Driving Roads in New Zealand

Explore scenic and exciting driving roads across New Zealand.

Arthur's Pass (SH73)

New Zealand

54 /100

160 kmNZ

Coromandel Coast Road (SH25)

Queen Charlotte Drive

Driving in New Zealand

Driving roads in New Zealand range from narrow, twisting regional routes to well-engineered state highways crossing dramatic changes in terrain. In the South Island, the Southern Alps shape many of the country's best-known scenic driving routes: State Highway 73 crosses Arthur's Pass between Canterbury and the West Coast, while State Highway 6 links mountain, lake and coastal landscapes through areas such as Wānaka, Queenstown and the West Coast. State Highway 94 to Milford Sound runs through Fiordland and the Homer Tunnel, and the Crown Range Road provides a high-level connection between Queenstown and Wānaka. Farther north, routes cross the Central Plateau around Tongariro and wind through the Coromandel Peninsula, East Cape and other coastal regions. Roads outside the main centres can be narrow and highly curved, with one-lane bridges and limited passing opportunities still encountered on some routes, making distance alone a poor guide to journey time.

Season & conditions

Most major roads operate year-round, but winter snow, ice and severe weather can temporarily close or restrict alpine and inland routes, particularly across the South Island. Arthur's Pass, Lewis Pass, Lindis Pass and the Crown Range can be affected by snowfall, while State Highway 94 to Milford Sound is also managed for avalanche risk and may close at short notice. Heavy rain, flooding, slips and strong winds can disrupt roads in any season, so current conditions should be checked before remote or mountain drives.

Tolls & access

New Zealand does not use a nationwide motorway vignette or general distance-based toll system for passenger cars. NZ Transport Agency currently operates three electronically tolled roads: the Northern Gateway Toll Road north of Auckland, the Tauranga Eastern Link and Takitimu Drive in Tauranga. There are no toll booths; vehicle registration plates are recorded electronically and tolls are paid through the NZTA system. Free alternative routes are available. Rental-car drivers should check their operator's toll-payment arrangements.