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Best scenic drive destinations in Oceania

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Christchurch
The Garden City of Adventure
7.3
The Hilltop viewpoint on the road to Akaroa looks over Banks Peninsula and its harbours. Little River and Duvauchelle make easy stops along the way. Summit Road offers a different route home with reserves and short walks. Lighthouse Road near Akaroa looks back over the town. Misty Peaks Scenic Reserve is worth a stop.
Highlights:
  • 🐧 See Antarctic wildlife at the International Antarctic Centre
  • 🌸 Stroll through the peaceful Christchurch Botanic Gardens
  • 🚠 Ride the Christchurch Gondola for scenic views of the city and hills
Darwin
Tropical gateway to ancient wetlands and reefs
9.2
Rock art at Ubirr and Burrungkuy records thousands of years of Aboriginal history. Kakadu lies about 155 miles from Darwin. The loop continues to Katherine and Litchfield National Park, where waterfalls and plunge pools line the route. The last leg back to the city is 72 miles.
Highlights:
  • 🤿 Snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef
  • 🖼️ Visit Kakadu National Park for ancient rock art
  • 🏞️ Explore Litchfield National Park's waterfalls
Milford Sound
Breathtaking fiord of towering peaks
Timing shapes the drive to the fjord. Winter avalanches close the Milford Road about eight days a year on average. Gates shut the Hollyford and Cleddau valleys at peak risk. Chains are mandatory in snow. Check conditions before leaving Te Anau. The 74 mile route rewards the planning with waterfalls and glacier carved peaks.
Highlights:
  • 🥾 Hike part of the renowned Milford Track for epic views
  • 🛶 Kayak alongside seals and dolphins in tranquil fjord waters
  • ⛴️ Cruise Milford Sound to see towering cliffs and waterfalls
Wanaka
Alpine Adventure, Lakeside Serenity
8.6
At 1,076 metres, the Crown Range summit stands two metres above the Desert Road on North Island's Highway 1. A plaque there claims it is the highest sealed road in New Zealand. From the saddle the road heads north along Cardrona Creek to the settlement of Cardrona. The southern end is Arrow Junction near Arrowtown.
Highlights:
  • 🧗‍♂️ Climb the world's highest waterfall via ferrata at Wildwire
  • 🌳 Snap photos of the iconic Wanaka Tree by the lake
  • 🥾 Hike Roys Peak for breathtaking lake and mountain views
Fiordland National Park
New Zealand’s Wildest Water World
8.7
Mist and the roar of waterfalls fill the valleys along the Milford Road. It runs 74 miles from Te Anau to Milford Sound. Mirror Lakes reflect the peaks on still days. Homer Tunnel, 4,170 feet long, was finished in 1953 and opened the road to traffic.
Highlights:
  • 🪶 Scenic fly over dramatic fjords and hidden alpine lakes
  • 🥾 Hike the world-famous Milford Track through lush rainforest
  • 🛥️ Cruise through majestic Milford Sound and spot playful dolphins
South Island
Majestic fjords and alpine peaks
9.3
Drivers here plan around the passes. Lindis Pass tops out at 971 metres in tussock country and photos belong at its signposted car park. Haast Pass runs past Fantail Falls, Thunder Creek Falls and the Blue Pools. Arthur's Pass reaches about 900 metres through a national park.
Highlights:
  • 🚤 Explore Fiordland's Milford Sound sunset cruise
  • ⛵ Cruise Abel Tasman National Park
  • 🏞️ Hike Tongariro Alpine Crossing sunrise
Lord Howe Island
Secluded paradise with crystal reefs and cliffs
9.4
About 6 miles long and 1.2 miles at its widest, the island suits slow scenic trips. Cycling is the main way to get around. Roads dating to the 1800s link the sights. Mount Gower rises 2,871 feet over the south. Visitor numbers are capped at 400 at any one time.
Highlights:
  • 🗺️ Explore the historic lighthouse and maritime museum
  • 🏔️ Hike Mount Gower summit for sunrise panorama
  • 🤿 Snorkel at The Pinnacles reef, see diverse marine life
Great Ocean Road
Coastal cliffs and turquoise waves
The Twelve Apostles are the most famous stop on this 151 mile road. About 3,000 returned soldiers built it mostly by hand with picks and shovels between 1919 and 1932. Listed in 2011 as a National Heritage site, it is described as the world's largest war memorial.
Highlights:
  • 🌲 Hike to Lorne's rainforest trails
  • 🏞️ Explore the Twelve Apostles rock formations
  • 🌅 Drive along the Great Ocean Road at sunrise
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