BMW drivers in New Zealand are among the luckiest in the world, with excellent open roads and not too much traffic. In this article we share some of our favourite roads, starting in the far north and heading south.
1. Kaikohe to Kerikeri via Lake Omapere and Okaihau. This narrow, but generally well-surfaced road starts on the Kaikohe Plateau (the second highest town in New Zealand after Taupo) and takes you through some very well established dairy country. There are a multitude of well-sighted sweepers and combinations of tighter corners offering the chance to appreciate your BMW’s power and precision. Most traffic is local, so watch out for utes and tractors. Stop and enjoy the panoramic views of the Bay of Islands once you’re past the summit. Drive time 35 minutes.
2. Masterton to Martinborough via the back road. This is best begun on Johnstone Road in Masterton. Straights on Te Whiti Road soon give way to exciting windies on Longbush Road nearer to Martinborough. The scenery is classic Wairarapa heartland, contrasted with the boutique vineyards clustered around Martinborough. Travel time is around 40 minutes. If you’re feeling adventurous you could continue another 30 minutes and travel on to Ngawi on Palliser Bay, where you can marvel at the fishing boats drawn up on the beach by giant bulldozers and look out on the mighty Southern Ocean from the deck of the quaint tearooms.
3. Westport to Waipara via the Lewis Pass. Crossing the Main Divide lets you enjoy an extraordinary degree of scenic diversity. Beginning in Westport you track the mighty Buller River then after Reefton you enter alpine beech forest, where a stop at the Maruia hot pools is a must. The sinuous roads in the beech forest might have been made just for BMW driving, and the wide sweeping curves on the eastern side of the Pass allow you stretch your cars legs as you descend to the Canterbury Plains. Expect traffic to be light, but also expect to encounter tourists in campervans. Drive time from Westport is 3 hours. Christchurch is a little over an hour from Waipara.
Of course this is just scratching the surface of the amazing BMW driving roads out there. But wherever you go, make sure to drive safely and keep to the posted speed limits.
To help you discover more drives that other passionate BMW drivers rate highly in New Zealand and all over the world, try the BMW Ultimate Drive smartphone app. And you can do the same, adding details of your favourite drives, and commenting on other peoples’. You can also share pictures of your car, post on Facebook, and email directions to friends with iPhones, iPads, iPod Touches or GPS devices.
Get the BMW Ultimate Drive app free from the Apple iTunes App store or the Android Play Store.
