Things to do in North Island, New Zealand: The Best Scenic Drives

October 4, 2021 Misti Hsu

Discover the best top things to do in North Island, New Zealand including Manaia Road Saddle And Lookout, Twin Coast Discovery Highway, Pacific Coast Highway, Motu Road, Forgotten World Highway, Saddle Road, Great Coastal Road, Pakia Hill Lookout.
Restaurants in North Island

1. Manaia Road Saddle And Lookout

Manaia Road, Manaia 3581 New Zealand
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1 reviews

Manaia Road Saddle And Lookout

2. Twin Coast Discovery Highway

Auckland Central, Auckland New Zealand
Excellent
65%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
5%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 37 reviews

Twin Coast Discovery Highway

This driving route takes visitors roundtrip from Auckland through the island's scenic Northland region, offering beautiful views of coastlines and farmland.

3. Pacific Coast Highway

New Zealand +64 7-868 5985 [email protected] http://www.pacificcoast.co.nz/
Excellent
67%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 6 reviews

Traversing North Island's scenic east coast, this route links The Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Eastland with Auckland and Hawke's Bay in the north and south respectively.

4. Motu Road

Old Coach Road, Opotiki New Zealand +64 7-315 3031 http://www.motutrails.co.nz
Excellent
71%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 34 reviews

Motu Road

Reviewed By 874julie - Christchurch, New Zealand

We biked from near Motu back to Opotiki, staying overnight on 2-day cycle and stay packaged at Toatoa Farm. It was fantastic, from the wonderful shuttle ride with Maxine, to the trail Itself-misty, dense bush, and to Bob's no-nonsense humour. I highly recommend both the Trail, and the wonderful Toatoa Farmstay!

5. Forgotten World Highway

Stratford 4332 New Zealand
Excellent
63%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
2%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 426 reviews

Forgotten World Highway

Reviewed By Bertavv - Auckland Central, New Zealand

We did the drive from Stratford to Taumarunui in the mother-in-law's 2004 Toyota Corolla and it handled the road perfectly. I-sites at either end have a guide to the Heritage Trail as there is some very interesting history in this area. It takes you through a mixture of NZ backcountry, farmland, native bush, hills, tunnels and over saddles, with just a touch of gravel road and one-way bridges. Take your time and have a look up some of the (rare) side roads, and make sure you stop in the Republic of Whangamomona. There is currently (mid Nov 2019) a detour at the Taumarunui end of the Highway - signposted before Ohura. But when we drove down the Highway from the Taumarunui end the following day the detour was very poorly signposted.

6. Saddle Road

Palmerston North New Zealand
Excellent
17%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
37%
Poor
9%
Terrible
6%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 35 reviews

Saddle Road

7. Great Coastal Road

Paparoa New Zealand
Excellent
25%
Good
75%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 4 reviews

Reviewed By BurryPort-heaven - Burry Port, United Kingdom

This road does it for me, and my girlfriend, who uses it , almost, daily , and knows every bend ! The road surfaces are good in Northlands , compared to 10 years ago and there is a but more traffic . But to be able to drive this, road on a daily basis , I will feel very PRIVALEDGED. Thanks for reading my, second review in Northlands , New Zealand. Denise Drewett

8. Pakia Hill Lookout

Excellent
67%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 6 reviews

Pakia Hill Lookout

ThingsTodoPost © 2018 - 2024 All rights reserved.