over the Wakatipu basin and the Cardrona Bra Fence on the way down. Snow chains are sometimes needed in winter.
Northland and the Coromandel#
The Twin Coast Discovery Route loops north from Auckland up the east coast to the Bay of Islands at Paihia, on to Kaitaia and the lighthouse at Cape Reinga, and back down the west coast through the Hokianga and the kauri of Waipoua Forest, where Tāne Mahuta, the largest living kauri, stands beside the road. Rental contracts usually forbid driving on Ninety Mile Beach, so take a tour bus if you want to ride the sand.
The Coromandel Peninsula, two hours east of Auckland, is a shorter loop on State Highway 25: the cliff-edge Thames coast road, Coromandel town, the beaches around Whitianga, Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach. Storms have repeatedly closed roads here in recent years, so check for slips.
East Cape and the Forgotten World Highway#
State Highway 35 follows the coast for about 330 km around East Cape from Ōpōtiki to Gisborne, through Māori communities, carved meeting houses and the long wharf at Tolaga Bay, with the East Cape lighthouse among the first places in the world to see the sunrise. Fuel and shops are sparse, so stay a night at Hicks Bay or Tokomaru Bay.
The Forgotten World Highway (State Highway 43) runs about 150 km from Taumarunui to Stratford at the foot of Mount Taranaki, over a string of saddles and through the narrow Tangarakau Gorge, with a stop at the self-declared republic of Whangamōmona and its pub. There is no fuel along the way.
For a direct run, the Thermal Explorer route links Auckland, Rotorua, Taupō and Napier, and State Highway 1 over the Desert Road passes the volcanoes of Tongariro National Park; it closes in snow.
Road trips compared#
| Route | Distance | Allow | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milford Road | 120 km each way | 1 day | Fiords, waterfalls, alpine scenery |
| Southern Scenic Route | about 600 km | 3 to 4 days | Fiordland, Catlins, south coast |
| Haast Pass and West Coast | about 450 km | 3 days | Lakes, glaciers, rainforest coast |
| Arthur’s Pass | about 240 km | 1 day | Alpine crossing, kea, TranzAlpine views |
| Mackenzie and Mount Cook | about 330 km from Christchurch | 2 days | Turquoise lakes, Aoraki, stargazing |
| Twin Coast Discovery | Northland loop | 4 to 5 days | Bay of Islands, Cape Reinga, kauri forest |
| East Cape | about 330 km | 2 days | Remote coast, Māori culture |
| Forgotten World Highway | about 150 km | 1 day | Gorges, backroad history |
For full day-by-day plans see our New Zealand itineraries.
Car hire and campervans#
Rental cars cost about NZ$40 to 70 a day in winter and NZ$70 to 120 in the December to February peak (roughly 25 to 70 USD), and campervans NZ$60 to 400 a day by size and season. Book months ahead for summer and Easter. Most companies do not let vehicles cross Cook Strait on the ferry; you drop off in Wellington or Picton and collect another car on the other side. Check the insurance excess, whether gravel roads are allowed, and whether a diesel campervan carries road user charges billed by the kilometre on return. Freedom camping on council land requires a certified self-contained vehicle. Our getting around guide and costs guide have the detail.
Licences, rules and tolls#
- Licence: you can drive for up to 12 months on a current overseas licence if it is in English; otherwise carry an International Driving Permit or an approved translation. Most rental firms require drivers to be 21 or over.
- Speed and alcohol: 100 km/h on most open roads, 110 km/h on a few expressways, 50 km/h in towns. The breath alcohol limit is 250 micrograms per litre for drivers 20 and over and zero under 20. Handheld phone use is banned.
- One-lane bridges: the large white arrow has priority; a small red arrow means give way.
- Slow vehicles: pull into a slow-vehicle bay or safe verge to let queues pass.
- Tolls: the three toll roads are all in the North Island: the Northern Gateway on State Highway 1 north of Auckland, and the Tauranga Eastern Link and Takitimu Drive around Tauranga. There are no booths; pay online within five days of travel or the rental company bills you with an admin fee on top. Each trip costs a few dollars.
- Fuel: petrol (91) cost roughly NZ$3 to 3.50 a litre in late 2026, about 1.70 to 2 USD; prices move, so check locally. Fill up in towns before Haast, Milford, East Cape and the Forgotten World Highway.
Keep left after every stop
Most serious crashes involving overseas drivers happen in the first days, often when pulling out of a lookout or fuel station onto the right-hand side of the road. Stick a “keep left” note on the dashboard, rest every two hours, and avoid rural driving at night. Check road closures on the NZTA journey planner before mountain drives, and carry chains on the Milford Road from May to November.
For road trips across the region, see road trips in Oceania and our pick of the best road trips in the world.
Best stops on a New Zealand road trip#
More Things to Do#
New Zealand road trip FAQs#
What is the most scenic drive in New Zealand?
The Milford Road from Te Anau to Milford Sound is usually rated the best, followed by Haast Pass and the West Coast, and the Lake Pukaki road to Aoraki / Mount Cook. On the North Island, the East Cape and the coast road through Northland are the standouts.
Can I drive in New Zealand with my foreign licence?
Yes, for up to 12 months from arrival, if your licence is current and in English. If it is not in English, you also need an International Driving Permit or an approved translation. After 12 months you must convert to a New Zealand licence.
How many days do you need for a New Zealand road trip?
At least 10 days for the South Island highlights (Christchurch, Mackenzie, Queenstown, Milford, Haast Pass and the West Coast), and two to three weeks for both islands. Driving times are longer than they look, so keep most days under five hours behind the wheel.
Are there toll roads in New Zealand?
Yes, three, all in the North Island: the Northern Gateway north of Auckland and two around Tauranga. There are no toll booths; you pay online within five days, or the rental company charges you later with a fee.
Do I need snow chains in New Zealand?
On the Milford Road you must carry chains from May to November. Elsewhere, rental companies supply them for winter trips over the Crown Range, Lindis Pass, Arthur’s Pass and the Desert Road, and road controllers may require them when snow falls.