New Zealand State Highway 83
Encyclopedia
State Highway 83 is a South Island
State Highway
in New Zealand
running up the Waitaki Valley
between the settlements of Pukeuri
and Omarama
. It forms part of the southernmost of the east-west roads crossing the South Island (via Haast Pass
).
As Chain Hills Highway, it begins in Omarama
and passes through most of the settlement in an easterly direction. Leaving Omarama, the road changes name to Omarama Otematata Road. The road then runs along the banks of the Ahuriri
Arm of Lake Benmore
and descends into the township of Otematata (turnoff for the Benmore Dam
). After Otematata, the road then passes along the southern banks of Lakes Aviemore
and Waitaki
as well as their respective dams.
The road emerges on the upper Waitaki River floodplain and enters the township of Kurow
. Beyond Kurow, the road is all but flat and runs along the southern flanks of the floodplains as well as through Duntroon
and Georgetown before crossing a low saddle to descend into Pukeuri
.
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
State Highway
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...
in 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...
running up the Waitaki Valley
Waitaki River
The Waitaki River is a large river in the South Island of New Zealand, some 110 km long. It is the major river of the Mackenzie Basin.It is a braided river which flows through Lake Benmore, Lake Aviemore and Lake Waitaki. These are ultimately fed by three large glacial lakes, Pukaki, Tekapo,...
between the settlements of Pukeuri
Pukeuri
Pukeuri is a settlement to the north of Oamaru in the North Otago region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located near the coast in the Waitaki District that straddles the border of Otago and Canterbury...
and Omarama
Omarama
Omarama is a small township at the junction of State Highways 8 and 83, near the southern end of the Mackenzie Basin, in the South Island of New Zealand. Omarama is in the Waitaki District, in the historic Province of Otago...
. It forms part of the southernmost of the east-west roads crossing the South Island (via Haast Pass
Haast Pass
Haast Pass is a mountain pass in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand. It is named for Julius von Haast, a 19th century explorer who was also geologist for the Provincial government of Canterbury...
).
Route
Since designation, this is the route SH 83 takes.As Chain Hills Highway, it begins in Omarama
Omarama
Omarama is a small township at the junction of State Highways 8 and 83, near the southern end of the Mackenzie Basin, in the South Island of New Zealand. Omarama is in the Waitaki District, in the historic Province of Otago...
and passes through most of the settlement in an easterly direction. Leaving Omarama, the road changes name to Omarama Otematata Road. The road then runs along the banks of the Ahuriri
Ahuriri River
The Ahuriri River is a river in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand.The headwaters are on the eastern flanks of the Southern Alps. The river flows for 70 kilometres through the southernmost part of the Mackenzie Basin before reaching the Ahuriri Arm of Lake Benmore, one of the...
Arm of Lake Benmore
Lake Benmore
Lake Benmore is a lake located in the South Island of New Zealand. It was artificially created in the 1960s by construction of Benmore Dam. The lake covers an area of approximately 75 km²...
and descends into the township of Otematata (turnoff for the Benmore Dam
Benmore Dam
Benmore Dam is the largest dam within the Waitaki power scheme, located in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand's South Island. There are eight other power stations in the valley....
). After Otematata, the road then passes along the southern banks of Lakes Aviemore
Lake Aviemore
Lake Aviemore or Mahi Tikumu is a man-made lake in New Zealand's South Island, part of the Waitaki hydroelectric scheme. Immediately upstream is Lake Benmore and downstream Lake Waitaki...
and Waitaki
Lake Waitaki
Lake Waitaki is the smallest, oldest and farthest downstream of the three man-made lakes of the Waitaki hydroelectric project in New Zealand's South Island. It lies below lakes Aviemore and Benmore on the Waitaki River, close to the town of Kurow...
as well as their respective dams.
The road emerges on the upper Waitaki River floodplain and enters the township of Kurow
Kurow
Kurow is a town in the Waitaki Valley in the South Island of New Zealand, 55 kilometres inland from OamaruThe name of the town is an Anglicised form of the name of the nearby mountain Te Kohurau....
. Beyond Kurow, the road is all but flat and runs along the southern flanks of the floodplains as well as through Duntroon
Duntroon, New Zealand
Duntroon is a small farming town in the Waitaki District of New Zealand's South Island. Although traditionally considered a North Otago town, it is presently officially located within the farthest southern reaches of Canterbury...
and Georgetown before crossing a low saddle to descend into Pukeuri
Pukeuri
Pukeuri is a settlement to the north of Oamaru in the North Otago region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located near the coast in the Waitaki District that straddles the border of Otago and Canterbury...
.