Shenandoah Highway

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

State Highway 65 in New Zealand is known as the Shenandoah Highway. It is 71 km long and runs south to north down the Maruia river valley from SH 7 at Springs Junction, 15 km west of the main divide at the Lewis Pass, to SH 6 in the Buller Gorge, 11 km west of Murchison. It forms part of the most direct route between Christchurch and Nelson. It takes its name from a small settlement toward its northern end.

The road is sealed and two-lane, 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 route.

Maruia Falls following heavy rain.
Maruia Falls following heavy rain.

Maruia Falls, a 5-m waterfall near the road, did not exist prior to the 1929 Murchison Earthquake (magnitude 7.8 on the Richter scale).