The trip along Whanganui River Road is not for the faint-hearted or those with a weak stomach.
Narrow, winding, and lacking in tarseal for a long stretch, the road makes for a slow drive and - no doubt - one or two upset tummies.
Needless to say, the news that the bumpy, gravel road is to be completely sealed between Ranana and Pipiriki means a huge difference for locals, especially in places like Jerusalem, smack-bang in the middle of nowhere, an hour or so drive from either destination.
"It just makes the trip to town easier on our vehicles," says Shy Nahona, who lives in Jerusalem and travels to town about once every two weeks.
"It's all right, but it's going to make the road busier, being tarsealed."
A man from Ranana, where a good section of the road had already been sealed, also said it would be easier on their cars, and would make it "quicker to get to places".
He hadn't even known the work was getting done until being pleasantly surprised one day by the newer, smoother road.
Chris Winter, from Raetihi, who worked on the power board and travelled the road often, said: "It's a big attraction to have a good road through here.
"I've travelled this road for 42 years, quite often, especially during fault weather," he said.
Anything to make the area profitable was a positive, he thought.
Mr Winter was out with his 5-year-old grandson and one of his grandson's friends for a walk around and a hunt.
Whanganui River Adventures owner Josephine Haworth was certain the new seal would bring more tourism to the area.
She said a lot of people who came through complained about the gravel.
"We've had a couple that just left here and they stayed with us for two days," she said. "They said that they'll do a lot more travel once the road is sealed."
Daniel and Karin Sutr were two Swiss tourists on a three month bicycle trip around New Zealand, and had just finished cycling the road.
"We were expecting a real rough road so I was okay," said Mr Sutr.
"On some stretches, with a mountain bike, you'll be fine."
He thought it would be better to leave the road as it was, although some finer gravel "would be nice".
Once they reached the part of the road that was already tarsealed, they noticed more traffic - including campervans and motorcycles - which they thought spoiled the road somewhat.
With less frequent traffic they found the road to be much nicer to cycle along.
Another man echoed their sentiments, saying "I don't know if I approve of sealing roads, actually."
Tony Johnson was one of a group of four visiting St Joseph's Convent in Jerusalem from Wellington and Hawke's Bay, and felt sealing the road would mess with the atmosphere.
"It's a sense of challenge and remoteness, all the good stuff," Mr Johnson said.
His friend Victor Paulson, though, welcomed the change, which would bring with it a decided lack of dust.
"There's nothing worse than having all that dust coming in your car," he said. "It's the dust - that's it. Full stop."
He did, however, agree that "The greatest places in New Zealand are the stops on the map that are quiet."
Sealing the last of the river road is scheduled for March 30.