Don't let bad weather stop you! Join us for a few days of exploring New Zealand's Central Plateau area. From epic forests to driving up the side of a volcano, it's a pretty hard area to beat!
A cruisy gravel road that winds through the ancient native bush of Kaimanawa Forest Park. The forest is clean and feels properly remote, so it's an easy-going way into backcountry driving without much fuss. Beginner-friendly and consistently well-rated, but it still feels immersive once you're in there.
Expect potholes throughout, though nothing serious. A capable vehicle will manage it fine. Plenty of spots to pull over and camp along the way, and it's popular with hunters, especially in season.
About a third of the way along, keep an eye out for an optional quarry track heading off to the left. That one's a trickier 4x4 challenge if you want to test yourself. It can be hard to spot, but it's logged in Navigator Pro. A relaxed, picturesque drive with good camping and a bit of adventure on the side if you fancy it.
Clements Clearing is a spacious bush campsite in Kaimanawa Forest Park, in the Tūrangi/Taupō area of the central North Island. It's reached by an easy gravel road that winds through native bush, making it a great base for exploring the surrounding park.
The setting is quiet and remote, with a big open main area and smaller, more private sites dotted off side tracks. The large clear sites near the entrance are the most accommodating, while spots further in tend to be more overgrown. Facilities are simple but cover the essentials of a DOC campsite: non-powered tent sites, multiple fire pits for campfires (except during fire bans), non-flush toilets that campers regularly note are clean, and water from a nearby stream.
With plenty of room to spread out, low crowds, and the occasional deer wandering through after dark, it's a consistently well-loved spot to settle in for a night or use as a hub for the area.
Short, sharp climb up to a quarry that packs a lot into not much distance. Don't let the modest length fool you. This is a tricky track with deep ruts and fun obstacles that reward good lines and careful spotting.
A short run of hard-packed gravel out to where the Waimarino River meets the lake. For most of its length it's an easy, fun little drive that finishes with a big view across the water, well worth the short detour.
It changes near the end, where deep water collects in puddles. These can be over a metre deep, nearly hood height in spots, so diff breathers and a snorkel are worth thinking about if you intend to push through. There's limited room to turn around at the far end, so weigh that up before you commit.
A relaxed scenic loop winding through the Kaimanawa area on a mix of seal and gravel, linking up the local points of interest. One thing that stands out is the operational dam you can actually drive across.
The route runs through native forest with good views and plenty of atmosphere, especially in early morning drizzle or fog. It's an easy, well-graded drive that drivers consistently rate highly.
It's gravel for much of the way and narrows in spots, so take a bit of care on the corners where you might meet oncoming traffic. You'll sometimes find tourists coming the other way a touch fast on the loose stuff.
A short side road that winds up through native forest. The bush sits tall on both sides, a good reminder of what much of the country once looked like before it was cleared.
Good low-stress detour if you're already in the area.
A short detour off the Desert Road leads in to the water cannon and outlet for the Rangipo dam. The main run is sealed and gravel, easy enough for most vehicles, which makes it a good one with the kids. It's tucked away and rarely busy, and the sheer power of the water gushing out at the inlet is worth the trip alone.
On clear days you'll get good views of snow on the nearby mountains. There's a bit of extra gravel that loops around to the outlet, plus a network of side tracks following the power line maintenance trails up top.
Those detours are fun if you feel like exploring, though they can get scratchy with bush rash. Nothing crazy, and if you'd rather keep it clean you can stick to the easy main route. Good quick stop for a smoko break or to show the kids a remote dam in action.
An easy diversion off the Desert Road that runs out to the Waipakihi River. The track starts on old tarseal with a few potholes before turning to dirt and getting progressively rougher, with decent ruts most of the way before it opens into a scenic riverside area.
The main feature is a deep washout on the descent just before the river. It's manageable with care and a good line, and rock packing has created an s-bend route down, but climbing back out can be challenging without lockers. The Waipakihi River crossing is good fun over a rocky base and generally needs a snorkel. Levels can rise quickly after rain, so check before committing.
Across the river you can work your way down to riverside campsites, tight and noisy beside the water but an epic spot to camp for a night or two. Note the scratchy track down to the sites can leave plenty of bush rash, so it's not one for an unblemished paint job. A steel gate sits at the track but has generally been open. Pack out your rubbish.
Driving up the side of an active volcano is something pretty special. The Tukino Access Road climbs the eastern flank of Mt Ruapehu in Tongariro National Park, near Waiouru, and the higher you get the more it feels like Mars. The rocky, barren landscape is otherworldly, and on a clear day the views are hard to beat. Good year round: head up in summer for the scenery, or in winter for some epic and far more challenging snow driving.
The route is rocky, rough and corrugated in places, with a couple of small stream crossings. It's not technical, and most 4WDs manage easily, often 2WDs in good weather. Beyond the 2WD carpark it climbs steeply and gets very exposed to strong wind and fast-changing weather. Sharp rocks can cut tyres, so take it easy. Some drivers drop to around 20-25 psi to smooth the ride. Leaving the track risks an $800 DOC fine, and it's a dog-free zone.
There-and-back day trip, roughly an hour to the top and back, with no camping on the mountain but plenty of sites nearby. A gate about three-quarters of the way up is locked when the ski field's closed. A free key (donation appreciated) comes from the Waiouru Army Museum or the Taupo, Turangi and Ohakune visitor centres, worth ringing ahead. Without it you still drive most of the way and only miss the steep final section.