New Zealand State Highway 38
Encyclopedia
State Highway 38 is one of New Zealand
's State Highways
on the North Island
. It starts near Wai-O-Tapu at the intersection with SH 5 and it ends at Wairoa
, where it connects to SH 2. It is the shortest connection from the Central North Island (Rotorua
) to the East Coast (Gisborne
), but it is not often used as such. Large parts of the road are narrow and winding, and about 100 km is unsealed. Part of this unsealed section (between Te Whaiti and Aniwaniwa) is not designated a State Highway.
Starting at the intersection with SH5, one drives through the Kaingaroa Forest
. After 38 km the small town of Murupara
is passed. At km 58, at Te Whaiti, a road branches to Minginui
, leading into Whirinaki Forest Park
. The next 100 km are unsealed and winds and climbs through The Ureweras
. Apart from small settlements like Ruatahuna
, only forested mountains are travelled by. Following small streams the road reaches the borders of Lake Waikaremoana
. At km 134, at Aniwaniwa, is a visitor centre of Department of Conservation. This is the place where different walks start, including a short stroll to the Aniwaniwa Falls
. At the southern end of the lake, at Onepoto, is a motorcamp. Further south, along the Waikaretaheke River
, the three powerstations of the Waikaremoana Power Scheme can be seen.
The road now bends into the valley of the Waiau River
. At km 185, at the village of Frasertown
, where the Waiau River joins the Wairoa River
, the Tiniroto Road
branches of to Gisborne (another 97 km). At km 195, at Wairoa, the road finally intersects with SH2.
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...
's State Highways
New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
on 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...
. It starts near Wai-O-Tapu at the intersection with SH 5 and it ends at Wairoa
Wairoa
Wairoa is a town in New Zealand's North Island. It is the northernmost town in the Hawke's Bay region, and is located on the northern shore of Hawke Bay at the mouth of the Wairoa River and to the west of Mahia Peninsula...
, where it connects to SH 2. It is the shortest connection from the Central North Island (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...
) to the East Coast (Gisborne
Gisborne, New Zealand
-Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped...
), but it is not often used as such. Large parts of the road are narrow and winding, and about 100 km is unsealed. Part of this unsealed section (between Te Whaiti and Aniwaniwa) is not designated a State Highway.
Starting at the intersection with SH5, one drives through the Kaingaroa Forest
Kaingaroa Forest
Kaingaroa Forest is the largest forest in the North Island of New Zealand, and the largest plantation in the southern hemisphere.The forest covers 2900 km² in the inland East Cape and Bay of Plenty regions, and stretches south past the east coast of Lake Taupo...
. After 38 km the small town of Murupara
Murupara
Murupara is a town located in the North Island of New Zealand. The town is situated in an isolated part of the Bay of Plenty region between the Kaingaroa Forest and Te Urewera National Park, on the banks of the Rangitaiki River, 65 kilometres southeast of Rotorua, along SH38. Murupara is the...
is passed. At km 58, at Te Whaiti, a road branches to Minginui
Minginui
Minginui is a town in the Bay of Plenty Region in the North Island of New Zealand. The Whirinaki Forest Park is in the vicinity of the town. The Statistics New Zealand 2006 census gives a population for the area of 1464, a reduction of 300 since 1996....
, leading into Whirinaki Forest Park
Whirinaki Forest Park
Whirinaki Forest Park is a publicly accessible forest park in the North Island of New Zealand. The park is centered around the town of Minginui and part of the eastern boundary flanks the Urewera National Park....
. The next 100 km are unsealed and winds and climbs through The Ureweras
Te Urewera
Te Urewera is an area of the central North Island of New Zealand. Located in rough, sparsely populated hill country to the northeast of Lake Taupo, it is the historical home of Tuhoe, a Māori iwi known for their controversial stance on Māori sovereignty...
. Apart from small settlements like Ruatahuna
Ruatahuna
The town of Ruatahuna is located in the northeast of New Zealand's North Island, 90 kilometres west of Gisborne, and 18 kilometres northwest of Lake Waikaremoana...
, only forested mountains are travelled by. Following small streams the road reaches the borders of Lake Waikaremoana
Lake Waikaremoana
Lake Waikaremoana is located in Te Urewera National Park in the North Island of New Zealand, 60 kilometres northwest of Wairoa and 80 kilometres southwest of Gisborne. It covers an area of 54 km². From the Maori Waikaremoana translates as 'sea of rippling waters'The lake lies in the heart of Tuhoe...
. At km 134, at Aniwaniwa, is a visitor centre of Department of Conservation. This is the place where different walks start, including a short stroll to the Aniwaniwa Falls
Aniwaniwa Falls
The Aniwaniwa Falls, or Rainbow Falls, are a two-drop waterfall located at northeastern Lake Waikaremoana in New Zealand....
. At the southern end of the lake, at Onepoto, is a motorcamp. Further south, along the Waikaretaheke River
Waikaretaheke River
The Waikaretaheke River is a river of the Hawke's Bay Region of New Zealand's North Island. It serves as the outflow of Lake Waikaremoana, flowing southeast from the lake's southeastern shore to reach the Waiau River 20 kilometres northwest of Wairoa. State Highway 38 follows the river's course for...
, the three powerstations of the Waikaremoana Power Scheme can be seen.
The road now bends into the valley of the Waiau River
Waiau River, Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay's Waiau River is one of at least four rivers of this name in New Zealand. It rises in the Kaingaroa Forest to the west of Lake Waikaremoana, and flows southeast for 60 kilometres before joining the Wairoa River....
. At km 185, at the village of Frasertown
Frasertown
Frasertown is a small settlement in the northern Hawke's Bay Region of New Zealand's eastern North Island. It is located inland from Wairoa at the junction of SH38, and the inland route to Gisborne....
, where the Waiau River joins the Wairoa River
Wairoa River
Wairoa is the name of several rivers and streams in New Zealand. Wairoa is Māori for long water.* Wairoa River * Wairoa River * Wairoa River * Wairoa River * Wairoa River...
, the Tiniroto Road
Tiniroto
Tiniroto is a small farming and forestry community on the “inland” road from Gisborne to Wairoa in the eastern part of the North Island of New Zealand...
branches of to Gisborne (another 97 km). At km 195, at Wairoa, the road finally intersects with SH2.
See also
- List of New Zealand State Highways
- List of roads and highways, for notable or famous roads worldwide