Great South Road, New Zealand

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The Great South Road was the northern section of the earliest highway between Auckland and Wellington, in the North Island of New Zealand.

Construction of the Great South Road began in 1861 during the New Zealand Wars. The road was constructed by British Army troops, and provided a flow of supplies for the Waikato campaign.

State Highway 1, with its superior engineering for speed, has largely superseded the Great South Road as a through route, but many parts of the road are still in use, particularly the urban sections. Its route through country areas offers an interesting diversion.

The road begins in the central Auckland suburb of Newmarket, then passes through the suburbs of Greenlane, Penrose, Otahuhu, Papatoetoe, Manukau, Manurewa and Papakura. Leaving the urban sprawl, it heads south through Drury and Bombay, over the Bombay Hills, and follows the Waikato River to Hamilton. From there it continues south to Taupo, Taihape, and finally Wellington.