Summit Road is a narrow scenic drive in New Zealand

Summit Road is a narrow scenic drive in New Zealand

New Zealand, oceania

Length

28.2 km

Elevation

500 m

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Summit Road in Canterbury, New Zealand is calling your name! This isn't just any drive; it's a totally paved 28.2km (17.52 mile) rollercoaster through the Port Hills (Te Poho-o-Tamatea), south of Christchurch, that'll give you views for days!

Built way back in the 30’s, this road snakes along the edges of ancient volcanoes on the Banks Peninsula, climbing to a dizzying 490m (1,607ft). Heads up: it’s narrow and twisty, so keep your eyes peeled for lumbering trucks and wandering campervans.

Be prepared for a thrilling ride with hairpin turns and steep climbs between 300 and 500 meters above sea level. The road was shut down for a bit after those pesky earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 (rockfall risk!), but good news, some sections are open again!

Trust me, the panoramic views of Christchurch and the surrounding landscapes are SO worth the adrenaline rush. Get ready for an unforgettable journey!

Where is it?

Summit Road is a narrow scenic drive in New Zealand is located in New Zealand (oceania). Coordinates: -40.3018, 176.4694

Share this road

Road Details

Country
New Zealand
Continent
oceania
Length
28.2 km
Max Elevation
500 m
Difficulty
moderate
Coordinates
-40.3018, 176.4694

Related Roads in oceania

Where is the Kaitawa Bridge?moderate

Where is the Kaitawa Bridge?

🇳🇿 New Zealand

Okay, picture this: You're cruisin' in the southwestern part of New Zealand's North Island, a few clicks southeast of Pahiatua. You stumble upon the Kaitawa Bridge, the gateway to adventure! Now, this ain't your average bridge. It's a wooden suspension bridge, pretty unique, with a steel through-truss underneath and a concrete base. Just a heads-up: it's one-way only – literally. You can only have one vehicle on it at a time, and keep an eye on that width, it's 2.5 meters max. But don't sweat it too much, the bridge has been updated to handle modern vehicles. The bridge itself is the start of Waihoanga Road which is fully paved. Keep in mind that a few roads you will find along the way do end up in dead ends. This route isn't about setting speed records; it's about soaking in the views. You'll be surrounded by beautiful scenery as you make your way across this iconic bridge.

The haunted Street with No Name in Sydneyhard

The haunted Street with No Name in Sydney

🇦🇺 Australia

Okay, Sydney thrill-seekers, buckle up for a seriously spooky detour! Just west of the city lies a place locals whisper about – The Street With No Name. Officially, it's Maxwell Road in the Annandale suburb, but don't let the ordinary name fool you. This isn't your average scenic route. Picture a narrow, overgrown alleyway snaking alongside a light rail viaduct, right near Jubilee Park. Sounds innocent enough, right? Wrong! This little spot has a dark history, and the park, in particular, seems to have a seriously creepy vibe. Forget stunning vistas; this place is all about eerie feelings and unexplained phenomena. Visitors report feeling suffocated by fear and anxiety, hearing disembodied footsteps, and catching strange whiffs in the air. Dogs and little kids especially seem to pick up on something unsettling here. Maybe it's the history of unsolved murders, but something about this spot just feels…evil. So, if you're brave enough for a paranormal adventure, The Street With No Name awaits, but don't say I didn't warn you!

Travel Guide to the Top of Kosciuszko Express Chairliftmoderate

Travel Guide to the Top of Kosciuszko Express Chairlift

🇦🇺 Australia

Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Deep in New South Wales, practically kissing the Victorian border within Kosciuszko National Park, you'll find the Kosciuszko Express Chairlift, perched way up at 1,937m (6,354ft) above sea level. This isn't just high; it's one of the highest spots you can get to in Australia! You'll find it near the famous Rawson Pass, south of Mount Kosciuszko itself. The views? Unreal. And if you make it near the top, treat yourself to a meal at Eagles Nest Restaurant – allegedly Australia's highest restaurant – with insane 270° views stretching over 200km, including Jindabyne Lake and the stunning Victorian mountains. Heads up though: getting there is an *experience*. This "road" (and I use the term loosely!) is a totally unpaved service access road. Think serious 4x4 territory only. Don't even think about taking your sedan. Sadly, this road is closed to private vehicles. The climb is short but brutal: just 3.3 km (2.05 miles) from Thredbo, but with a whopping 523 meters of elevation gain. That's an average gradient of almost 16%, with some sections hitting a crazy 23%! So, while you can't drive it yourself, if you get a chance to experience this route, know that you'll be on a steep, scenic ride.

A challenging road through Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountainshard

A challenging road through Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountains

🇦🇺 Australia

Okay, so you're heading to New South Wales? You HAVE to check out Jenolan Caves! I mean, we're talking the biggest and most famous caves in all of Australia. But get this – you can DRIVE through them! Seriously, it's one of the only roads *in the world* that tunnels through a cave. You'll find these bad boys near Oberon, about a 3-hour trip west of Sydney, smack-dab in the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve. Think rolling hills and tons of protected wildlife. Hidden on the southwest side of the Blue Mountains, Jenolan Caves are the most well-known limestone caves in Australia. People have been exploring them for over 150 years and they get about 240,000 visitors a year. What makes these caves special? They're the pioneer of cave networks and have been developed as show caves for almost 200 years. While the number of available show caves changes, there were nine caves open for public viewing when initial records were made in the 1990s. Don't miss Blue Lake, ringed by those incredible natural bridges like the Grand Arch! Oh, and keep an eye out for the blind white shrimp living in the underground waterways – talk about a unique critter! Scientists figured out these caves are around 340 million years old, making them some of the oldest caves *ever*. Now, the road itself, Jenolan Caves Road, is only about 150 meters long as it passes through the Grand Arch. But here's the thing: it's been through a LOT. Storms, fires, floods...it's seen it all! That means it's pretty narrow and can be tricky to navigate, so drive carefully! But the scenery? Totally worth it. Get ready for a wild ride!