75 things every Kiwi car person should do before they die: part two

20 November, 2015

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“For a small country, we’ve got not only an amazing number of cars, but also an amazing amount of things we can do with them. In part two, we look at some of our country’s best roads to drive.

If you think we’ve missed anything out, make sure to let us know — email [email protected].”

In part one of this feature, we looked at places to visit. If you missed it, you can give it a read here. The full feature was also published in NZV8 Issue No. 102.

Roads to drive

1. Woodcocks Road — Warkworth

Heading from the Kaipara Coast to Warkworth, Woodcocks Road offers a mix of challenging corners and short straights. Keep your eyes on the road at all times, though, as this one requires concentration.

2. Manukau Heads Road — Awhitu Peninsula

From Waiuku, take Awhitu Road then left into Kemp Road, which eventually turns into Manukau Heads Road. At the end of the flowing 40km journey through farmland, you’ll find the Manukau Heads Lighthouse and a great lookout over the sea, and back over Manukau Harbour towards Auckland City. Pack a picnic lunch, as there’s not a lot up there.

3. Tahuna Road — Tahuna

Tahuna Road from Ohinewai (just north of Huntly), through to SH27 near Tahuna is a great alternative route when heading from Auckland to Matamata and beyond. It offers plenty of nice flowing turns with a few gradient changes, not to mention a whole lot less traffic.

4. East Coast Road — Waitakaruru

Following the coastline on the western side of the Firth of Thames, East Coast Road offers long, flat straights as well as a tight twisty section heading into Kawakawa Bay. A great alternative route when heading to Auckland from Thames, as it’s best enjoyed heading north.

5. Forgotten World Highway — Whangamomona

Built on colonial bridle paths, the Forgotten World Highway is remote and mysterious to the extreme. The 155km adventure begins in Stratford and ends in Taumarunui, and it’s a bit up and down — a classic New Zealand understatement to describe a road that hugs the rugged contours of the land to provide a natural roller coaster experience. Make sure to stop off at the world famous Whangamomona Hotel for a meal on the way. Best enjoyed in a car that handles well, as there are a whole lot of corners.

6. SH4 — Wanganui

SH4 from Wanganui to Raetihi is 80-odd kilometres of twists and turns. Heavy traffic may slow your progress, but the road and scenery makes it all worthwhile.

7. Paekakariki Hill Road — Pauatahanui

Connecting Paekakariki with Pauatahanui, Paekakariki Hill Road is a favourite with the locals and a great scenic alternative to SH1. It’s a mix of tight and twisty corners, and has a steep gradient on the Paekakariki side. The lookout at the top offers great views of Kapiti Island, the Kapiti Coast and the Tasman Sea. Best enjoyed heading north.

8. Rimutaka Hill Road — Upper Hutt

The winding Rimutaka Hill Road is steep and twisty on the Wairarapa side of the 555m summit, and slightly more open on the Hutt side. Cut into the hillside, there are cliffs on either side of the road with minimal barriers. Watch out for loose rocks on the road, and make sure you’ve got good brakes.

9. Drive the West Coast — South Island

Mile after mile of road with minimal traffic; everyone should drive the West Coast at some stage, be it in a high performance vehicle that eats up the flowing corners, or a big old cruiser that you just enjoy the journey in. Allow plenty of time for scenic photographs, and don’t forget to keep the gas tank full, as servos can be few and far between. In particular, enjoy the Coast Road between Westport and Hokitika. Following the coastline, and including a single lane bridge that’s shared with trains, there’s a great mix of tight, steep, and straight road. Make sure you take a break at the HoneyPot Café at the Kumara Junction and taste the local honey.

10. Christchurch to Akaroa Road — Akaroa

Long, flowing straights, a tight and twisty section with great views, plus a fantastic range of cafes, make this a great lunch excursion from Christchurch. Don’t forget to stop for some photos along the way.

11. Milford Sound Highway — Milford Sound

Lakeside, riverside, and mountainside, the road from Te Anau to Milford is 118km of flat straights and steep, tight curves. If you were to fall off the road, it could be a long time before anyone found you, so drive safe in the winter months when there may be ice on the road. The scenery at the end makes it all worthwhile, but don’t forget, you’ve got to head back out the same way you came in, so don’t enjoy the pub at Milford too much.

12. The Crown Range — Queenstown

It’s the highest main road in New Zealand, climbing steeply to allow a great view of Queenstown before descending towards Wanaka. The Cardrona Hotel is always worth stopping off at along the way. While impressive when snow-covered, summer makes for the best driving.

You can check out part one or part three of the 75 things every Kiwi car person should do before they die by selecting your path below:

Check out part one here

Check out part three here

This article was originally published in NZV8 Issue No. 102. You can pick up a print copy or a digital copy of the magazine below:

Buy a print copy of the magazine for NZ$10

Buy a digital copy of the magazine for NZ$6.99

Grand Routier — in the french tradition

10 July, 2025

Sitting in Paddy and Patsy Williams’ Dunedin garage is a stunning example of one of these rare French grand routier sedans. It is a 1949 four-door Lago-Record Factory Berline sedan, to give its full name. Daughter Cath let us know how proud she was of her dad, who had been tinkering away in his garage on this car for so many years.
Without exaggeration, it has been a mammoth task. I first saw this Talbot-Lago in mid 2019. The long-nosed, sweeping, curved four-door saloon, clothed in its misty green metallic paint, was quite breathtaking. There’s more than a little English influence in it, too, harking back to company owner Tony Lago’s involvement in the Clement-Talbot-Darracq era. The long front wings and bonnet, usually multi-louvred, highlighted with artful touches of chrome bling, are typical of the era, but these were indeed luxury length. Interiors provided leather-clad, armchair-style seating and ample legroom, with touches of wood and surprising details such as dainty childproof interior locks — a far cry from today’s lozenge boxes.
Paddy, a retired civil and structural engineer, knows his way around a lathe. He has a well-equipped garage-workshop to assist in any machining tasks along with his other passion for restoring classic motorcycles.

The Great River Road

4 July, 2025

A few years ago my family, knowing my fondness for driving, gave me the book Unforgettable Road Trips: Thirty-Six Drives of a Lifetime by Martin Derrick. Most of the road trips listed take less than a day in places like Scotland, Monaco, and Australia, plus one in New Zealand. Most of these places were too far to go just for a short drive but four of them would take several days. My interest was piqued, and those four drives were added to the bucket list. To date, I have done three of them: ‘Route 66’ (USA 21 days), ‘State Highway 6’ (NZ 10 days) and ‘The Great River Road’ (USA 22 days). You can drive all of them in less time, but you could also fly over them. We wanted a decent immersion in their charms.
The great river referred to is the Mississippi. While the name conjures the deep south, the river actually starts at the bottom of the great lakes, before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico about 3800km later. The great road is more of a concept than a specific strip of tarmac, as you can drive down either side of the river on various routes. Regardless of which side you drive, time should be kept aside for detours to places such as Nashville, which is famous for something or other.