Shenandoah Highway

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about State Highway 65 in New Zealand. For other uses, see Shenandoah.

Shenandoah Highway is State Highway 65 in New Zealand. It is 71km long and runs from south to north following down the Maruia river valley. It connects from State Highway 7 at Springs Junction (15km west of the main divide at the Lewis Pass) north to a junction with State Highway 6 in the Buller Gorge, 11km west of Murchison. It forms part of the most direct road route between the cities of Christchurch and Nelson. The highway takes its name from a small settlement toward the northern end of the route. The road is two-lane, sealed, with some single-lane bridges. The surrounding country is used for pastoral farming (beef and dairy) with some forestry on the surrounding hills. Springs Junction is the only locality with fuel or food along the highway's route.

Maruia falls following heavy rain.
Enlarge
Maruia falls following heavy rain.

Of note on the highway are the Maruia Falls. This 5m waterfall did not exist prior to the 1929 Murchison Earthquake (Magnitude 7.8).