Travel: Readers' top drives

The Pacific Coast Highway in California. Photo / iStock

ON NEW ZEALAND
We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful country as New Zealand. It is a land of contrasts and outstanding beauty. My ultimate roadtrip would be to start from the top of the South Island and head first to Abel Tasman National Park, then hop over the hill to the wonderful arty town of Takaka. Next I would double back to Blenheim and check out a few vineyards before taking the "road less travelled" through Molesworth Station. I would maybe camp out by the Clarence River for a night or two and enjoy the stark beauty and isolation of our wonderful High Country. After driving on to Hanmer Springs I'd head down to Christchurch and then inland through the Mackenzie Country and spend days in the area visiting Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki and Mt Cook. I would also do some walks and visit some of the High Country stations such as Glenmore Station. I would linger a while in Tekapo township, visit Mt John Observatory and then enjoy a soak in the hot pools by the lake.

Moving on, I would check out the hydro schemes on the Waitaki River and then travel through to Queenstown. I would need a few days there just to check out all the sights. I would drive up to the end of Lake Wakatipu and enjoy a night at Glenorchy. A drive up to Coronet Peak would also be on the agenda.

After Queenstown I would travel to Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea before taking on the Haast Pass. It would be lovely to slowly travel up the West Coast stopping at all the little places, the lakes and glaciers and "going bush" for a while. Greymouth would be a good stop to check out "all things local" and I could use it as a base to travel up to Arthurs Pass for the day. Next I would travel north and stay at Punakaiki for a day or two. The pancake rocks and the nikau palms there are wonderful. I might even head north of Westport and walk a little of the Heaphy Track before coming south again so I could take on the Buller Gorge and wind my way slowly up to Nelson.

What a privilege it would be to undertake such an amazing road trip.
Christine Palacio

The road into Lake Tekapo. Photo / Dean Purcell

UNITED STATES FROM EAST TO WEST
Hiring an old-school V8 and touring the United States from east to west.
Kelly Howell

ICELAND'S RING ROAD
A tour around Iceland's ring road. About 1400km with snow, ice, gravel, river crossings, mud and some sealed sections; and that's just in the few short weeks of summer. Ten to 15 days driving past and through active volcanoes, glaciers and raging waterfalls, seeing puffins and the seat of modern Parliaments at Thingvellir, soaking in thermal pools. And hopefully the ultimate: a grand view of the Northern Lights.
Paul Taylor

Iceland's ring road. Photo / 123RF

ITALY TO SWITZERLAND
Taking the beautifully scenic route from Venice in Italy up into Switzerland in something light, quick and red: an Alfa Romeo 4C. Naturally this route would require a few heroic blasts up and down the Stelvio Pass, letting the little Alfa dance its way around the 75 hairpins. Unfortunately my wife would probably be screaming all the way: "Slow down!"
Garth Leckey

RAGLAN TO TARANAKI
Along the Forgotten Highway, following the coast from Raglan through the Waitomo area and down to the Taranaki coast.
Leah Wilson

PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY
Along the Pacific Coast Highway in California, starting at the southern end of it and then carrying on as far as I could go and into Canada. I've never been out of New Zealand but I love the ocean so that would be an incredible experience for me.
Kirsty McKenzie

WEST COAST OF NZ
After getting off the Interislander ferry I would like to drive down the wild West Coast road through the South Island to Haast to meet its unique locals and see spectacular wild scenery such as the pancake rocks and its untamed surf, rainforests, crystal-clear lakes and icy glaciers, wild and rugged mountains with its many untamed rivers. And course enjoy the hospitality and food the West Coast has to offer.
Les Radley

Road near Alice Springs in Australia's outback. Photo / Supplied

THROUGH THE OUTBACK
From Darwin down to Alice Springs, and on to Adelaide, then to Melbourne along the Great Ocean road and on to Sydney. After that, we'd drive up the coast to our favourite holiday destination Byron Bay. This trip would compete with our overland adventure in 2013 - Perth to Kalgoorlie to Menzies/Laverton, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs across the Tanami Desert to Halls Creek through to Katherine then Jabiru, finishing in Darwin - a total of 6167km and three deserts.
Dean Camp

OLD-SCHOOL NZ
Travelling around New Zealand in my restored 1971 Series 2a long-wheelbase station wagon Land Rover on all the country roads, off the beaten track and away from all the hustle and bustle of the motorway traffic. What could be better?
Ken Atkins

GREAT SITES OF THE UNITED STATES
Across the US, stopping at all the great sites: the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Death Valley, the Great Lakes, as well as Gracelands, with maybe a side trip to New Orleans. I'd need a Navman to avoid getting lost, as my wife just can't read maps.
Neville Bates

EASTERN NORTH ISLAND
Cruising slowly around the East Cape of New Zealand from Opotiki to Gisborne via Te Araroa and continuing on via the Mahia Peninsula to Napier. It would be a magic time enjoying the tranquillity and timelessness of this overlooked part of New Zealand.
Allen Dixon