Take a trip south to Napier on SH2 and discover some of the sites you find along the way.
POINTS OF INTEREST DRIVING SOUTH ON SH2:
6.6km Awamate Road - alternative route to SH38 (Lake Waikaremoana). The first part of this route was used by heavy traffic for two years after Cyclone Bola swept the second town bridge away in 1988, while the third bridge was being built. Light traffic used the rail bridge, which had been decked for that purpose.
10km Ohinepaka overbridge (Napier-Gisborne rail line). This line closed to passengers in 1988 and was mothballed in 2012. Next is Cricklewood Road, with access to the Putere Lakes, Waihi Hydro scheme, and alternative access to Te Urewera
17.8km Waihua Hill has a rail tunnel (283m long) beneath
19.4km Waihua Valley was developed as a Returned Servicemen's Farming Settlement
21.5km Waihua Beach
Note - as the road veers left to start the climb up Mohaka Hill, the rail line continues to the right, before a 656m tunnel under the Mohaka Hill
28.6km Mohaka Hill (elevation 250m) has two lookouts over uniquely circular Rongomaiwahine hall built in 1885 of pit sawn timber at Waipapa-a-Iwi Mohaka Marae, and beyond to Cape Kidnappers. Access to Mohaka Beach is via Mohaka Coach Road (the original inland coach road) on your left near the top of the hill; it is an alternative route back onto SH2
33km Mohaka River in front of you
35.6km Raupunga township (elevation 112m). Turn right to Putere Lakes. This is also an alternative route to SH38
37.6km Mohaka River road bridge, opened in 1975, is a replacement for the original "Rabbit
Bridge". Mohaka Rail Viaduct - 97m high, 277m long, 6 trestle piers, 1800 tonnes of steel, 450,000 rivets! Completed in 1937, the highest viaduct in NZ
39.5km Kiwifruit orchard
43.3km Southern end of Mohaka Old Coach Road (alternative route)
48.1km Kotemaori township, 263m above sea level. The rail line has another tunnel of 829m here, the longest on this line
49.7km Willowflat Road, Mohaka Forest Headquarters. Further inland, dinosaur fossil bones
were discovered in Te Hoe Valley in 1974
59.3km Putorino - mid-way point between Wairoa and Napier (elevation 176m). Waikare Hotel has accommodation and food, plus an interesting display of old photographs. Access to the DoC camping area at Waikare River mouth via Waikare Road
63.7km Matahorua Road, turn right for Shine Falls (58m fall), then right again into Heays
Access Road
64.1km Matahorua Gorge and railway viaduct, unique as a single span (137m long, 61m high)
crossing the gorge
70.7km Ridgemount Road on the left takes you to the start of the Tutira Walkway
73.9km Matahorua Road to Lake Opouahi Scenic Reserve and Walkway (kiwi sanctuary),
74.4km Bellbird Bush Scenic Reserve and Boundary Stream Mainland Island walkway
77km Waikoau Road -7.5k to Holt Forest Trust Arboretum and Wildlife Sanctuary. Tutira Memorial Church was built in 1954, then Guthrie Smith Arboretum (30,000 trees) - open to the public from November to May for a small fee per adult. Outdoor Education Centre on the right
77.9km Lakes Tutira and Waikopiro (elevation 160m); DoC camping permitted as well as picnic areas and shelters, toilets, water supply; Tutira Country Park managed by Hawkes Bay Regional Council, has several scenic walking tracks
86.6km Aropaonanui Beach turn off to the left near the top of the passing lanes
86.9km Waipatiki Beach and Scenic Reserve turn off to the left at the top of the passing lanes
88.4km White Pine Bush Scenic Reserve Walkway
92.5km Tangoio Falls Scenic Reserve and Walkway
94.9km Tangoio Beach turn off to a small coastal settlement
98.4km Whirinaki Beach
101.7km Pan Pac mill
104.3km SH5, turn right to Taupo
107km Bay View coastal settlement, accommodation, food and fuel
110.9km Start of Napier Coastal Walkway
111.4km Historic shipping navigation structures on the right at the north end of the Napier airport runway
113.1km Napier Airport
115.1km Ahuriri Estuary Wildlife Refuge is a 450-hectare tidal lagoon with over 55 bird species and 29 fish and mud dwellers or invertebrates recorded. Loop walking track for 1 hour.
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