New Zealand State Highway 38

State Highway 38
Route information
Maintained by New Zealand Transport Agency
Major junctions
Northwest end:	Waiotapu
Southeast end:	Wairoa
Highway system
New Zealand state highways Motorways and expressways List Unused ← SH 37 SH 39 →

State Highway 38 (SH 38) is a road on the North Island of New Zealand that starts from SH 5 near Waiotapu, and ends at Wairoa, where it connects to SH 2. It is the shortest connection from the central North Island (Rotorua) to the East Coast (Gisborne), but it is not often used as such. Large parts of the road are narrow and winding, and about 100 km is unsealed. Part of this unsealed section (between Te Whaiti and Aniwaniwa) is not designated a state highway.

Starting at the intersection with SH 5, one drives through the Kaingaroa Forest. After 38 km the small town of Murupara is passed. At km 58, at Te Whaiti, a road branches to Minginui, leading into Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park. The next 100 km are unsealed^[1] and winds and climbs through the Urewera. Apart from small settlements like Ruatahuna, only forested mountains are passed. Following small streams the road reaches the borders of Lake Waikaremoana. At km 134, at Aniwaniwa, is a visitor centre of Department of Conservation. This is the place where different walks start, including a short stroll to the Aniwaniwa Falls. At the southern end of the lake, at Onepoto, is a motorcamp. Further south, along the Waikaretaheke River, the three powerstations of the Waikaremoana Power Scheme^[2] can be seen.

The road now bends into the valley of the Waiau River. At km 185, at the village of Frasertown, where the Waiau River joins the Wairoa River, the Tiniroto Road branches of to Gisborne (another 97 km). At km 195, at Wairoa, the road finally intersects with SH2.

See also

• List of New Zealand state highways
• List of roads and highways, for notable or famous roads worldwide

References

New Zealand state highways List of New Zealand state highways List of unused highways in New Zealand National SH 1 (incl. SH 1B, SH 1D) SH 2 (incl. SH 2A, SH 2B) SH 3 (incl. SH 3A) SH 4 SH 5 SH 6 (incl. SH 6A) SH 7 (incl. SH 7A) SH 8 (incl. SH 8A, SH 8B) North Island SH 10 SH 11 SH 12 SH 14 SH 15A SH 16 SH 18 SH 20 (incl. SH 20A, SH 20B) SH 21 SH 22 SH 23 SH 24 SH 25 (incl. SH 25A) SH 26 SH 27 SH 28 SH 29 SH 30 (incl. SH 30A) SH 31 SH 32 SH 33 SH 34 SH 35 SH 36 SH 37 SH 38 SH 39 SH 41 SH 43 SH 44 SH 45 SH 46 SH 47 SH 48 SH 49 SH 50 (incl. SH 50A) SH 53 SH 54 SH 56 SH 57 SH 58 South Island SH 60 SH 62 SH 63 SH 65 SH 67 (incl. SH 67A) SH 69 SH 71 SH 73 SH 74 (incl. SH 74A) SH 75 SH 76 SH 77 SH 78 SH 79 SH 80 SH 82 SH 83 SH 84 SH 85 SH 86 SH 87 SH 88 SH 90 SH 93 SH 94 SH 95 SH 96 SH 97 SH 98 SH 99 Former state highways SH 1A SH 15 SH 17 SH 36 SH 40 SH 47A SH 49A SH 52 SH 57A SH 61 SH 70 SH 72 SH 73A SH 89 SH 91 SH 92 Touring routes Twin Coast Discovery Highway Thermal Explorer Highway Pacific Coast Highway Classic New Zealand Wine Trail Alpine Pacific Triangle Great Alpine Highway Foothills Scenic Route Southern Scenic Route