Garden Route, South Africa Stretching 200km along the coast of South Africa from Mossel Bay to the Eastern Cape, the Garden Route offers the perfect combination of culture, adventure, beaches and wildlife. For those short on time, the route can be driven in under three hours but with so much to enjoy including sweeping sandy beaches, rocky coves, lagoons, ancient forests and mountain passes, we recommend spreading the journey over 3-5 days. Highlights include oysters at Kynsna and the wildlife sanctuaries of Plettenberg Bay.
Big Sur, California Best driven in a drop-head sports car, cruising along the Pacific Highway Coast from Carmel to San Simeon is a treat. This great American road trip can be completed over the course of a day, but we’d suggest an overnight stay to get the most from the journey. Beach and wildlife lovers are spoilt for choice. Stop off to hike through forest trails; visit the cascading McWay Falls; scout for migrating whales and take a photograph at iconic Bixby Bridge.
Gamsberg Pass, Namibia Few road trips come as adventurous or exciting as the Gamsberg Pass and the drive across the flat-topped Gamsberg Mountain is Namibia’s longest and highest mountain pass. Travelling south from Windhoek, the road snakes and climbs providing wonderful views of the Kuiseb River valley below, before dropping to the desert floor and onwards to Walvis Bay. Total drive time is around 6 hours, meaning the journey can be comfortably completed in a day with plenty of time for stop-offs.
Icefields Parkway, Canada Rated one of the world’s top scenic drives, Icefields Parkway travels from Jasper to Lake Louise passing through ancient glaciers, dramatic waterfalls, surreal rock spires, dense forest and emerald lakes. Spanning Banff and Jasper National Parks, scout for grizzly and black bear, caribou and bighorn sheep and do not miss glacier-fed Peyto Lake, the Columbia Icefield and the chance to experience the Glacier Sky Walk. A drive of 232km, it takes between 3-4 hours without stops.
Amalfi Coast, Italy Famed for panoramic ocean views and cliff-hugging roads, this UNESCO-listed coastal region is big on Italian romance, beauty and style. The road twists and turns for 70km, linking the historic port of Salerno, the medieval hilltop town of Ravello, the beaches of Amalfi and Atrani, the glamorous pastel-coloured buildings and hidden coves of Positano and Praiano, before reaching the end of the journey in Sorrento. Linger over La Dolce Vita enjoying the glorious food, wine, history and beach life along the way.
Nelson to Christchurch, New Zealand The coastal road from Nelson to Christchurch weaves along the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island offering an ever-changing landscape of stunning ocean views, glorious mountain ranges and orderly vineyards. Blenheim at the heart of the Marlborough wine-producing region makes a great overnight stop for wine tours. We’d also suggest a seafood lunch in Kaikoura, a marine mecca famous for its fur seal colonies and the chance to spot dolphins and migrating whales. Around 420km, the total drive time is around 6 hours.