The Mountain Roads Are So Steep In New Zealand Poem by Francis Duggan

The mountain roads are so steep in New Zealand
For miles and miles they just wind up and down
You crawl down hill and labour up the steep slope
A sixty miles slow drive to nearest town.

And all around you there's an untamed beauty
On either side steep gorges down below
On such roads would not like to drive in Winter
On bad conditions when there's frost and snow.

I've travelled on the Snowy mountain highway
But some New Zealand mountain roads steeper by far
Before you venture out on such a journey
Make sure you have the brakes checked on your car.

The high road south of Dannevirke I'll remember
For 6 K's it was down hill all the way
The stream flowed rapid along the steep gorge bottom
Down over rocks it foamed a frothy spray.

The mountain roads are so steep in New Zealand
That you have to change from high gear down to low
And I'd hate like hell to have to drive upon them
On Winter days when there is frost and snow.