State Highway 1 (New Zealand) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids State Highway 1
Route information
Maintained by NZ Transport Agency
Length	2,033 km (1,263 mi)
Tourist routes	Twin Coast Discovery Highway Thermal Explorer Highway Classic New Zealand Wine Trail Alpine Pacific Triangle Southern Scenic Route
North Island (SH 1N)
Length	1,081 km (672 mi)
North end	Cape Reinga / Te Rerenga Wairua
Major junctions	SH 2 south near Pōkeno SH 3 south (Ohaupo Road) at Hamilton SH 5 north at Wairakei SH 5 south (Napier-Taupō Highway) at Taupō SH 3 north (Bridge Street) at Bulls SH 3 south (Dundas Street) at Sanson SH 2 north (Hutt Road) at Ngauranga Interchange
South end	Wellington International Airport
South Island (SH 1S)
Length	952 km (592 mi)
North end	Picton railway station
Major junctions	SH 6 south (Nelson Street) at Blenheim SH 7 (Waipara Flat Road) at Waipara SH 8 south (Racecourse Road) at Washdyke SH 8 north (Manuka Gorge Highway) at Clarksville SH 6 north (Dee Street) at Invercargill
South end	Bluff (Stirling Point)
Location
Primary destinations:	Whangārei, North Shore, Auckland, Manukau, Hamilton, Taupō, Porirua, Wellington, Picton, Blenheim, Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, Gore, Invercargill
Highway system
New Zealand state highways Motorways and expressways List ← SH 99 SH 2 →

State Highway 1 (SH 1) is New Zealand's longest and most important road. It stretches across both the North and South Islands. You'll see it on maps as SH 1. On road signs, it's a white number 1 inside a red shield. The official names are SH 1N for the North Island and SH 1S for the South Island.

SH 1 is about 2033 kilometers (1263 miles) long. About 1081 km (672 miles) are in the North Island. The other 952 km (592 miles) are in the South Island. Most of the road has two lanes. It has intersections where other roads cross it at the same level. Some parts are like motorways or expressways. As of August 2021, about 271 km (168 miles) of SH 1 are motorways. This includes 237 km (147 miles) in the North Island and 34 km (21 miles) in the South Island. More motorway sections are being built.

Exploring New Zealand's Main Road: SH 1 Route

SH 1 takes you on an amazing journey across New Zealand. It connects many towns and cities. Let's explore its path through both islands.

North Island: SH 1N's Journey

SH 1N begins at Cape Reinga, at the very top of the Aupouri Peninsula. Since 2010, the entire road is sealed. This means it's covered with a smooth surface like chipseal or asphalt. From Waitiki Landing, SH 1 travels south. It goes through Kaitaia, which is New Zealand's northernmost town. Then it goes through the Mangamuka Gorge.

The highway then crosses the Northland Peninsula to Kawakawa. Here, the road shares space with the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway track. It continues south to Whangārei, the biggest city in Northland. SH 1 then goes around the Whangārei Harbour. It gets close to the coast at Ruakākā. After that, it winds through the Brynderwyn Hills.

The highway enters the Auckland Region. It passes through Wellsford and Warkworth. Near Puhoi, SH 1 becomes a four-lane motorway. This part is called the Auckland Northern Motorway. The first 7.5 km (4.7 miles) of this motorway is a toll road. This means you pay to use it.

At Orewa, the motorway becomes free to use. It crosses farmland to the North Shore of Auckland. The road goes through suburbs to the Waitematā Harbour. It crosses the harbour on the famous Auckland Harbour Bridge. The motorway then enters Auckland's city center. It forms the western edge of the city.

SH 1 as the Auckland Northern Motorway, looking north from Forrest Hill, North Shore.

SH 1 crossing the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

At the Central Motorway Junction, SH 1 becomes the Auckland Southern Motorway. It sweeps around the south of central Auckland. Then it heads southeast across the Auckland isthmus. It passes through Manukau and Papakura. Finally, it reaches the top of the Bombay Hills, near the border with Waikato.

At Bombay, SH 1 becomes the Waikato Expressway. This is a four-lane, dual-carriageway road. The expressway goes down the Bombay Hills to Mercer. Here, SH 1 meets the Waikato River. It follows the river for about 220 km (137 miles). The Waikato Expressway ends in northwestern Hamilton. The highway goes around the city center to the west. Then it crosses to the east side and leaves the city heading southeast. The expressway starts again at Tamahere. It goes around Cambridge to the north. Then it becomes a single carriageway again.

The highway continues east to Tīrau. There, it turns south. It passes through Putāruru and Tokoroa. This area is known for its pine forests. At Wairakei, SH 1 takes an eastern route. It goes around Taupō and meets the Lake Taupō shoreline. This is south of the town, near the airport. SH 1 follows the eastern shore of the lake for 50 km (31 miles) to Tūrangi. Tūrangi is at the southern end of the lake.

Turning south again, SH 1 leaves Tūrangi. It climbs onto the North Island Volcanic Plateau. It passes through the edge of the Tongariro National Park. It enters the Rangipo Desert. Here, you can see the volcanoes of Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and Tongariro. The road between Rangipo and Waiouru is called the Desert Road. SH 1 enters the Manawatū-Whanganui Region. It goes down through an army training area to Waiouru.

Travelling north on SH 1 through the Rangipo Desert. This section is known as the Desert Road, and is frequently closed by snow in winter.

From Waiouru, the highway follows parts of the Rangitīkei River. It goes through Taihape to meet the main river at Utiku. Then it follows the western bank of the Rangitikei River. It passes through Ohingaiti and Hunterville to Bulls. At Bulls, SH 1 turns southeast to cross the river. It turns southwest again 5 km (3 miles) down the road at Sanson. SH 1 crosses the Manawatu Plain. It passes about 20 km (12 miles) west of Palmerston North. It goes through Foxton before reaching the end of the plain at Levin.

From Levin, SH 1 follows the western coastal plain. The highway enters the Wellington Region about 15 km (9 miles) south of Levin. It then passes through Ōtaki. At Peka Peka, SH 1 becomes a four-lane dual carriageway. This part is called the Kapiti Expressway. It goes around the towns of Waikanae, Paraparaumu and Raumati. It reaches the end of the coastal plain at Mackays Crossing. Then it becomes the Transmission Gully Motorway. This road climbs steeply through mountains to the Wainui Saddle. It then goes down through Transmission Gully to Pāuatahanui. It goes around Porirua to the east. Finally, it reaches the northern suburbs of Wellington, New Zealand's capital city.

SH1 Ngauranga Gorge, 1912

After entering Wellington City in Linden, the Transmission Gully Motorway ends. SH 1 joins the Johnsonville-Porirua Motorway. This motorway climbs through Tawa to Johnsonville. Here, the motorway ends. SH 1 becomes a six-lane road. It goes steeply down through the Ngauranga Gorge to the Ngauranga Interchange. This is on the shore of Wellington Harbour.

At Ngauranga, SH 1 becomes the Wellington Urban Motorway. It goes along the harbour shore. Then it passes the city center to the west. The motorway ends at Te Aro. A one-way system takes traffic to the Basin Reserve. Northbound traffic uses the Wellington Inner City Bypass. Southbound traffic uses Vivian Street. From the Basin Reserve, SH 1 goes through the Mount Victoria Tunnel. It continues to Wellington's eastern suburbs and Wellington International Airport. SH 1 ends at a roundabout at the airport entrance.

South Island: SH 1S's Path

The South Island part of SH 1 starts in Picton. It is right next to the railway station. Leaving Picton, SH 1 climbs steeply. It crosses the Elevation saddle into the Tuamarina River valley. It goes down along this river and across the Wairau Plain. Then it reaches Blenheim. SH 1 passes through Weld Pass and Dashwood Pass. It enters the Awatere Valley. Then it continues south, passing Lake Grassmere. From the small town of Ward, the highway heads to the coast. It follows the coast to Kaikōura.

After Kaikōura, it turns inland. It twists through the Hundalee Ranges. Then it comes out at the northern end of the Canterbury Plains. A section of the highway near Kaikōura was closed for over a year. This was due to damage from the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake.

SH 1 passes through Amberley and Woodend. Then it becomes the Christchurch Northern Motorway. It goes around Kaiapoi to the west. At The Groynes, west of Belfast, the motorway becomes a four-lane divided road. SH 1 continues around the northwestern edge of Christchurch. It passes just east of Christchurch International Airport. At Hornby, the highway turns southwest. It becomes a two-lane road and passes through Templeton. Then it joins the Christchurch Southern Motorway. This part is like an expressway. It continues until it gets close to Rolleston.

South of Rolleston, SH 1 becomes very straight. It crosses the wide Canterbury Plains. It crosses the country's longest road bridge at Rakaia. Then it reaches Ashburton. After that, it turns back towards the coast. It reaches the coast at Timaru. Between Ashburton and Timaru, it crosses Rangitata Island in the Rangitata River.

South of Timaru, the road goes through gentle hills. It stays close to the coast but you can't always see it. The road turns inland for a short time. It goes around Waimate as it reaches the plains near the Waitaki River. It crosses this river to enter Otago. It passes through Oamaru. From there, it turns inland briefly. It crosses rolling hills before reaching the coast again at Moeraki. From here, the road stays very close to the ocean along Katiki Beach. This is closer than any point since Kaikōura.

The highway turns inland at Shag Point. It passes through Palmerston and Waikouaiti. South of Waikouaiti, the road becomes steep again. It climbs sharply over the Kilmog hill. Then it drops down to the coast at Blueskin Bay. It rises again via the Dunedin-Waitati Highway. This road used to be a motorway. It leads to the northern edge of Dunedin. From here, it goes down a steep, winding road called Pine Hill Road. It passes the University of Otago and goes through the city center.

In Dunedin, the highway forms a pair multi-lane one-way streets. Cumberland Street, 1 km south of the city centre.

In central Dunedin, the highway splits into two one-way streets. These roads go through the central city. At the southern end of central Dunedin, the highway becomes the Caversham By-pass. This road climbs along the Caversham Valley. Then it becomes a motorway again at Lookout Point.

The four-lane motorway, called the Dunedin Southern Motorway, goes through Dunedin's southern suburbs. It continues until it meets SH 87 at Mosgiel. SH 1 then heads southwest across the Taieri Plains. The area between the Taieri and Waipori Rivers can flood. The highway crosses this area on a large raised road called the flood-free highway. SH 1 continues through gentle hills. It goes along the shore of Lake Waihola. Then it crosses the Tokomairiro Plains into Milton.

South of Milton, there's a big junction with SH 8 at Clarksville Junction. SH 1 continues over rolling hills to reach Balclutha. From Balclutha, the highway turns west. It goes inland a bit to avoid the rough hills of The Catlins. It passes through the small town of Clinton. Then it reaches the main town of Gore. Because of the names Clinton and Gore, this part of the highway was once called "The Presidential Highway." This was during the time of the Clinton-Gore government in the United States.

At Gore, the highway crosses the Mataura River. From here, the road turns south. It roughly follows the river. The highway passes through Mataura. Then it turns west at Edendale. Many travelers choose to use SH 93 at Clinton. This route is shorter between Clinton and Mataura and avoids Gore. For its last part, the road turns southwest. It reaches the city of Invercargill. In central Invercargill, it meets the southern end of SH 6. It then turns directly south. It goes along the New River estuary and Bluff Harbour. It passes through the small town of Bluff. Finally, it reaches its end at Stirling Point, a kilometer south of Bluff. A signpost at Stirling Point shows distances to major cities around the world and to the start of the highway in Picton.

Signpost at Stirling Point, Bluff.

Special Sections: SH 1B

SH 1N has one special section called SH 1B. It runs from SH 1N at Taupiri to SH 1N at Cambridge. This road was created in 1999. It helps traffic go around the eastern side of Hamilton. This highway is almost 42 km (26 miles) long. It uses many roads that used to be managed by the Waikato District Council. Part of SH 1B also shares a road with SH 26.

Because new parts of the Waikato Expressway have opened, SH 1B has become shorter. SH 1B will eventually be given back to the Waikato District Council. This will happen after the Hamilton section of the Waikato Expressway is finished in 2022. Since it was not meant to be a permanent state highway, some intersections on SH 1B give priority to local roads.

How SH 1 Roads Are Built

SH 1 has different types of road conditions. Most of it is a two-lane road. It has intersections where other roads meet it at the same level. In rural areas, it's covered with chipseal. In cities and busy areas, it has asphalt. The highway often has passing lanes. These are extra lanes that let drivers safely pass slower vehicles. Some parts of the road are very steep. These steep sections usually have passing lanes for uphill traffic. They also have special areas for heavy vehicles going downhill to pull over. This lets other cars pass.

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) says most of SH 1 is a very important national road. However, some parts are considered regional roads. For example, the section between Kawakawa and Whangārei. Also, the part south of Mosgiel. The busiest part of SH 1 is in Auckland. More than 200,000 vehicles use a 3 km (1.9 miles) section of the road every day.

In 2010, NZTA announced they were fixing the last three fords on SH 1S. Fords are places where a road crosses a shallow river. These fords were near Kaikōura. Even though they were usually dry, traffic sometimes had to take a detour. This happened about 28 days a year because of high water. This caused delays on a major freight route. NZTA replaced these fords with culverts. Culverts are tunnels that let water flow under the road.

Changes to SH 1 Over Time

Over the years, the path of State Highway 1 has changed many times. This is often because new motorways and expressways are built.

New Motorways and Expressways

When the Auckland Harbour Bridge and the Auckland Northern Motorway opened in 1959, SH 1 changed its route. It used to go around the Waitematā Harbour. Later, the motorway was extended further north. This meant SH 1 no longer used Wairau Road and Albany Highway. In 1999, the motorway was extended to Silverdale. This bypassed Dairy Flat Highway, which became State Highway 17. In 2009, the Northern Motorway reached Puhoi. This bypassed the Hibiscus Coast Highway through Orewa.

The Auckland Southern Motorway was built between 1953 and 1978. It replaced the old route along Great South Road. The Central Motorway Junction was built between 1973 and 1978. This connected the Northern and Southern Motorways. It meant SH 1 no longer went through inner Auckland streets.

Most of the Waikato Expressway north of Te Kauwhata was built on the existing SH 1N. However, at Pōkeno, the highway was moved to go around the east side of the town. South of Te Kauwhata, most of the expressway is new. It goes around towns like Ohinewai, Ngāruawāhia, Te Rapa and Cambridge. The old parts of SH 1N became local roads.

The Transmission Gully Motorway started being built in 2014. It opened on March 30, 2022. This new road changed SH 1's path between Mackays Crossing and Linden. It also provides a way to go around Porirua to the east. The old route of State Highway 1 was renamed State Highway 59.

The Johnsonville-Porirua Motorway was built in the 1940s and 1950s. It replaced the Old Porirua Road. The first part of this motorway opened in 1950. It is New Zealand's oldest motorway.

The Wellington Urban Motorway was built between 1969 and 1978. It was first part of State Highway 2. In 1984, new flyovers were built at Ngauranga Interchange. This allowed SH 1 to use the motorway. It meant SH 1 no longer went through central Wellington streets.

The Christchurch Northern Motorway opened in 1967. It provided a second way to cross the Waimakariri River. The motorway was extended in 1970, bypassing Kaiapoi. In 2017, the Western Belfast Bypass opened. This extended the motorway southwest. It lets SH 1 traffic go around Belfast.

The Dunedin Southern Motorway has also been extended. This has changed the highway's path. For example, it now goes around the suburbs of Fairfield and Sunnyvale.

Road Path Changes in Cities

In Hamilton, SH 1N used to go through the city center. The current highway was changed in 1992. It now goes around the city.

In Christchurch, SH 1S used to go through the city center. Now it goes around the city's edge. The old route is now local roads or parts of other state highways.

Changes also happened in Whangarei and Timaru. SH 1 was moved out of their city centers. The old route through Whangārei was changed to Western Hills Drive. The old route through Timaru was changed to Theodosia Street and Craigie Avenue.

Most recently, the Taupō Bypass was built. This moved SH 1 from the town and lakeside to the eastern edge of Taupō.

In the southern South Island, some very winding parts of SH 1S have been rebuilt. This was done to remove sharp turns and make the road better. This includes parts near Normanby, Waianakarua, and between Palmerston and Waikouaiti. A long section between Allanton and the Taieri River was changed in the 1970s.

Future Plans for SH 1

State Highway 1 has many planned improvements. Most of these are part of the "Roads of National Significance" program. This program was announced in 2009.

Northland Improvements

The section of road from Marsden Point to Whangārei will be made into four lanes. This is part of the "New Zealand Upgrade Programme."

Auckland Motorway Plans

The motorway from Puhoi to Wellsford is a big project. It's also called the "Holiday Highway." This is because the current SH 1 gets very busy during holidays. Many people travel to and from Auckland. Building of the 18.5 km (11.5 miles) Puhoi to Warkworth section started in 2016. This new motorway will go west of the current SH 1. It will start at the end of the existing Auckland Northern Motorway. It will end at Kaipara Flats Road, north of Warkworth. This new motorway is expected to open in May 2022.

NZTA is also looking at plans for the Warkworth to Wellsford section. This motorway would go north from the Puhoi to Warkworth section. It would pass east of Wellsford and Te Hana. It would end at Mangawhai Road, near the Auckland/Northland border.

There are also ideas for a Second Harbour Crossing over Waitematā Harbour. This would help the old Auckland Harbour Bridge. Ideas include a second bridge or a second tunnel. This tunnel could also have space for trains. These projects are not likely to start until at least 2025.

Waikato Expressway Completion

The Waikato Expressway from Bombay to south of Cambridge has been under construction since 1995. As of August 2021, the last part of the expressway is still being built. When it's finished in mid-2022, the entire 186 km (116 miles) route from Puhoi to Cambridge will be a motorway or expressway.

The 22 km (14 miles) Hamilton section started being built in 2016. This is a new expressway that goes around Hamilton. It will replace the old State Highway 1B route. This work is also expected to be finished in mid-2022.

NZTA is also looking into extending the Waikato Expressway south of Cambridge. This would be for about 16 km (10 miles) to the SH 1/SH 29 intersection at Piarere. This would go around the current highway near Lake Karapiro.

Levin to Wellington Airport Upgrades

Building on the Peka Peka to Ōtaki extension of the Kapiti Expressway began in 2017. This road is expected to open in 2021. The project involves building a 13 km (8 miles) expressway next to the current State Highway 1. It will go from the end of the Kapiti Expressway at Peka Peka to Taylors Road north of Ōtaki.

NZTA is also looking into extending the Kapiti Expressway further north. This would be for about 23 km (14 miles) to just north of Levin. This would go around Levin and the villages of Ohau and Manakau. In 2018, NZTA chose a preferred path for a new road. This road would go around Levin to the east. Funding for this was approved in 2020.

Many projects are also planned for SH 1 in central Wellington. These include adding another tunnel to the Terrace Tunnel and Mt Victoria tunnels. However, these projects are not certain. Another planned project, the Basin Reserve Flyover, was not approved.

Canterbury Road Improvements

NZTA is looking into extending the Christchurch Northern Motorway. This would make it go around the town of Woodend.

Other Important Changes

Several smaller projects are happening to make parts of SH 1 better. These include:

• Making the Southern Motorway wider between Papakura and Drury South. It will go from four to six lanes.
• Making the Waimakariri River bridges on the Christchurch Northern Motorway wider. They will go from four to six lanes.
• Raising the highway and putting in culverts in areas that often flood. This is between Oamaru and the Kakanui River bridge.

Images for kids

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  SH 1 near Cape Reinga. Sealing of this section was completed in April 2010.

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  SH 1 through the Central Motorway Junction ("Spaghetti Junction").

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  SH 1, as the Southern Motorway, in Otahuhu, Auckland

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  SH 1 as the Wellington Urban Motorway, running beside Wellington Harbour.

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  SH 1 passing through the North Canterbury town of Cheviot

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  Upgrading of SH1 to four lanes in Harewood, Christchurch and grade-separating at Memorial Avenue is under construction

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  Dunedin-Waitati Hwy looking north from near the Pigeon Flat Overbridge. Blueskin Bay is visible in the background

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  SH 1 in the Otago town of Waihola.