0 comments. Below are a few recommendations on New Zealand's top scenic drives - priceless insider knowledge to get you inspired for a self drive tour of your own! SH 1 passes through Weld Pass and Dashwood Pass to enter the Awatere Valley, then countiuses southward before passing Lake Grassmere. The expressway takes the highway down the Bombay Hills to Mercer, where SH 1 meets the Waikato River, which it broadly follows for the next 220 km (140 mi). Several smaller projects are being undertaken to improve sections of SH 1. Gazetted in 1999 it provides an eastern bypass of Hamilton. There are famous fishing spots in almost every direction. Download The "Desert Road", New Zealand, where State Highway 1 passes through the sparse tussock and snow grasses of the Rangipo Desert. Parts of the road are steep by international standards. SH 1 as the Auckland Northern Motorway, looking north from Forrest Hill, North Shore. Works are expected to be completed in late 2021. [6][7] The section from the Central Motorway Junction and the Newmarket Viaduct, 3 km (1.9 mi) to the south, is the country's busiest section of road, with more than 200,000 vehicle movements a day between Khyber Pass Road and Gillies Ave.[8], NZTA announced in September 2010 that it was replacing the last three fords on SH 1S. Built on colonial bridle paths formed in the late 19th century, Forgotten World Highway is remote and mysterious to the extreme. The ominous sounding 'Desert Road' is basically the rugged part of State Highway 1. [5], SH 1K is a temporary spur assigned to the former SH 1N route between Peka Peka and Raumati via central Waikanae and Paraparaumu, bypassed by Kapiti Expressway in February 2017. The project involves building a 13 km (8 mi) expressway adjacent to the existing State Highway 1, from end of the existing Kapiti Expressway at Peka Peka to Taylors Road north of Ōtaki. Lake Taupo is the largest lake in New Zealand located in the center of North Island, 230 miles (372 kilometers) away from the capital city of Wellington. The first 7.5 km (4.7 mi) of the motorway is an automated toll road. SH 1 as the Wellington Urban Motorway, running beside Wellington Harbour. [28][29] In December 2018, the NZTA selected its preferred corridor for a new road bypassing Levin to the east alongside part of SH 57. Between Paekākāriki and Pukerua Bay, SH 1 and the North Island Main Trunk rail line travel along a narrow strip of land between the hills and the sea. In the southern South Island, several particularly twisting sections of SH 1S have been rebuilt to remove sharp bends and to generally improve road conditions. The road veers inland briefly, bypassing Waimate as it reaches the plains around the mouth of the Waitaki River, which it crosses to enter Otago. Cumberland Street, 1 km south of the city centre. Bagnold wanted men who were energetic, innovative, self-reliant, physically and mentally tough, and able to live and fight in seclusion in the Libyan desert. It then follows the western bank of the Rangitikei through Ohingaiti and Hunterville to Bulls. your own Pins on Pinterest The four-lane motorway (Dunedin Southern Motorway) runs through Dunedin's southern suburbs until the interchange with SH 87 at Mosgiel. [10] However, SH 17 was short lived, being revoked in September 2012 and reverting to a local arterial road. Call us and let us know 0800 4 SKI FM (0800 475 436) Because of the names of these two towns, this stretch of the highway was christened "The Presidential Highway" during the time of the Clinton-Gore administration in the United States. SH 1 follows the eastern shore of the lake for 50 km (31 mi) to TÅ«rangi, at the southern end of the lake. [19], The Puhoi to Wellsford motorway (Ara TÅ«hono) is one of the projects of the Roads of National Significance. [30] Funding was approved by the government in January 2020. The Desert Road section of Highway 1 is the eastern boundary and scenic Highway 4 provides access to the centre of the region. Turning southwards again, SH 1 leaves TÅ«rangi and ascends onto the North Island Volcanic Plateau, passing through the fringes of the Tongariro National Park and into the Rangipo Desert, passing the volcanoes of Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro. 2) The highest paved road would be the Crown Range Road (1076 m), closely followed by the Desert Road (1074 m) -- is that correct? Bagnold felt that New Zealand farmers would possess these attributes and was given permission to approach the 2nd New Zealand … Find road closures, incidents, roadworks and traffic cameras across New Zealand. Around 226 km (140 mi) of SH 1 is of motorway or expressway standard as of October 2017[update]: 197 km (122 mi) in the North Island and 28 km (17 mi) in the South Island. In the centre of New Zealand's North Island, there's a strip of highway known as the Desert Road. The highway bypasses the Kapiti conurbation of Waikanae, Paraparaumu and Raumati, narrowing again to a two-lane single carriageway south of Mackays Crossing and passing through Paekākāriki. Motorists are warned to drive to the conditions, with snow still on the sides of the road. You have been successfully added to the mailing list of Times of India Travel. At Paremata, SH 1 resumes as dual carriageway along the edge of the Porirua Harbour to Porirua city centre. At this stage, any meaningful progress is unlikely until at least 2025.[24]. SH 1 then heads southwest across the Taieri Plains. Of this, a little over half is Army land and the rest is part of Tongariro National Park. Lake Taupo - 56 km North-East. At Peka Peka, SH 1 widens to a four-lane dual carriageway known as the Kapiti Expressway. The ‘Desert Road’ cuts across the desolate Rangipo Desert, returning through Turangi along the lakeside to Taupo. The clouds were beginning to obscure Mount Ngauruhoe in the distance but there's also an abundance of quite colourful plants growing in the harsh volcanic sands and soil. SH 1/Twin Coast Discovery Highway concurrency ends, SH 1/Twin Coast Discovery Highway concurrency begins. At Bombay, SH 1 becomes the Waikato Expressway, a four-lane dual-carriageway expressway. Mount Ruapehu is the site of the North Island's … Mount Ngauruhoe (2287m) from the Desert Road (State Highway 1). Looking North along the desert road towards Mt Ngauruhoe, New Zealand Hugh de Lacy delves.. Of all the key roads in the North Island, none was as late coming into regular usage as that which runs across the Rangipo Desert between Waiouru and Tokaanu, east of the mountains Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe. Bill Gibson-Patmore. Current road construction will see an extra 96 km (60 mi) in the North Island and 6 km (4 mi) in the South Island upgraded to motorway or expressway standard by 2022. Check out this amazing image – seriously, it’s perfect! State Highway 1 has been earmarked for several motorway projects most of which have surfaced from the National government's Roads of National Significance package announced in 2009. From Waitiki Landing south of Cape Reinga, SH 1 travels down the central-eastern side of the peninsula to Kaitaia, New Zealand's northernmost town, before turning south-east across the Northland Peninsula on to Kawakawa in the Bay of Islands where the roadway is shared by the Bay of Islands Vintage Railwaytrack, and then south to the c… From Waiouru, the highway follows tributaries of the Rangitikei River through Taihape to meet the main river at Utiku. ]; and on the Dunedin Northern Motorway near Waitati. 46.8k members in the Irony community. The original route through Whangārei via Kamo Road, Bank Street, Water Street and Maunu Road was diverted via Western Hills Drive, while the original route through Timaru via Stafford and King Streets was diverted via Theodosia Street and Craigie Avenue. Desert Road, New Zealand. Select from premium Long Desert Road of the highest quality. 12.5k Posts - See Instagram photos and videos taken at ‘Desert Road New Zealand’ The motorway ends at Te Aro, where a one-way system takes traffic to the Basin Reserve. If you drive without stopping, it should only take you about 5 hours to complete this 232-mile (374-kilometer) route. At Porirua, the highway becomes the Johnsonville-Porirua Motorway, and travels into the northern suburbs of Wellington, New Zealand's capital city. This is a unique alpine semi-desert, with the forbidding appearance of a wild desolate wasteland. Explore Vitamin-K's photos on Flickr. South of Rolleston, SH 1 becomes virtually straight as it crosses the wide fan of the Canterbury plains, crossing the country's longest road bridge at Rakaia before reaching Ashburton, and then veering back towards the coast, which it reaches at Timaru. Lyn Ross @lynross; Lyn … Aug 13, 2017 - Bill ️. The route will be diverted east in 2020 upon the opening of the Transmission Gully Motorway. 16 November 2020 at 12:00-18:00: Rain, Temperature 17, 1.0 mm, Gentle breeze, 5 m/s from west Download this stock image: The Desert Road and Mount Ngauruhoe in New Zealand's North Island. Leaving Picton, SH 1 rises steeply to cross the Elevation saddle into the valley of the Tuamarina River. SH 1 ends at a roundabout at the entrance to the airport. We recommend you allow extra time to enjoy your … At an elevation of 1074m the Desert Road crosses the Central Plateau for 70kms from Turangi in the north to Waiouru in the south, running between the mountains of Tongariro National Park in the west and the Kaimanawa Ranges in the east and passing through NZ … Ruapehu New Zealand regional information. At Gore the highway crosses the Mataura River; from here the road again turns south to roughly follow the river. The highway bypasses the city centre to the west, before crossing to the east side and proceeding south-east out of the city. Click below For current Ruapehu road works and conditions click here See something others should know? Kiwis love a good road trip, and it's easy to see why - across New Zealand, you'll find incredible routes on smooth highways that traverse grand and varied countryside. We will be heading south to tongariro np & whakapapa village … Tongariro Alpine Crossing - 11 km West. Map of Desert Road, Taupo, New Zealand with street names and local businesses. For the majority of its length it is a two-lane single carriageway, with at-grade intersections and property accesses, in both rural and urban areas. [27], As of February 2018, NZTA is investigating extending the Kapiti Expressway northward approximately 23 km (14 mi) to just north of Levin, bypassing Levin and the villages of Ohau and Manakau. Freightliner t&t on the Desert Road, SH1 New Zealand. DESERT ROAD NEW ZEALAND. It appears on road maps as SH 1 and on road signs as a white number 1 on a red shield, but it has the official designations SH 1N in the North Island, SH 1S in the South Island. For real time State Highway conditions, road closures and the desert road webcam. SH 1 has varied road conditions. Before you’re tempted to put in for annual leave and tell the kids, take a moment to understand the specifics and pleasures of this modern road-trip capital. Is the view similar for both? Widening the Southern Motorway between Papakura and Drury South from four to six lanes. Northbound traffic uses the Wellington Inner City Bypass (opened 2007), while southbound traffic uses Vivian Street. In Dunedin, the highway forms a pair multi-lane one-way streets. Many travellers choose to turn onto SH 93 at Clinton, as this route offers a shorter journey between Clinton and Mataura and bypasses Gore. The Waikato Expressway ends in north-western Hamilton. All these routes are unsigned and appear as local arterial roads on maps. SH 1 crosses the Manawatu Plain, passing the city of Palmerston North about 20 km (12 mi) west of it. Be aware that the early part of the journey can be hazardous in the winter, especially from south of Turangi to Waiouru, where the main highway is often closed due to snow. All rights reservedAbout Us | Sitemap | Authors | Contact Us | Advertise with Us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use and Grievance Redressal Policy | Feedback A Times of India initiative | Weather powered by Skymet Weather. As of March 2020, the last section of the expressway is under construction. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann Recent progress of construction of the Waikato Expressway at Ngāruawāhia and Cambridge have also resulted in the curtailment of SH 1B at both the northern and southern termini. SH 1 continues to cross rolling hill country to reach Balclutha. Cars and trucks were trapped on the Desert Road section of State Highway 1 today as a belt of icy weather made its way up the country. The Desert Road is the first lap of your journey—it's… UPDATE: #SH1 Rangipo To Waiouru (Desert Road) is now OPEN. To complete the subscription process, kindly open your inbox and click on the confirmation link which has been emailed to you. Desert Road Broom (Cytisus scoparius) 2012: Invasive Legumes: Landcare Research: Wed, 21 Oct 2015 10:01:20 +0000: Fri, 12 Jun … Taken on May 28, 2010 This section is known as the Desert Road, and is frequently closed by snow in winter. How long does it actually take to drive around New Zealand? The section of highway between the Clarence River and Hapuku Rivers north of Kaikōura was closed from 14 November 2016 to 15 December 2017, due to damage from the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake.[2][3]. Between Ashburton and Timaru it crosses Rangitata Island in the Rangitata River. 831 views. Ruapehu's main settlements are the ski towns of National Park and Ohakune , and the rural service centre of Taumarunui , nestled on the banks of the Whanganui and Ongarue rivers. At Bulls, SH 1 turns southeast to cross the river, turning southwest again 5 km (3.1 mi) down the road at Sanson. It is also a World Heritage Area and that for its natural volcanic landscape. In the North Island, the Desert Road (SH1) was closed from 10pm yesterday to 9am today. In his book New Zealand Wild Horses, Harvie Morrow reports that the first horses in New Zealand were landed at Rangihora, Bay of Islands, by the sailing ship Active on December 23, 1814. These roads traverse the central city 2–3 blocks southeast of the heart of the CBD. The shingle fan fords are near Kaikōura, and while generally being dry, on about 28 days a year state highway traffic used to detour around them due to high water levels on old single-lane bridges, leading to delays on a major freight route. The expressway resumes at Tamahere, bypassing Cambridge to the north before reverting to a single carriageway east of the town. Check out this amazing image. Northern extensions of the motorway in 1969 (to Tristram Avenue), 1979 (to Sunset Road) and 1984 (to Dairy Flat Highway via Greville Road) diverted State Highway 1 off Wairau Road and Albany Highway. SH 1F was the name previously given to the northernmost section of SH 1N – between Cape Reinga and the junction with SH 10. It passes through the small town of Bluff before reaching its terminus at Stirling Point, a kilometre south of Bluff. The section of Marsden Point to Whangārei is to be upgraded to four lanes as part of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme. Desert Road, Central North Island: The Desert Road traverses the Central Volcanic Plateau along State Highway 1, between Turangi and Waiouru in the North Island. The highway continues eastward to the town of TÄ«rau, where it turns south to pass through Putāruru and Tokoroa and the surrounding exotic pine plantation forest area. Type a friend's name in or add a word tag to the photo. From the small town of Ward the highway heads to the coast and follows it to Kaikōura. The light was amazing with sun behind and masses of blue-black clouds up ahead.. The Desert Road, New Zealand. Rafting on the Tongariro River is another way to enjoy the region. The current highway was diverted via Avalon Drive, Greenwood Street, Kahikatea Drive and Normandy Avenue in 1992. Some things we take for granted, others we can just sit back and admire. Unlikely though it may seem, the road is indeed in a desert – the Rangipo. Hokey pokey has always been a New Zealand favourite, second only to vanilla in sales country-wide. Twin Coast Discovery Highway (Nova Scotia Drive) – Waipu, Greville Road – Browns Bay, Massey University, Albany, Northbound exit and southbound entrance only, Intersection lies on the border between the two districts, SH 1/Thermal Explorer Highway concurrency ends, SH 1/SH 5/Thermal Explorer Highway concurrency begins, SH 1/SH 5/Thermal Explorer Highway concurrency ends, SH 1/Alpine Pacific Triangle concurrency begins. The original route was via Te Rapa Road, Ulster Street (first agreed as an alternative to the northern end of Victoria St in 1930),[13] Victoria Street, Bridge Street and Cobham Drive, which is now Hamilton Urban Route 4. That’s a lot of ice-cream. The Desert Road is the first lap of your… It passes through Oamaru, from where it turns inland briefly, crossing undulating hill country before again reaching the coast at Moeraki. The crunch of the golden honeycomb lumps is as familiar to New Zealanders as the feeling of ice-cream melting down your hands. [4] The highway, at just under 42 km long, utilises many roads which were previously under the administration of the Waikato District Council. Tag this photo. NZTA are investigating extending the Christchurch Northern Motorway so that it bypasses the town of Woodend.[34]. The Ruapehu district is located in the central North Island of New Zealand, midway between Auckland and Wellington. From here it descends a steep, twisting stretch of Pine Hill Road through Pine Hill, before passing the University of Otago and heading through the city centre. Times Internet Limited. Highlights in Ruapehu NZ include Ohakune, Whakapapa, Turoa Ski Field, Tongariro National Park and Taumarunui. The section from the Queen Elizabeth II Drive to Brougham Street is now a local road, while the remainder of the route forms parts of SH 74 and 76. The motorway will run west of the current SH 1 alignment, starting at the end of the existing Auckland Northern Motorway and terminating onto the existing highway at Kaipara Flats Road, north of Warkworth township. The road is closed… Main South Road – City Centre, Lyttelton, Akaroa, SH 1/Southern Scenic Route concurrency begins, SH 1/Southern Scenic Route concurrency ends, Alternative route to SH 6 and SH 99, bypassing. Driving holidays in New Zealand belong on every bucket list. I was traveling down the Desert Road (Lord of the Rings country) in New Zealand and I had to stop to take this photo. Over its last stretch the road veers southwest before reaching the city of Invercargill. Drive the Desert Road New Zealand. Complete a series of driving tasks and test yourself on New Zealand’s road rules. [14], The route north of Wellington known as the Centennial Highway from Ngauranga to Paekākāriki was started in 1936 and opened on 4 November 1939. Answer 1 of 4: Hi I have been told that both the desert road and sh47 to the west of tongariro np are very scenic but which is best? The lake is actually the water-filled caldera of the Taupo Volcano, which has been inactive for about 1,800 years, and the city of Taupo sits on the northeastern corner of the … Because of the variable road conditions, travel times can often take longer than you expect. 39", "Improving the safety of State Highway 1B", "One Network Road Classification: North Island State Highways", "One Network Road Classification: South Island State Highways", "State highway frequently asked questions", "End of the road for last traffic fords left on State Highway 1", "Revoking Sections of State Highway and Declaring Sections of State Highway-State Highways 16, 17, 18, 18A and 20, Auckland", "Christchurch's Western Belfast Bypass opening to traffic", "TOO MANY ACCIDENTS. Ironically, their rapidly increasing numbers pose a threat to the fragile native plants of the area. A second bridge was added to four-lane the connection of the Mana isthmus to Paremata. Raising the highway and installing culverts in flood-prone areas between Oamaru and the Kakanui River bridge. Image of adventure, outdoor, brilliant - 113238485 The unit, initially known as the No.1 Long Range Patrol Unit (LRP), was founded on 3 July 1940. At Ngauranga, SH 1 becomes the Wellington Urban Motorway, skirting the shore of the harbour then passing the city centre to the west. An unusual situation at Kawakawa, where traffic on the country's premier highway must stop and give preference to SH 11 traffic. Thank You for sharing!Your friend will receive the point of interest link on email mentioned. It descends alongside this river and across the Wairau Plain before reaching Blenheim. Rangipo Desert is a barren desert-like environment in New Zealand, located in the Ruapehu District on the North Island Volcanic Plateau; to the east of the three active peaks of Mount Tongariro, Mount Ngauruhoe, and Mount Ruapehu, and to the west of the Kaimanawa Range. Tongariro Alpine … Desert Road. …miles) Approximately 2.5 hours Road Conditions: State Highway The town of Turangi is the trout fishing capital of New Zealand. Where SH 1 has moved onto a bypass, sometimes the former route is designated a spur until such time as the road can be transferred to the local council. Mount (Mt) Ngauruhoe (2287m) from the Desert Road (State Highway 1), Tongariro National Park, Taupo District, Waikato Region, New Zealand (NZ) stock photo. If you start your roadtrip in Auckland you will be quite surprised by this area in the centre of the North Island. – of the Desert Road, New Zealand, thanks to the Amazing Universe. [1] From Waitiki Landing south of Cape Reinga, SH 1 travels down the central-eastern side of the peninsula to Kaitaia, New Zealand's northernmost town, before turning south-east across the Northland Peninsula on to Kawakawa in the Bay of Islands where the roadway is shared by the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway track, and then south to the city of Whangārei, the largest urban area in Northland. These include stretches at Normanby, near Timaru; Waianakarua; two stretches at Flag Swamp and Tumai between Palmerston and Waikouaiti[17][unreliable source?][when? Come mountain biking with Revolution Bikes on the Desert Road in NZ. The motorway ends at Johnsonville, and SH 1 as a six-lane arterial road descends through the Ngauranga Gorge to the Ngauranga Interchange, on the shore of Wellington Harbour. Copyright © document.write(new Date().getFullYear()). In 2005–2006, SH1 through Mana was upgraded with extra lanes to provide dual carriageways through Mana during peak periods and the installation of traffic lights to regulate cross traffic. SH 1/Twin Coast Discovery Highway concurrency begins. The road will be transferred to the Kapiti Coast District Council in early 2019, once the NZTA has undertaken physical works to make the route fit-for-purpose as a local arterial road. Covering a total area of 268,021 sq.km, New Zealand consists of two main islands (North Island and South Island) and about 600 small islands. [26], Construction on the Peka Peka to Ōtaki extension to the Kapiti Expressway began in mid 2017, with the road expected to open in 2021. Updated : Jun 8, 2015, 17.32 IST, Tongariro National Park is New Zealand's oldest national park. Source: Stu and Shelley Easton The cars became stuck when a burst of snow yesterday hit the road from Rangipo to Waiouru, which is part of State Highway 1. Find road closures, incidents, roadworks and traffic cameras across New Zealand. As part of the Christchurch Southern Motorway (SH 76) extension, works began in 2016 to upgrade the section of SH 1 from Waterholes Road in Templeton to the Hoskyns Road intersection in Rolleston to expressway standard. Giant power pylons straddle the highway – stock editorial photography #381640894 from Depositphotos' collection of millions of premium high-resolution stock photos, vector images and … The highway crosses into the Auckland Region, and passes through Wellsford and Warkworth, again heading for the east coast. The Rangitata River pokey has always been a New Zealand the trout fishing of. Funding was approved by the missionary Samuel Marsden as a National strategic.... Become stuck in the centre of the Expressway resumes at Tamahere, bypassing to. 30 ] Funding was approved by the government in January 2020 Urban fringe of Christchurch International Airport highway installing. 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