New Zealand State Highway 60

State Highway 60 is a New Zealand State Highway servicing the far northwest of the South Island of New Zealand. It is 116 km long and runs between the settlements of Richmond (south of Nelson) and Collingwood. 116 km long and lies entirely within the Tasman Region, it is the northernmost highway in the South Island and is a popular tourist route, servicing Motueka, Abel Tasman National Park and Farewell Spit.

Route

The highway starts at Richmond, and proceeds in the northwesterly direction across the Waimea Plains. Near Mapua, the road deviates onto the recently opened Ruby Bay bypass and emerges on the plains of the Motueka Valley. The highway then passes through the major town of Motueka. At Riwaka, the road to Kaiteriteri and Abel Tasman National Park branches off to the right while SH 60 branches to the left. The highway then rises towards Takaka Hill and the notorious Eureka Bend (elevation 791 metres above sea level). The highway then descends into the Takaka Valley and passes through the town of Takaka itself. The highway then hugs the coastline of Golden Bay before terminating at Collingwood.

History

Until 2010, before the construction of the Ruby Bay bypass, SH 60 followed the coastline around Mapua.

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