Travelling The Zigzag, a dangerous road in New Zealand
New Zealand, oceania
N/A
20 m
extreme
Year-round
Picture this: You're smack-dab in the heart of New Zealand's South Island, cruising through Arthur's Pass National Park on what used to be part of the old Arthur's Pass road (Highway 73). We're talking about "The Zigzag," a section that was seriously hardcore!
This wasn't your average Sunday drive. "The Zigzag" was built right across a constantly shifting scree slope. Imagine battling steep inclines that forced most cars into first gear, hairpin turns that tested your skills, and the constant threat of rockslides. Over the decades, they kept having to move the road to escape erosion, floods and landslides.
Eventually, it was just too risky to keep up. In 2001, the epic Ōtira Viaduct came to the rescue. Soaring through the Ōtira Gorge, it skips all the dodgy bits of the old road. Now, you can cruise along the Great Alpine Highway (aka Highway 73) with total peace of mind, soaking in the incredible views of Arthurs Pass National Park without the white-knuckle stress of "The Zigzag."
Where is it?
Travelling The Zigzag, a dangerous road in New Zealand is located in New Zealand (oceania). Coordinates: -42.7865, 174.0112
Road Details
- Country
- New Zealand
- Continent
- oceania
- Max Elevation
- 20 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- -42.7865, 174.0112
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