Driving the Alpine Ohakune Mountain Road in NZ
New Zealand, oceania
16.2 km
1,630 m
moderate
Year-round
Cruising around the North Island of New Zealand? You HAVE to hit Ohakune Mountain Road! This sealed road, nestled in the southern end of the Taupo Volcanic Zone (and inside Tongariro National Park!), serves up some seriously sweeping views.
First opened in 1963, this beauty climbs to a whopping 1,630m (5,347ft) above sea level. We're talking postcard-perfect scenery, dotted with huge-leafed mountain cabbage trees. And get this – there's even a service road for the chairlift that goes even higher, to 2,052m (6,732ft)!
Starting from Old Station Road, you'll gain 1015 meters of elevation over its 16.2 km (10 miles). That's an average gradient of 6.26%, with some sections hitting a steeper 15%. The road is usually open year-round, but keep an eye on the weather – it's an alpine environment, and things can change fast. Snow can close it, so be prepared for anything!
Give yourself about 20 minutes to drive it without stopping. Trust me, though, you'll WANT to stop. On a clear day, the views stretch all the way to the South Island! Plus, there are tons of points of interest along the way. Cell service is available, though it can be a bit spotty. It's honestly one of the most picturesque drives I've ever experienced.
Where is it?
Driving the Alpine Ohakune Mountain Road in NZ is located in New Zealand (oceania). Coordinates: -39.2981, 175.5473
Road Details
- Country
- New Zealand
- Continent
- oceania
- Length
- 16.2 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,630 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- -39.2981, 175.5473
Related Roads in oceania
extremeExploring Australia by Road: Best Destinations for Your Next Drive
🇦🇺 Australia
Cruising the Great Ocean Road means hugging 240 km of southeastern coastline! Get ready for a technical drive with twisty turns and OMG ocean views. Be warned: tourist traffic around the Twelve Apostles can be cray-cray. The scenery's totally worth it, but stay sharp, the cliffside curves are intense and the Southern Ocean weather can be a real mood swing. For an authentic Aussie adventure, hit the Red Centre Way. It starts in Alice Springs and leads to Kings Canyon and Uluru. Heads up, this is hardcore self-sufficiency territory! Fuel and water are scarce, and the desert heat messes with your ride. Keep a close eye on that cooling system and your tire pressure! The Savannah Way is a mega 3,700 km trek from Cairns to Broome. This is a legit expedition through rainforests and grasslands. You might need a 4x4 for some parts, especially in the wet season when flooding closes roads. Map out those fuel stops and get a mechanical check before heading into the remote Kimberley region. The Nullarbor Plain is a 1,200 km drive across a treeless wasteland. Think seriously straight roads – one of the longest straight stretches in the world! Watch out for driver fatigue and wildlife like kangaroos and emus (especially at dawn and dusk). Roadhouses are few and far between, so plan every fuel stop. The Great Alpine Road is Australia’s highest paved road, snaking through the Victorian Alps. This 339 km route has super steep climbs and hairpin turns. Winter brings snow and treacherous conditions (snow chains might be a must). Summer's a tough workout for your brakes and engine as you climb high. Road tripping from Perth to Exmouth? That's 1,100 km of killer coastline! Highlights include the Pinnacles Desert and Ningaloo Reef. The roads are usually solid, but the distances are huge. Stay alert for road trains – those massive multi-trailer trucks that need tons of space to pass on these highways.
moderateHow Long is the Haast Highway?
🇳🇿 New Zealand
Okay, picture this: you're cruising the Haast Highway on New Zealand's South Island. It’s easily one of the most mind-blowing coastal drives on the planet. This fully paved ribbon of road stretches for about 275 kilometers (171 miles) along the wild West Coast, and it's been around since the 1960s. You'll start near Haast (a chill little town by the Haast River) and wind your way north to Hokitika, the area's biggest town. You *could* drive it straight through, but seriously, don’t! You'll want to stop at all the hidden bays and viewpoints. The scenery is epic – we're talking dramatic coastline, secret beaches, and views that'll make your jaw drop. It's a must-do for any road trip adventure in New Zealand!
moderateThe track to Mount Terrible: low range and high clearance required
🇦🇺 Australia
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Deep in the Victorian High Country of Australia, just southwest of Kevington, lies Mount Terrible. And trust me, the name isn't kidding around. We're talking about a 24.3km (15-mile) trek to 1,305m (4,281ft) of pure, unadulterated Aussie bush. Forget smooth asphalt; this is Mt Terrible Track, a totally unpaved, rough, and rocky ride through the Mount Terrible Natural Features and Scenic Reserve. Think scrabbly sections, steep climbs, rocks, and ditches galore. This isn't a Sunday drive, folks. You'll need a 4x4 beast with great tires, low range, high clearance, and a driver who knows how to pick the right lines. The Great Dividing Range throws everything it has at you, including potential closures from July to late October due to snow. Yep, this track gets rocky AND snowy in winter! But the reward? Stunning views from the summit, home to a fire lookout tower (circa 1962) and a comms tower. It's an epic High Country adventure!
extremeDriving the unpaved road to Jollies Pass in Hanmer Springs
🇳🇿 New Zealand
Okay, picture this: You're in New Zealand's South Island, near the resort town of Hanmer Springs. Want an adventure? Head north on Jollies Pass Road. It's about 11km of unsealed, backcountry road that takes you up to 845m (2,772ft) above sea level. This pass has some serious history, folks! Back in 1852, some pioneering folks drove 1,800 sheep across it! But be warned, this isn't a Sunday drive. After leaving Hanmer Springs, the pavement ends and things get interesting. You'll need a high-clearance 4WD to handle the bumpy sections and the insane 26% gradients on some of the ramps! Traffic is super light, so it's just you and the road. Keep an eye on the sky, too. The weather here can flip on a dime. Snow closes the road in winter, and summer can be scorching. But, oh, the views! You're in Hanmer Forest Park, so expect stunning vistas and plenty of places to pull over and soak it all in. Seriously, this drive is a feast for the eyes.