Out at the mouth of the Whanganui River, this is a low-tide run up the coast on open black sand, heading past some big cliffs further north. When conditions are right it makes for a great drive, but it's an unforgiving stretch and you need to treat it with respect.

Check the tides before you go and only take it on on a low, outgoing tide. Carry recovery gear and travel with another vehicle if you can. The main thing to watch is the soft patches. What looks like wet sand with a shallow layer of water can actually be a deep hole, and the locals are forever pulling vehicles back out of them. Pick your line carefully and keep moving on the firmer sand.

That said, it's well worth the trip for the scenery and the coastal driving.