The road is part of the story.
Follow journeys our family has actually driven, then explore the tracks, caves, coastlines, history and strange stops we found along the way.
These are not computer-generated itineraries. They are the roads our Scenic Route episodes actually followed.
We are not building perfect itineraries.
We are connecting the places we actually found while travelling.
Some days we cover plenty of ground. Other days one short track takes half an afternoon because we keep stopping, exploring, filming or finding something we had not expected.
So use these routes as a way to connect adventures, not as a stopwatch telling you where you should be every hour.
Every route starts with a journey our family actually drove.
We only link places where we have first-hand experience worth adding.
Leave enough space for the turnoff or roadside sign that changes the whole day.
The website helps connect and plan the route. The episodes keep the uncertainty, reactions and payoff.
Two very different ways across the South Island.
One runs north over Tākaka Hill toward the wild coast. The other crosses the Southern Alps and drops into old West Coast gold country.
Over Tākaka Hill to Wharariki Beach.
One road trip kept changing character every time we stopped.
We started with exposed limestone high above Golden Bay, then found a giant cave, a strange forest, remarkably clear spring water and finally a huge windswept beach at the northwest edge of the South Island.
Start above the bay.
Our route began high on Tākaka Hill with our first via ferrata and our first proper look at the country we were about to explore.
Explore Tākaka Hill Via Ferrata →
Then the road led us underground.
Rāwhiti Cave brought a steep forest climb and a cave entrance much larger than we expected.
Explore Rāwhiti Cave →
A tiny reserve that did not feel tiny.
Huge limestone blocks, narrow passages, nīkau palms and roots hanging down around the rock made The Grove one of the strangest short walks of the trip.
Explore The Grove →
Then the water started fooling our eyes.
The springs looked almost impossibly clear, and the story of where that water comes from made the stop much bigger than the short walk suggested.
Explore Te Waikoropupū Springs →
Finish at the wild northwest coast.
We went looking for the famous computer wallpaper view and found a beach far wilder than the photograph suggested.
Explore Wharariki Beach →A few things are worth checking first.
NZTA describes the Tākaka Hill corridor as the only road access into Golden Bay. Weather and natural hazards can affect the route.
DOC warns that Dry River can flood after heavy rain. Do not cross if the river is up.
All contact with the spring water is prohibited, including swimming, wading and filling bottles.
DOC warns of strong currents and rips and does not recommend swimming at Wharariki.
Official planning information checked August 2026. Conditions, closures and access can change.
Across Arthur's Pass into old gold country.
The road west gave us mountains first, then mining tunnels, water races and forest reclaiming old workings.
This collection is newer than Golden Bay, but it already has a clear route. We started in the Arthur's Pass landscape, crossed toward the West Coast and explored the old gold country around Goldsborough and Hokitika.
Four episodes connect the major stops.
The guides help with the places. The videos show what the road trip actually felt like.
Some routes need more road first.
Marlborough already has real Scenic Route adventures, but we are not calling it a complete road trip collection yet.
Pukatea / Whites Bay and Motuara Island give us strong stops. As more episodes connect Picton, Marlborough and the roads around them, this can grow into another proper route.
Start with the road, the region or the adventure.
They are different ways into the same Scenic Route library.
Connect several adventures in the order the road carried us through them.
See everything we have explored in a particular part of New Zealand.
Go straight to a track, cave, beach, campsite or other specific place.
Pick a direction. Leave some room for the unexpected.
That is normally where our favourite part of the trip starts.
We will keep adding routes as the roads, episodes and adventure guides give us enough to build them properly.