The drive will take from 4 hours to 6 depending on how many times you pull over to take a photo or stretch the legs. This is the most scenic road in New Zealand, if not the world, so take your time. The terminal face of Fox Glacier is just 5 kilometres from the township that serves it and was named after an early New Zealand Prime Minister, William Fox.

As you head towards Haast, you will pass Lake Paringa, where you can enjoy a delicious meal of salmon at the salmon farm. Just north of Haast is Lake Moeraki, a peaceful forest lake with good fishing – a 40 minute walk takes you to the penguin colony at Monro Beach. The settlement of Haast was once a construction camp for the Ministry of Works (the government department responsible for road and bridge building). It’s a town with a touch of the wild west – helicopters fly deer hunters into the rugged ranges and local pubs make a feature of stuffed animal trophies.

At the Gates of Haast you will have an opportunity to stop and photograph the wild water as it crashes down its steep boulder-strewn riverbed.The drive to Wanaka from the West Coast passes through spectacular scenery. This route was a traditional pathway for Maori en route to the West Coast in search of pounamu (greenstone or jade). A number of short walks line the highway to Haast to Makarora, taking visitors to deep blue swimming holes or cascading waterfalls. Makarora is a stopping-off point for several multi-day walks in Mount Aspiring National Park.

Lakes Wanaka and Hawea were both designed and built by glaciers over 10,000 years ago. The lakes lie side by side, separated at ‘The Neck’ by just a sliver of land. Ringed by pebbly beaches and with magnificent views to the surrounding peaks, the lakes are popular with locals and travellers, especially during the long, hot months of summer.