State Highway 79 (New Zealand)

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State Highway 79

Route information
Maintained by NZ Transport Agency
Length61.0 km (37.9 mi)
Major junctions
East end SH 1 (Orari-Rangitata Highway) at Rangitata
West end SH 8 (Main Street/Mount Cook Road) at Fairlie
Location
CountryNew Zealand
Primary
destinations
Geraldine
Highway system
SH 78 SH 80

State Highway 79 (SH 79) is a New Zealand state highway connecting the South Canterbury communities of Rangitata, Geraldine, and Fairlie. Starting at State Highway 1 the highway is 61 kilometres in length and runs in a general east–west direction. 6.3 km of the highway through Geraldine runs concurrently with the Inland Scenic Route (Regional Route 72 NZ.png), formerly State Highway 72. The road is a two-lane single carriageway, with a one-lane bridge crossing the Orari River.

It is an important tourist highway, and forms part of the most direct route between Christchurch and the Mackenzie Country, Aoraki / Mount Cook and Queenstown/Wānaka.

Route

SH 79 passing through Geraldine

The highway starts on the Canterbury Plains and proceeds in a north-westerly direction. The highway then intersects with the Inland Scenic Route and crosses the Orari River. The highway then veers to the south and arrives in Geraldine. In the town centre, SH 79 turns right and passes through the southern sections of the township before veering to the west towards the foothills. The road gradually passes through sections of pine forest and farmlands and is generally hilly and curvy in some spots before descending into the township of Fairlie.[1]

Major intersections

Territorial authority Location km jct Destinations Notes
Timaru District Rangitata 0 New Zealand road sign R2-2.svg SH 1 north – Ashburton, Christchurch
SH 1 south – Temuka, Timaru
SH 79 begins
9 New Zealand road sign R2-2.svg Regional Route 72 NZ.png Inland Scenic Route (Geraldine-Arundel Road) – Methven, Mount Hutt Ski Area SH 79/Inland Scenic Route (Regional Route 72) concurrency begins
New Zealand road sign R2-7.svg Orari River
Geraldine 15 New Zealand road sign R2-2.svg Regional Route 72 NZ.png Inland Scenic Route (Talbot Street) – Winchester, Timaru SH 79/Inland Scenic Route (Regional Route 72) concurrency ends
Mackenzie District Fairlie 61 New Zealand road sign R2-2.svg SH 8 east – Timaru
SH 8 west – Tekapo, Aoraki / Mount Cook
SH 79 ends

See also

References

External links