Scenic Drive Through the Desert Road
The Desert Road, part of State Highway 1, is located on the eastern side of Tongariro National Park and is renowned as one of New Zealand's most scenic drives. This route ascends to 1,074 metres, making it the highest major highway in the country. It offers breathtaking views of three prominent volcanoes: Ruapehu, standing at 2,707 metres; the near-perfect cone of Ngauruhoe at 2,287 metres; and the squat Tongariro at 1,967 metres. However, if you've just driven the Taihape-Napier Road on the Napier-Taupō Loop, the traffic here might surprise you.
Unique Desert Landscape
As you travel north from Waiouru, the landscape transitions from green farmland to the stark beauty of the Rangipo Desert. This area is characterised by scrublands, tussocks, and sand, all set against the backdrop of the towering volcanoes. Despite its arid appearance, the desert is not as dry as it seems. Its desert-like conditions are due to its elevation of over 1,000 metres, acidic soil resulting from volcanic eruptions, and harsh, cold winds, rather than a lack of moisture. As you near the end of the desert, the road offers a striking view of Mt Ngauruhoe, famously known as Mt Doom from the Lord of the Rings films, with the flatter Mt Tongariro to the right.
Capturing the Views
While the large electric pylons along the road might be a distraction, the views improve further north as the pylons move closer to the mountains. It is generally safe to pull over to the side of the highway and capture photos of the stunning volcanic scenery.
The Kaimanawa Mountains
On the eastern side of the road lie the Kaimanawa Mountains, which, despite reaching over 1,600 metres, appear more like high hills. These mountains are quite bare to the south but become heavily forested beyond the rain shadow of Ruapehu. A particularly scenic area of this region can be accessed via Tree Trunk Gorge Road and Kaimanawa Road at the northern end of the Desert Road. These provide access to Tree Trunk Gorge Track, Pillars of Hercules, Waikato Falls and several DOC campsites.
Best Time to Visit
While the photos here were captured in mid-spring, the most picturesque time for this drive is likely a clear winter day following a snowstorm, when the landscape is blanketed in snow.
How to Get There
The Desert Road is the section of State Highway 1 between Waiouru to the south and Turangi to the north.
Other nearby side trips include the beautiful Lake Rotopounamu and Lake Rotoaira, the thermal activity at Tokaanu, and the Waihohonu Track, which provides access to Tongariro National Park.
