We love cars, right!? Some may say that a good car makes a road good but some may also say that a good road makes a good car! Well whichever one it is, here is a road that you definitely want to add to that bucket list!
Let me introduce you to NZ SH25 aka the Thames Coast Road.
The Thames Coast Road is a stretch of tarmac that connects the large coastal town of Thames with the town of Manaia, it is a small piece of the State Highway number 25 that connects the various towns on the Coromandel Peninsula which is in the North Island of New Zealand.
Though it looks rather straight on the map, drive it and you’ll realize it is anything but. The road wraps around the side of hills and it is the only thing that separates them from the ocean!
You can’t go very fast on it, I’ll admit but good roads aren’t just about driving fast, they are about enjoying the scenery and the experience!
It is one of the best roads that I’ve ever driven on and I certainly think it can contend with the best that the world has to offer.
The road is full of banked curves and there are parts where there’s trees on both sides and parts where you are exposed to the ocean. On the plus side there are plenty of places to pull over so you can stop and enjoy the view and with a road like this, that is something you definitely want to do!
On the plus side, there are some excellent restaurants waiting for you in Coromandel and the people are very friendly! And there’s the added bonus of the excellent roads further up the peninsula. It’s a must do road trip for sure!
Thanks for reading!
Words and pictures by Matthew D’souza
