Detour #126: The Remarkables Road, New Zealand
Photo Josh Withers / Unsplash
Remarkable by name, remarkable by nature, this mountain pass in New Zealand needs to be on your southern hemisphere road trip list.
It’s fair to say you can’t really go far wrong on the road to any ski resort. Ascending to the greatest achievable height in the least time is a guarantee of switchbacks and sensational vistas. That heady combination of the need for total concentration on the road with the massive distraction of nature at its most beguiling.
Fly in to Queenstown airport on New Zealand’s South Island and it’s but a short hop on Highway 6 south to pick up The Remarkables Road which takes you to the Double Cone Ski Area in The Remarkables Range.
Photo Nareeta Martin / Unsplash
Clearly these mountains are a cut above the rest, with their moniker attributed either to their near-perfect North-South orientation, or more romantically, their awesome appearance in the warm red of a sunset. That’s certainly the most stunning time to see the mountain, but be warned the road is unlit, and is a somewhat unpredictable mix of solid asphalt and loose gravel, so care is needed even in the best visibility.
The journey upwards is initially a relatively gentle winding climb, before a set of eight hairpins in rapid succession lifts you higher still. Now follows a mostly straight run across the north side of the mountain allowing you to take in the view before the next barrage of bends. This motif repeats itself once more before you reach the giddy heights of the 2,319m ski area.
Along the way there are viewpoints at 2.5 miles and just under four miles in, where you can pause to take stock and take photos of the Shotover River below. The road is open year-round, but in the winter you’ll likely need a set of snow chains to make the climb.
Whatever time of year you choose to make this trip it truly does live up to its name.
Photo Nareeta Martin / Unsplash