An easy run on well-formed gravel that links over into the MacKenzie Country, this is a relaxed alternative to the highway with wide, open high-country views the whole way. The stretch towards Tekapo is the pick of it for big-sky scenery across the basin.

The surface can get corrugated, so dropping your tyre pressure makes for a more comfortable ride. There are a couple of fords along the way, typically shallow or dry by mid-summer, which add a bit of character without much trouble.