Branching off the Motueka Valley Highway near Ngatimoti, this one climbs steeply through farmland and beech forest towards Flora car park, a popular way into Kahurangi National Park.

It starts part-sealed, with the final 5.8 km unsealed, narrow, and broken by a few sharp bends where a bit of care and steady speeds pay off. 4WD is worth having year-round, especially through the colder months when the upper section can get slippery.

The climb opens up wider views over the Graham Valley and the ranges around it as you go. The car park at the top is a well-used base for tramping and mountain biking on the tracks beyond. Drive to conditions, watch for oncoming traffic on the tight bits, and enjoy a steady backcountry ascent into one of the South Island's great national parks.