State Highway 21 is a short 6.7 kilometre stretch of highway in the North Island

North Island

The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...

 of New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

. It links State Highway 1, Waikato Expressway

Waikato Expressway

The Waikato Expressway is a dual carriageway section of State Highway 1 in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand and forms part of the link between Auckland and Hamilton...

 at Tamahere

Tamahere

Tamahere is a semi-rural ward of the Waikato District on the outskirts of Hamilton.-Demographics:According to the 2006 census, the Tamahere and Tauwhare area has a combined population of 4623...

 and State Highway 3

New Zealand State Highway 3

State Highway 3 is one of New Zealand's eight national highways. It serves the west coast of the country's North Island and forms a link between State Highway 1 and State Highway 2...

 at Ohaupo. Its main destination is Hamilton International Airport

Hamilton International Airport

For the airport in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, see Hamilton/John C. Munro International Airport.The Hamilton International Airport is an airport located in the Waikato region, in New Zealand...

 and Mystery Creek, where the National Agricultural Fieldays

National Agricultural Fieldays

The National Agricultural Fieldays is an annual national agricultural show and Field day event held in Hamilton, New Zealand. It styles itself as "the biggest agricultural trade show in the southern hemisphere"....

 are held.

Oddities

State Highway 21 is actually 120 km south of where the number is supposed to be; in reality, it should lie somewhere in South Auckland

South Auckland

South Auckland is an imprecisely defined area of Auckland, New Zealand, often stereotyped as a socio-economically disadvantaged, and sometimes rough, urban area with a relatively large Polynesian and Māori population. The name South Auckland is not an official place name but is in common use by New...

. This southern placement makes SH 21 the second-most southern SH 2x highway, after SH 28.

At the exit to Hamilton Airport, State Highway 21 shows Hamilton to be in both directions (i.e. left to Hamilton and Rotorua

Rotorua

Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...

, right to Hamilton and Waitomo Caves

Waitomo Caves

The Waitomo Caves are a village and cave system forming a major tourist attraction in the southern Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand, 12 kilometres northwest of Te Kuiti. The community of Waitomo Caves itself is very small, though the village has many temporary service workers...

), and is possibly the only place in the State Highway network in which this happens. The actual difference between turning left and turning right is only 800 metres.

Major intersections

Territorial authority	Location	km	Destinations	Notes
Waikato District Waikato District Waikato District is a territorial authority of New Zealand, in the northern part of Waikato Region, North Island. Waikato District is administered by the Waikato District Council, with headquarters in Ngaruawahia....	Tamahere	0	SH 1/Thermal Explorer Highway south (Waikato Expressway Waikato Expressway The Waikato Expressway is a dual carriageway section of State Highway 1 in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand and forms part of the link between Auckland and Hamilton... ) Rotorua Rotorua Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...	SH 21 begins
			SH 1/Thermal Explorer Highway north (Waikato Expressway Waikato Expressway The Waikato Expressway is a dual carriageway section of State Highway 1 in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand and forms part of the link between Auckland and Hamilton... ) Hamilton Hamilton, New Zealand Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
		2	Waikato River Waikato River The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand. In the North Island, it runs for 425 kilometres from the eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu, joining the Tongariro River system and emptying into Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake. It drains Taupo at the lake's northeastern edge, creates the...
Waipa District Waipa District Waipa District Council in the Waikato region of New Zealand is a municipality that covers Te Awamutu, Cambridge and several small towns. The seat of the council is at Te Awamutu. The district's population at the was , of whom approximately 35% lived in each of the main two towns. The district has...
	Mystery Creek	5	Hamilton Airport Hamilton International Airport For the airport in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, see Hamilton/John C. Munro International Airport.The Hamilton International Airport is an airport located in the Waikato region, in New Zealand...
			(Mystery Creek Road) Mystery Creek Events Centre Mystery Creek Events Centre Mystery Creek Events Centre is a large events centre based in the outskirts of Hamilton, New Zealand. It is home to many events, the largest being the National Agricultural Fieldays which is held annually in June....
	Rukuhia	7	SH 3 New Zealand State Highway 3 State Highway 3 is one of New Zealand's eight national highways. It serves the west coast of the country's North Island and forms a link between State Highway 1 and State Highway 2...  south Waitomo Caves Waitomo Caves The Waitomo Caves are a village and cave system forming a major tourist attraction in the southern Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand, 12 kilometres northwest of Te Kuiti. The community of Waitomo Caves itself is very small, though the village has many temporary service workers... , New Plymouth New Plymouth New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....	SH 21 ends
			SH 3 New Zealand State Highway 3 State Highway 3 is one of New Zealand's eight national highways. It serves the west coast of the country's North Island and forms a link between State Highway 1 and State Highway 2...  north Hamilton Hamilton, New Zealand Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...

See also

• List of New Zealand State Highways
• List of roads and highways, for notable or famous roads worldwide

External links

• Transit New Zealand