Driving the Taumatamaire Road is not a piece of cake
New Zealand, oceania
23.6 km
402 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, Kiwis and adventure-seekers, listen up! Ever heard of Taumatamaire Road? It's a wild ride in the western North Island of New Zealand that'll get your heart pumping.
This isn't your average Sunday drive, folks. We're talking a completely unsealed, narrow track with some seriously steep sections – think a grunty 12% gradient in places! You'll climb all the way up to a repeater station, perched at a cool 402m (1,318ft) above sea level. Trust me, the views are worth it, but save this one for daylight hours. Night driving? No way, mate.
The road stretches for 23.6 km (14.66 miles), winding its way from Awakino, right where the Awakino River meets the sea, to State Highway 3 south of Mahoenui. Before you go, get the latest local intel – conditions can change quickly!
Where is it?
Driving the Taumatamaire Road is not a piece of cake is located in New Zealand (oceania). Coordinates: -41.4715, 176.5214
Road Details
- Country
- New Zealand
- Continent
- oceania
- Length
- 23.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 402 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -41.4715, 176.5214
Related Roads in oceania
moderateIs Trig Track Walhalla unpaved?
🇦🇺 Australia
Okay, thrill-seekers, buckle up for the Trig Track in Victoria, Australia! This isn't your average Sunday drive. Think stunning views mixed with a serious dose of "hold-on-tight" action. First off, forget pavement. This 5.5 km (3.41 miles) beast is all about unsealed, rutted surfaces from who-knows-where to One Speck Track. We're talking bumpy terrain that will laugh at your average car. Seriously, you NEED a 4WD and some serious driving skills – and be prepared to ford the Aberfeldy River. Reaching a peak of 887m (2,910ft), Trig Track is usually closed from June to November, and trust me, you do NOT want to try it in the wet. It's challenging enough as it is! What makes it so wild? Twelve hairpin switchbacks so sharp they feel like a theme park ride gone rogue! Because it's so steep, and a bit of a hazard, the local park authorities came up with a crazy solution: even tighter switchbacks! Get ready for some multi-point turns and reversing uphill. Surreal doesn't even begin to cover it.
hardHow long is Duck Creek Road?
🇦🇺 Australia
Okay, picture this: Duck Creek Road, a seriously stunning track snaking along the Queensland/New South Wales border in Australia! Nestled in Lamington National Park, this isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking a full-on unpaved adventure of about 15.6km, linking Kerry Road to Lamington National Park Road. Think easy 4WD trip...with a catch. It gets NARROW in sections, and seriously steep in others! You'll start near Kerry Road at a breezy 143 meters above sea level, climbing all the way to 875 meters. That's a climb of 732 meters! Expect some amazing views to match those climbs. Now, here's the not-so-great news. This beauty is currently closed, and will remain closed until further notice.
moderateQuaid Road: The Road to Nowhere in Queensland
🇦🇺 Australia
Wanna explore a hidden gem in Far North Queensland? The Quaid Road (aka Southedge-Wangetti Road Corridor) is a 32-kilometer (20 mi) stretch connecting the Captain Cook Highway near Wangetti, just north of Cairns, to the Mulligan Highway at Southedge, south of Mount Molloy. Nestled within the Macalister Range Forest Reserve in the northernmost part of Queensland, this road was originally built as a private access route with the potential to be a supplementary route to the Atherton Tableland and the Mulligan Highway. Keep in mind, this road has been a bit of a local saga. While it dramatically cuts travel time from Cairns to Mount Molloy – down to under an hour from nearly two – it's currently closed to the public with locked gates. You'll need a permit from the Wet Tropics Management Authority to access it, as it winds through sensitive rainforest areas that became part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. This road has been at the center of discussions, especially after Cyclone Larry in 2006 when Cairns was isolated. The idea of using it for evacuations and supplies has been floated, but it remains a controversial topic!
hardTravel Guide to Wolvi Mountain and Salmon Lookout
🇦🇺 Australia
Alright, adventurers, listen up! Deep in the Noosa hinterland of Queensland, Australia, awaits Wolvi Mountain, peaking at 373m (1,223ft) above sea level. Your destination? Salmon Lookout, perched at the summit. This old fire tower (now more about epic views than fires) boasts seriously awesome panoramas stretching across beaches, rolling hills, and lush farmland. Pack a picnic, because you'll want to soak it all in! Getting there is half the fun. Wolvi Mountain Road, a completely unpaved track, winds its way to the top. While a 4WD is ideal for this rough-and-tumble dirt road, regular cars can make it when conditions are dry. Just keep an eye out for a farm gate about 1km from the lookout—open it, drive through, and don't forget to close it behind you! It's locked up in the evenings. The climb itself is a good one! Starting from Gympie Kin Kin Pomona Road, the 5.6 km (3.47 miles) ascent gains a solid 219 meters. With an average gradient of 3.91%, it’s steep enough to be interesting but totally doable. Get ready for some stunning views and a taste of the real Aussie outback!