The Scenic Route family overlooking a mountain coastline in New Zealand
A Canadian family exploring New Zealand

We came for the scenery. We keep finding the stories.

Strange tracks, hidden roads, caves, coastlines and the places we never would have found by taking the fastest route.

New Zealand Family adventures First-hand guides
Start exploring

Find a place, follow a road or choose the next adventure.

The website is growing around the way we actually travel, not around a giant list of places we have never been.

Snowy mountains and braided river valley from Bealey Spur Track
Pick an experience

Adventures

Tracks, caves, beaches, islands, campsites and the strange places that make us stop.

Wharariki Beach and the Archway Islands in Golden Bay
Choose a region

Destinations

Explore places through the adventures we have actually experienced there.

The Scenic Route family exploring Golden Bay
Follow the journey

Road Trips

The individual stops matter, but sometimes the road connecting them becomes part of the adventure too.

Snowy mountains and braided river valley from Bealey Spur Track in Arthur's Pass
Featured guide
Arthur's Pass • Canterbury The view became our destination.
From the road

Bealey Spur Track

Arthur's Pass National Park

A steady winter climb through mountain beech forest led us above two enormous alpine river valleys.

We did not reach the hut on this trip. We found a viewpoint, checked the fading winter daylight and decided that was enough of a reward for one afternoon.

Watch the adventure

The guides help you plan it. The videos are where it actually happens.

Weather, reactions, family debates, mistakes and the things we could never have planned belong on YouTube.

One of our favourite examples is Golden Bay, where a short forest stop and some extraordinary water turned into one of our strongest episodes yet.

We Found Some of the Clearest Water Ever Measured YouTube episode
The Scenic Route We Found Some of the Clearest Water Ever Measured
Explore Golden Bay

One road trip. Completely different kinds of adventure.

Golden Bay was where the website started taking shape. Heights, caves, limestone forest, clear water and a wild coast all ended up connected by the same trip.

Our family climbing the Tākaka Hill Via Ferrata
Heights • Tākaka Hill

Tākaka Hill Via Ferrata

The cliff gave us a pretty quick lesson in the difference between feeling confident and actually being comfortable.

The Grove Scenic Reserve in Golden Bay
Forest • Limestone

The Grove

Nīkau palms, giant limestone blocks and narrow passages turned a short walk into a very good side quest.

Wharariki Beach and the Archway Islands in Golden Bay
Coast • Golden Bay

Wharariki Beach

Huge dunes, wild surf, the Archway Islands and a beach millions of people have already seen on a computer screen.

Why The Scenic Route

The fastest road usually isn't the interesting one.

We moved from Canada to New Zealand and started exploring our new home as a family.

Somewhere along the way, the places between the famous stops became just as interesting as the famous stops themselves. A strange sign, an old road, a cave or a track we had never heard of can completely change the day.

That is usually where we turn.
The Scenic Route family together in New Zealand
10% Scenic Route viewer saving
Scenic Route Discounts

A useful perk from places we actually use.

We are starting to collect genuine viewer discounts from operators that have been part of our own adventures. First up is Beachcomber Cruises in Picton.

Scenic Route code THESCENICROUTE10

Offer terms and eligible experiences can change. Check the current Scenic Route offer page before booking.

Two ways to explore

Useful here. More fun on YouTube.

The website exists to make the places we find more useful once the adventure is over.

We keep the practical information, context and planning here. The actual uncertainty, reactions, weather and family moments stay in the videos where they belong.

01
On the website

Plan the place.

Access, track details, useful context, what surprised us and the things we would want to know before going.

02
On YouTube

Come along.

The drive, family conversations, wrong guesses, unexpected wildlife and whatever the day decides to throw at us.

Work with The Scenic Route

Have a place, experience or story that belongs in an adventure?

We work with destinations, tourism operators, accommodation and brands when there is a genuine fit with the places we are already exploring and the audience following the journey.