Quote Originally Posted by Transalper View Post
I'm afraid I am a bit skeptical over the usefullness of the WAMS for our thing, I can see 3 purple lines locally that I know either do not exist at all or are all locked up. Clicking the 4WD icon I could see no changes.
Have a bit of a nose through the site. 'Unformed legal roads' are also on the map, as well as a lot of lines for rivers, streams and creeks (Queens Chain? Or NZ's form of? Can't remember now. It's been a while since I had a look through myself ) which the public are entitled access to for the most part. Also, the W in WAMS stands for walking, so you can't always physically get a vehicle down some of the roads, and when they go into DOC or public reserve land there can be different rules regarding vehicles.

The areas you know of that are all locked up, are possibly done so illegally (sometimes with good reason/intentions, often without), hence one of the reasons WAMS came about. Even local councils are guilty of illegally blocking access to public land.

Combined with the satellite view in Google maps and the mentioned tramper or DOC maps, you can usually get a fair idea of what you're in for before you get there.

TL: DR It is not a tool specifically for formed roads and vehicle access.