The south has something the north cannot quite offer: some amazing and scenic routes through very old and historic places. Regular contributor Kevin Isemonger is a North Islander, and last month sang the praises of northern off-road drives. Now he turns his gaze southward to the Mainland for a pictorial tour of the high and low roads.
The recent human history of the south was based on gold and coal – while the north was based on timber and pasture.
Almost all of the famous 4WD routes in the south are old gold or coal-field access roads. As New Zealand grew, some of these main roads were left to fall into disrepair, only maintained by farmers or acclimatisation societies for access to summer grazing or favourite fishing holes.
The more freight-based routes were upgraded to State Highways. Anyone with a well prepared 4WD is free to explore and ‘freedom camp’ old gold trails like the Dunstan, Nevis and Thompson Gorge Roads. There we can enjoy the Kiwi lifestyle our parents enjoyed – simply because there is no one else there.
It isn’t all good news. Because of the fragility of these abandoned areas, they are likely to be locked up in coming years, to be only enjoyed by the bugs, birds and ‘permitted’ walkers.
Some may say this is the perfect world, but I disagree. If they are not used and enjoyed, any ecological issues that crop up could go un-checked for years. DoC management of ‘high country’ areas, including Banks Peninsula, is undergoing a rethink on the dangers of simply abandoning pastoral management in favour of ‘leaving it to nature’. Health and Safety requirements and public liability issues will also play a major part in future access to the remote roads and tracks of Central Otago.
My prediction is that in years to come, the wilderness areas enjoyed during my frequent southern excursions will become inaccessible, unless ‘koha’ is paid to attend guided, supervised drives.
Many years ago, I attended the Bannockburn Safari hosted by the Otago Land-Rover Owners club. What became obvious very quickly was the difference in the vehicles. North Island 4WD clubs are dominated by short-wheelbase petrol vehicles; the South Island is typically long wheel-base hard-top diesels.  One is best for close bush and a very boggy style of touring; the other is ideal for the vast open spaces and lower temperatures.
Perhaps some specifics may help to explain the point I am making. Could the north’s Moeawatea, Waikura, Waimata Valley Roads, Mangamahu and Pohonui Roads be the Nevis, Dunstan, Hakataramea, Danseys and Thompsons of the north in years to come due to dwindling population in these remote areas?

Editor’s note: So there we have it, or maybe not. Kevin’s career in politics seems assured. He likes the north. And the south.
He makes a good point though, one that is echoed most months by our contributor Peter Vahry.
If 4WDers want to keep their freedoms and have access to New Zealand’s remote places in the future, they (we) all need to watch for and advocate for those places and for our rights of access.
We also need to be out there, using these precious and special places (in appropriate ways) - because there’s always the argument from Government types that they can be safely locked away because ‘nobody ever goes there’.
Unless of course we prefer guided, supervised and sanitised drives on roads barely off the tarseal.