Inland Kaikoura Road

Last updated

State Highway 70 NZ.svg

State Highway 70
Route information
Maintained by Kaikoura District Council
Hurunui District Council
Tourist
routes
Alpine Pacific Triangle
Major junctions
North endState Highway 1 NZ.svg SH 1 south of Kaikoura
South endState Highway 7 NZ.svg SH 7 north of Culverden
Location
Primary
destinations
Mt Lyford, Waiau, Rotherham
Highway system
State Highway 69 NZ.svg SH 69 SH 71 State Highway 71 NZ.svg

The Inland Kaikoura Road, formerly designated State Highway 70, is a provincial highway in the South Island of New Zealand that runs from just south of Kaikoura to just north of Culverden via Waiau and Rotherham. White shields are used to signify this highway. It forms part of the Alpine Pacific Triangle tourist route. It also serves as an alternative inland route in cases where SH 1 is closed near the South Kaikoura Coast. Following the 14 November 2016 Kaikoura earthquake, all roads into Kaikoura were closed including Route 70; it was the first road connection to Kaikoura to reopen in mid-December.

Contents

History

Conway River Bridge Conway River Bridge, Canterbury, New Zealand.jpg
Conway River Bridge

The highway lost its state highway status because of the lack of traffic using it. [1] In 1991 the section from Waiau to Kaikoura was revoked. Before revocation approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) of highway was unsealed; however this was later sealed by the two district councils which maintained it. The remainder of SH 70 was revoked in 2004. Because of its scenic qualities it is now noted as one of the must drive roads in New Zealand. The road in parts is narrow, unsealed and winds through steep hill country. [2]

The road was closed following the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake and was for a few days open to the military only; the first army convoy reached Kaikoura on Friday, 18 November 2016, and this was the only land route into Kaikoura since SH 1 was cut off by the earthquake. [3] Some time later, registered convoys were allowed. Unrestricted access was restored on 19 December 2016, giving the public road access to Kaikoura again. [4]

Route

The highway runs inland on the Inland Kaikoura Road from SH 1 just south of Kaikoura. It then turns south west running almost parallel to SH 1 in an adjacent valley. Passing over the Conway River the road becomes the Inland Road. It continues south, passing the intersection with Mt Lyford Forrest Drive and going through the small townships of Waiau and Rotherham, before ending at the junction of Rotherham Point Road and SH 7's Mouse Point Road just north of Culverden.

Major intersections

Territorial authority LocationkmDestinationsNotes
Kaikoura District Kaikoura 0 New Zealand road sign R2-2.svg State Highway 1 NZ.svg SH 1 northKaikoura, Picton
State Highway 1 NZ.svg SH 1 southCheviot, Christchurch
Highway 70 begins
16 New Zealand road sign R2-7.svg Linton Creek
19 New Zealand road sign R2-7.svg Kahutara River
24 New Zealand road sign R2-7.svg Green Burn
Hurunui District 30 New Zealand road sign R2-7.svg Charwell River
New Zealand road sign R2-7.svg Conway River
Lyford55 New Zealand road sign R2-7.svg Mason River
New Zealand PW-11 (right).svg (Mount Lyford Forest Drive) – Mount Lyford Village
67 New Zealand road sign R2-7.svg Wandle River
72 New Zealand road sign R2-7.svg Lottery River
75 New Zealand road sign R2-7.svg Mason River
Waiau 19 (78) New Zealand road sign R2-2.svg (Lyndon Street) – Cheviot, Kaikoura via Leader Road ( State Highway 1 NZ.svg )
18 (79) New Zealand road sign R2-7.svg Waiau River
New Zealand PW-9.svg (Beavers Road)
(Flintoft Mouse Point Road) – Hanmer Springs, West Coast via Lewis Pass ( State Highway 7 NZ.svg )
Culverden 0 (97) New Zealand road sign R2-2.svg State Highway 7 NZ.svg SH 7 south (Mouse Point Road) – Culverden, Christchurch
State Highway 7 NZ.svg SH 7 north (Mouse Point Road)Hanmer Springs, West Coast via Lewis Pass
Highway 70 ends

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. "State Highway Traffic Volumes 1990" (PDF). www.Nzta.govt.nz.
  2. "The 10 NZ roads you must drive" . Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  3. Bayer, Kurt (25 November 2016). "Army reaches Kaikoura after delay". The Press . p. A5. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  4. Small, Jamie (20 December 2016). "'Relief' as inland road opens". The Press . p. A1. Retrieved 20 December 2016.