
Driving the Taumatamaire Road is not a piece of cake
New Zealand, oceania
23.6 km
402 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, Kiwis and adventure-seekers, listen up! Ever heard of Taumatamaire Road? It's a wild ride in the western North Island of New Zealand that'll get your heart pumping.
This isn't your average Sunday drive, folks. We're talking a completely unsealed, narrow track with some seriously steep sections – think a grunty 12% gradient in places! You'll climb all the way up to a repeater station, perched at a cool 402m (1,318ft) above sea level. Trust me, the views are worth it, but save this one for daylight hours. Night driving? No way, mate.
The road stretches for 23.6 km (14.66 miles), winding its way from Awakino, right where the Awakino River meets the sea, to State Highway 3 south of Mahoenui. Before you go, get the latest local intel – conditions can change quickly!
Where is it?
Driving the Taumatamaire Road is not a piece of cake is located in New Zealand (oceania). Coordinates: -41.4715, 176.5214
Road Details
- Country
- New Zealand
- Continent
- oceania
- Length
- 23.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 402 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -41.4715, 176.5214
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