New Zealand State Highway 38

State Highway 38
Route information
Maintained by New Zealand Transport Agency
Length:	120.9 km (75.1 mi)
Major junctions
Northwest end:	SH 5 at Waiotapu
Southeast end:	SH 2 at Wairoa
Highway system
New Zealand state highways Motorways and expressways List Unused ← SH 37 SH 39 →

State Highway 38 (SH 38) is a road on the North Island of New Zealand that starts from SH 5 near Waiotapu, and 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 74 kilometres (46 mi) is unsealed. Travel on this highway takes roughly four hours.^[1]

Part of this unsealed section (between Te Whaiti and Aniwaniwa) is not designated a state highway and instead holds the names Ruatahuna Road and Waikaremoana Road. The administration of this middle section of highway is split between Whakatane District and Wairoa District Councils.

Circa 1990, the length of SH 38 was 198km from Wairoa to Waiotapu before the middle section designation was revoked. Due to its narrow and twisty nature, trucks are not permitted to tow heavy trailers on the unsealed section of the route.

Route

Starting at the intersection with SH 5, one drives through the Kaingaroa Forest. After 38 km the small town of Murupara is passed. At km 44, at Te Whaiti, a road branches to Minginui, leading into Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park. SH 38 temporarily loses its state highway status.^[2] The highway travels south-east for a further 20 km past the settlement of Rautahuna. The next 74 km are unsealed^[3] and winds and climbs through Te Urewera. Apart from small settlements like Ruatahuna, only forested mountains are passed. 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^[4] can be seen.

From Aniwaniwa, SH 38 regains its state highway status and bends into the valley of the Waiau River eventually returning to sealed road. 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 terminates with SH 2 at the intersection of Mahia Avenue and Bridge Street.

See also

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

References

External links

• New Zealand Transport Agency

New Zealand state highways
List of New Zealand state highways List of unused highways in New Zealand List of motorways and expressways in New Zealand
National	SH 1 (incl. SH 1B, SH 1D) SH 2 (incl. SH 2B) SH 3 (incl. SH 3A) SH 4 SH 5 SH 6 (incl. SH 6A) SH 7 (incl. SH 7A) SH 8 (incl. SH 8A, SH 8B)
North Island	SH 10 SH 11 SH 12 SH 14 SH 15 SH 16 SH 18 SH 20 (incl. SH 20A, SH 20B) SH 21 SH 22 SH 23 SH 24 SH 25 (incl. SH 25A) SH 26 SH 27 SH 28 SH 29 (incl. SH 29A) SH 30 (incl. SH 30A) SH 31 SH 32 SH 33 SH 34 SH 35 SH 36 SH 37 SH 38 SH 39 SH 41 SH 43 SH 44 SH 45 SH 46 SH 47 SH 48 SH 49 SH 50 (incl. SH 50A) SH 53 SH 54 SH 56 SH 57 SH 58
South Island	SH 60 SH 62 SH 63 SH 65 SH 67 (incl. SH 67A) SH 69 SH 71 SH 73 SH 74 (incl. SH 74A) SH 75 SH 76 SH 77 SH 78 SH 79 SH 80 SH 82 SH 83 SH 84 SH 85 SH 86 SH 87 SH 88 SH 90 SH 93 SH 94 SH 95 SH 96 SH 97 SH 98 SH 99
Former state highways	SH 1A SH 2A SH 15 SH 15A SH 17 SH 36 SH 40 SH 47A SH 49A SH 52 SH 57A SH 61 SH 70 SH 72 SH 73A SH 89 SH 91 SH 92
Touring routes	Twin Coast Discovery Highway Thermal Explorer Highway Pacific Coast Highway Classic New Zealand Wine Trail Alpine Pacific Triangle Great Alpine Highway Foothills Scenic Route Inland Scenic Route Southern Scenic Route