State Highway 73 (SH 73) is a major east-west
South Island
The South Island, also officially named , is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand in surface area, the other being the smaller but more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman ...
state highway
A state highway, state road, or state route (and the equivalent provincial highway, provincial road, or provincial route) is usually a road that is either ''numbered'' or ''maintained'' by a sub-national state or province. A road numbered by a ...
in New Zealand connecting
Christchurch
Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon River / ...
on the east coast with
Cass
Cass may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Cass (surname), a list of people
* Cass (given name), a list of people and fictional characters
* Big Cass, ring name of wrestler William Morrissey
* Cass, in British band Skunk Anansie
* Cass, ...
/
Hokitika
Hokitika is a town in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island, south of Greymouth, and close to the mouth of the Hokitika River. It is the seat and largest town in the Westland District. The town's estimated population is as of .
...
via the
Southern Alps
The Southern Alps (; officially Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana) is a mountain range extending along much of the length of New Zealand's South Island, reaching its greatest elevations near the range's western side. The name "Southern ...
. It is mostly two lane, with some single-lane bridges north of
Springfield
Springfield may refer to:
* Springfield (toponym), the place name in general
Places and locations Australia
* Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast)
* Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council)
* Springfield, Queenslan ...
but is mostly
dual carriageway
A dual carriageway ( BE) or divided highway ( AE) is a class of highway with carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation (BrE) or median (AmE). Roads with two or more carriageways which are ...
in Christchurch. The fourth and fifth-highest points of New Zealand's state highway network are on this road at
Porters Pass
Porters Pass (elevation 939 metres) is a mountain pass in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island.
It is near Lake Lyndon and is located within Korowai/Torlesse Tussocklands Park. State Highway 73 travels through the pass on its ...
and
Arthur's Pass
Arthur's Pass, previously called Camping Flat then Bealey Flats, and for some time officially Arthurs Pass, is a township in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand, located in the Selwyn district. It is a popular base for explorin ...
respectively.
History
The route connecting the West and East coasts of the South Island via the Southern Alps were known for hundreds of years by the
Māori people
The Māori (, ) are the indigenous Polynesian people of mainland New Zealand (). Māori originated with settlers from East Polynesia, who arrived in New Zealand in several waves of canoe voyages between roughly 1320 and 1350. Over several ce ...
, due to a flourishing
pounamu
Pounamu is a term for several types of hard and durable stone found in southern New Zealand. They are highly valued in New Zealand, and carvings made from pounamu play an important role in Māori culture.
Name
The Māori word , also used ...
trade. The Europeans were informed of the route by a local chief in the mid-19th century but was not used during his lifetime. In 1864,
Arthur Dudley Dobson
Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson (9 September 1841 – 5 March 1934) was a New Zealand surveyor, engineer and explorer. Born in London, he came to Lyttelton, New Zealand, in 1850 on one of the First Four Ships. He is best known for taking the first part ...
traversed from the east to the west coast from the Waimakariri River, thereby discovering
Arthur's Pass
Arthur's Pass, previously called Camping Flat then Bealey Flats, and for some time officially Arthurs Pass, is a township in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand, located in the Selwyn district. It is a popular base for explorin ...
. A route connecting Christchurch to
Hokitika
Hokitika is a town in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island, south of Greymouth, and close to the mouth of the Hokitika River. It is the seat and largest town in the Westland District. The town's estimated population is as of .
...
was fully completed in 1866, with the first
Cobb & Co
Cobb & Co was the name used by many successful sometimes quite independent Australian coaching businesses. The first was established in 1853 by American Freeman Cobb and his partners. The name Cobb & Co grew to great prominence in the late 19th ...
coach began operating that same year for the burgeoning gold rush.
![ArthursPass](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/ArthursPass.jpg)
Construction of a rail link had started in 1890, and the
Midland Line between Canterbury and the West Coast was finally completed on 4 August 1923, with the opening of the
Otira Tunnel
The Otira Tunnel is a railway tunnel on the Midland Line in the South Island of New Zealand, between Otira and Arthur's Pass. It runs under the Southern Alps from Arthur's Pass to Otira – a length of over . The gradient is mainly 1 in 33, and ...
. This signalled the end of the
Cobb & Co
Cobb & Co was the name used by many successful sometimes quite independent Australian coaching businesses. The first was established in 1853 by American Freeman Cobb and his partners. The name Cobb & Co grew to great prominence in the late 19th ...
coach in New Zealand. When the section of the line from Springfield to Broken River in Canterbury was opened in 1906, it was then possible to travel from Canterbury to the West Coast in a single day with a 40-mile (64 km) coach journey between the railheads at Broken River and Otira.
Due to the geography and topography between
Springfield
Springfield may refer to:
* Springfield (toponym), the place name in general
Places and locations Australia
* Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast)
* Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council)
* Springfield, Queenslan ...
and
Kumara, the road has been subjected to several closures and road realignments, with both
Porters Porters may refer to:
* Porters, Virginia, an unincorporated community in Virginia, United States
* Porters, Wisconsin, an unincorporated community in Wisconsin, United States
* Porters Ski Area, a ski resort in New Zealand
* ''Porters'' (TV series ...
and
Arthur's
Arthur's was a London gentlemen's club, now dissolved, which was established in 1811 and was disbanded in 1940. Between 1827 and 1940 it was based at 69 St James's Street. It is now best remembered for having built the London clubhouse currently ...
Pass subjected to frequent closures during the winter months. The road between Arthur's Pass and
Otira
Otira is a small township fifteen kilometres north of Arthur's Pass in the central South Island of New Zealand. It is on the northern approach to the pass, a saddle between the Otira and Bealey Rivers high in the Southern Alps. A possible meani ...
in particular was amongst the most dangerous in the country, due to the road located on
scree
Scree is a collection of broken rock fragments at the base of a cliff or other steep rocky mass that has accumulated through periodic rockfall. Landforms associated with these materials are often called talus deposits. Talus deposits typically ha ...
slopes which frequently gave way. As a result, numerous studies were conducted into alternative options for fixing the road around Candy's Bend, Starvation Point and the Zig Zag. Construction of the Otira Viaduct and the protective roofs from slips began in 1997 and opened in 1999.
Route
Kumara Junction to Christchurch
State Highway 73 begins 11 km south of
Greymouth
Greymouth () (Māori: ''Māwhera'') is the largest town in the West Coast region in the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council. The population of the whole Grey District is , which accounts for % of the West Coas ...
at
Kumara Junction
Kumara is a town on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located south of Greymouth, close to the western end of , which leads across Arthur's Pass to Christchurch. The Taramakau River flows past to the north.
The populatio ...
. The highway passes through undulating farmland, scrubland and forest as it passes through the settlements of
Kumara and Dillmanstown. The road veers sharply to the left as it approaches the mountains to the front of the road. The road then hugs the
Taramakau River
The Taramakau River is a river of the West Coast Region of the South Island of New Zealand. It rises in the Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana near Harper Pass, due east of Hokitika, and runs westward for into the Tasman Sea south of Gr ...
as it proceeds down the valley. At
Jacksons, the
Midland Line crosses the river and begins to run parallel to the road. Just before
Aickens at the confluence of the Taramakau and
Otira River
Otira is a small township fifteen kilometres north of Arthur's Pass in the central South Island of New Zealand. It is on the northern approach to the pass, a saddle between the Otira and Bealey Rivers high in the Southern Alps. A possible meaning ...
s, the road and rail line veers to the right and runs to the south before reaching
Otira
Otira is a small township fifteen kilometres north of Arthur's Pass in the central South Island of New Zealand. It is on the northern approach to the pass, a saddle between the Otira and Bealey Rivers high in the Southern Alps. A possible meani ...
.
![Arthur's Pass](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Arthur%27s_Pass.jpg)
Beyond Otira, the road breaks with the railway line and crosses the river before climbing up towards the Otira Viaduct and
Arthur's Pass
Arthur's Pass, previously called Camping Flat then Bealey Flats, and for some time officially Arthurs Pass, is a township in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand, located in the Selwyn district. It is a popular base for explorin ...
. At 920 metres, Arthur's Pass is the second highest pass on the road and is one of the three alpine passes connecting the east and west coasts. After peaking, the road descends into
Arthur's Pass
Arthur's Pass, previously called Camping Flat then Bealey Flats, and for some time officially Arthurs Pass, is a township in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand, located in the Selwyn district. It is a popular base for explorin ...
village with the railway line emerging from the
Otira Tunnel
The Otira Tunnel is a railway tunnel on the Midland Line in the South Island of New Zealand, between Otira and Arthur's Pass. It runs under the Southern Alps from Arthur's Pass to Otira – a length of over . The gradient is mainly 1 in 33, and ...
nearby.
After the village, the road and rail line runs along the
Bealey River
The Bealey River is a small river located in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. It is a tributary of the Waimakariri River. Its valley forms the eastern approach to Arthur's Pass. The river and the Bealey settlement are named for Samuel Bealey, a ...
valley and crosses the
Waimakariri River
The Waimakariri River is one of the largest rivers in Canterbury, on the eastern coast of New Zealand's South Island. It flows for in a generally southeastward direction from the Southern Alps across the Canterbury Plains to the Pacific Ocean.
...
before veering left and running parallel to both the river and the rail line on the opposite side. Before
Cass
Cass may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Cass (surname), a list of people
* Cass (given name), a list of people and fictional characters
* Big Cass, ring name of wrestler William Morrissey
* Cass, in British band Skunk Anansie
* Cass, ...
, the road runs along a bluff and turns right to proceed past some more farmland as well as Lakes
Grasmere and
Pearson Pearson may refer to:
Organizations Education
*Lester B. Pearson College, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
*Pearson College (UK), London, owned by Pearson PLC
*Lester B. Pearson High School (disambiguation)
Companies
*Pearson PLC, a UK-based int ...
.
![Castle Hill Village Stevage](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/Castle_Hill_Village_Stevage.jpg)
The road then climbs up towards
Castle Hill Village
Castle Hill Village is an alpine village in Canterbury, New Zealand that started in 1982.
Location
Castle Hill Village is located in Selwyn District. It is located adjacent to just north of the Thomas River. Nearby are the distinctive limesto ...
and runs through a valley before passing beside
Lake Lyndon
Lake Lyndon is a small lake in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located near Porters Pass on State Highway 73 after Springfield heading into the Southern Alps. The lake regularly freezes in winter due to its elevation ...
where it curves left before climbing up towards
Porters Pass
Porters Pass (elevation 939 metres) is a mountain pass in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island.
It is near Lake Lyndon and is located within Korowai/Torlesse Tussocklands Park. State Highway 73 travels through the pass on its ...
which, at 939 metres, is the highest point on the road. After cresting, the road descends into the
Kowai River valley and runs roughly parallel with the river until it reaches
Springfield
Springfield may refer to:
* Springfield (toponym), the place name in general
Places and locations Australia
* Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast)
* Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council)
* Springfield, Queenslan ...
.
![Donut-springfield-nz](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Donut-springfield-nz.png)
After Springfield, the road emerges onto the
Canterbury Plains
The Canterbury Plains () are an area in New Zealand centred in the Mid Canterbury, to the south of the city of Christchurch in the Canterbury region. Their northern extremes are at the foot of the Hundalee Hills in the Hurunui District, and in t ...
and runs straight through the settlements of Annat,
Sheffield and Waddington before arriving at
Darfield. The road then passes through the settlements of
Kirwee
Kirwee is a town located west of Christchurch in the Canterbury, New Zealand, Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It was named after Karwi in India by retired British Army colonel De Renzie Brett. Kirwee is also home to the South ...
,
Aylesbury
Aylesbury ( ) is the county town of Buckinghamshire, South East England. It is home to the Roald Dahl Children's Gallery, David Tugwell`s house on Watermead and the Waterside Theatre. It is in central Buckinghamshire, midway between High Wy ...
and
West Melton
West Melton is a former mining village in the parish of Brampton Bierlow in South Yorkshire, England. It lies between Wath upon Dearne and Brampton Bierlow, roughly 5 miles north of Rotherham and 5 miles south-east of Barnsley. The village fa ...
as well as dairy and lifestyle farms characteristic of the plains. The road passes by
Paparua Prison
There are eighteen adult prisons in New Zealand. Three prisons house female offenders, one each in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The remaining fifteen house male offenders; ten in the North Island and five in the South Island. In addit ...
and arrives in Christchurch via
Yaldhurst
Yaldhurst is a semi-rural suburb on the western outskirts of Christchurch city. Frederick William Delamain (1835–1910), a settler and horse breeder, named a horse Yaldhurst after some stables in England. The area was named after the horse.
The ...
.
Christchurch
As Yaldhurst Road, the proceeds in an easterly direction towards
Riccarton Riccarton may refer to:
New Zealand
* Riccarton, New Zealand, a suburb of Christchurch
** Riccarton (New Zealand electorate), the electorate named after it
** The location of Riccarton Race Course
* a locality on the Taieri Plains in Otago
Scotlan ...
. The road widens to four lanes at
Avonhead
Avonhead is a suburb of the New Zealand city of Christchurch. It has two primary schools, a shopping centre and several parks.
Etymology
Engineer William Bayley Bray (1812–1885) arrived in Canterbury in January 1851 on the ''Duke of Bronte'' ...
, but by Curletts Road/Peer Street, the highway turns right (while Yaldhurst Road becomes Riccarton Road and heads towards the city centre).
As Curletts Road, the road remains as four lanes divided by a
flush median. After Blenheim Road, however the road widens again, crosses over the
Main South Line
The Main South Line, sometimes referred to as part of the South Island Main Trunk Railway, is a railway line that runs north and south from Lyttelton in New Zealand through Christchurch and along the east coast of the South Island to Inverca ...
and eventually terminates at the
Christchurch Southern Motorway
The Christchurch Southern Motorway is the main southern route into and out of Christchurch, New Zealand. The motorway forms part of (SH 1) and (SH 76) .
The motorway, which heads in a generally south-west direction, is approximately 20 k ...
(SH 76).
Route changes
Over the past 40 years SH 73 has been subjected to several route changes both in the Christchurch and the Arthur's Pass-Otira areas. In the early years SH 73 originally ended at the Blenheim Road and Hansons Lane corner in
Upper Riccarton
Upper Riccarton is a suburb of Christchurch. It is due west of Riccarton.
Upper Riccarton is made up of residential, retail and education areas. It includes a major intersection known as "Church Corner" (the intersection of Riccarton, Main Sout ...
. In 1999, one of the worst sections of highway in the country (around Candy's Bend) were replaced with the Otira Viaduct. Meanwhile, in Christchurch, since SH 1 was rerouted to bypass the CBD, SH 73 was extended to Brougham Street/Waltham Road intersection, with the rest of the route covered by SH 74.
In 2004, with SH 74 being rerouted to run along the Ring Road and the entire length of Tunnel Road instead of through the CBD, SH 73 was extended further to the Port Hills Road interchange on SH 74. It was also rerouted from the intersection of Blenheim Road to follow Curletts Road and Yaldhurst Road, instead of via Main South Road through Hornby, meeting back again with SH 1 at the intersection of Masham and Russley Roads.
As of December 2012, with the extension of the
Christchurch Southern Motorway
The Christchurch Southern Motorway is the main southern route into and out of Christchurch, New Zealand. The motorway forms part of (SH 1) and (SH 76) .
The motorway, which heads in a generally south-west direction, is approximately 20 k ...
, the section of SH 73 east of Curletts Road was re-gazetted as SH 76 in line with the new motorway extension.
Former spur sections
State Highway 73A was a spur section of SH 73 connecting the suburbs of
Hornby, New Zealand
Hornby is a major residential and retail suburb at the western edge of Christchurch, New Zealand. The suburb is directly connected to other parts of Christchurch and the South Island by a number of main arterial routes, including State Highway 1 ...
and
Sockburn, New Zealand
Sockburn is an industrial suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, located between Hornby and Riccarton, some west of the Christchurch city centre. The suburb is roughly bounded by the triangle formed by State Highway 1 in the west, Main South Road ...
via Main South Road and Blenheim Road. Before 2004 it formed part of the old route of SH 73 and further before that
SH 1. It was one of the few state highways in New Zealand to be wholly dual carriageway. In 2014, the entire highway has been revoked due to completion of the
Christchurch Southern Motorway
The Christchurch Southern Motorway is the main southern route into and out of Christchurch, New Zealand. The motorway forms part of (SH 1) and (SH 76) .
The motorway, which heads in a generally south-west direction, is approximately 20 k ...
(gazetted SH 76 in 2012) which runs almost parallel to this route.
Major junctions
See also
*
List of New Zealand state highways
This is a list of highways of the New Zealand state highway network and some touring routes. State highways are administered by the NZ Transport Agency, while all other roads are the responsibility of territorial authorities.
Current
North I ...
References
*
External links
New Zealand Transport Agency
Great Alpine Highway- a tourist site promoting the road
State Highway 73 at Google Maps
{{New Zealand State Highway navbox
73
Transport in Canterbury, New Zealand