Three great Kiwi road trips

Sheep on an East Cape road. Photo / Getty Images

Try one of these great routes next time you're in the mood for a roadie

1. Auckland to Cape Reinga

Heading north from Auckland, you'll be treated to some of the most spectacular landscapes New Zealand has to offer. With rolling hills, farmland and thick forest, Northland is also home to some of the country's most beautiful beaches — and it's called the Winterless North for a good reason. Head to the Bay of Islands — there's plenty to see and do, from Russell to the Treaty Grounds at Waitangi — before continuing further to Cape Reinga, the most northerly point of New Zealand.

2. Whakatane to Gisborne

Driving around the East Cape is a breathtakingly rugged experience, with plenty of scenery and Maori history to take in along the way. This is the first region to see the sunrise and was also where early Maori settlers first arrived. The Pacific Coast Highway is one of the greatest drives in New Zealand. You'll pass through many interesting small towns, including the whaling settlement of Te Kaha and Tikitiki, home of St Mary's Church, which serves as a war memorial and incorporates Maori carvings and patterns in its interior design. You'll find places to freedom camp along the way, so take a few days to really explore the area.

3. Nelson to Queenstown

Start in sunny Nelson and make your way to the rugged West Coast with a stop in glorious St Arnaud along the way. From there, head to Westport via the Buller Gorge and relive the stories of the early European settlers and goldminers who once lived there. Continue down through the Paparoa National Park to Punakaiki and explore the famous Pancake Rocks and blowholes, limestone formations that date back 30 million years.

Then it's on to the glaciers of Franz Josef, with stops in Greymouth and Hokitika on the way. Once you reach Wanaka, there's no shortage of things to do — from hiking to skydiving — and your final destination of Queenstown is New Zealand's most famous spot for adrenaline junkies.