Drivers AtlasThe world's best roads

New Zealand, South Island

Great driving roads near Queenstown

The Crown Range, the road to Glenorchy and the run to Milford Sound all start here.

First instinct from Queenstown: head north east over the Crown Range.

Scored roads in range

4

Nearest great road

15 mi

Best rated nearby

9.6 / 10

Shortest full loop

5 hr 34 min

Checked by the Drivers Atlas desk

Scored and written by the Drivers Atlas editorial desk, drawing on driven routes across the UK and Europe, mapping data and member road reports. Every road in the library carries a driving and scenery score set by the same method. How we score roads.

Last reviewed 7 May 2026

Under 60 km from the centre

An hour out and back

Close enough for an evening run or a Sunday morning before the traffic wakes up.

Roughly 7 hr 45 min of driving if you string the lot together and come back the way you came.

60 to 150 km from the centre

An afternoon

Far enough to feel like a proper trip, close enough to be home for dinner.

Roughly 7 hr 14 min of driving if you string the lot together and come back the way you came.

150 to 400 km from the centre

A full day

Leave early, take the long way back and make a day of it.

Roughly 13 hr 4 min of driving if you string the lot together and come back the way you came.