Driving the Inland Road Through North Canterbury
Winding through the rugged interior of the Hurunui District, the Inland Road (Route 70) offers a quieter, scenic alternative to State Highway 1 from Kaikōura to Waiau. Part of the Alpine Pacific Touring Route, this lesser-travelled road shows off the raw beauty of teh region with landscapes that shift from coastal foothills to mountains and alpine valleys.
Driving the Inland Road
The route begins from SH1 near Kaikōura beneath the steep ridgelines of the Seaward Kaikōura Range up to 1,700 metres high to the north, then gently climbs to Whales Back Saddle at 500 metres, flanked by the Amuri Range mostly around 1,400 metres high but with a high point of 1,742 metres at Mt Terako. After Whales Back Saddle, the road gradually descends to Waiau.
The trip is marked by undulating farmland, river valleys, and wide mountain views, especially striking in the early-morning or late-afternoon light. There are no towns before Waiau, making it a peaceful, uninterrupted drive through a region defined by its natural character. Roughly three-quarters of the way, the small attractive alpine village of Mt Lyford provides a short detour, with a ski field in Winter, walking trails year-round and a restaurant.
How to Get There
To take this scenic drive, start from Kaikōura and follow the Inland Road towards Waiau.
In Kaikōura, you can explore the Kaikōura Peninsula Walkway and the Lower Peninsula Walkway. From Waiau, you are a short drive from the historic Waiau Ferry Bridge, Hanmer Springs and Lewis Pass.
