Tasman · New Zealand
Takaka Hill
SH 60Riwaka to Tākaka
Winding marble-mountain road between Motueka and Golden Bay.
State Highway 60 climbs over Takaka Hill to about 791 metres between Motueka on Tasman Bay and Takaka in Golden Bay, the main road link to Golden Bay. Known as Marble Mountain for its weathered karst landscape of caves and sinkholes, the route is famously twisting with hundreds of corners including some very tight near-hairpin bends. Mind the constant tight cornering, slower tourist traffic and fog near the summit.
Scenery
MountainForestValley
Best seasons
SummerAutumnSpring
In these collections
Where it runs35.0 mi · point to point
RiwakaStart · Tasman
TākakaEnd · Tasman
Navigate to the start: Apple Maps · Google Maps
Character
Corners257bends
Tightness8of 10
Max gradient11%≈ 1-in-9
Hairpins4tight bends
Climb845 mtotal ascent
Summit820.1 mhighest point of the line · 2,691 ft
Corners
busiest around mile 10Elevation
under 4%4–8%over 8%6.3 – 820.1 mFrom the road
Points of interest3 stops
- Hawkes LookoutViewpoint12 mi in
- Harwoods LookoutViewpoint16 mi in
- Paines FordViewpoint33 mi in
Hazards
- Continuous tight cornering for around 25 km
- Slow-moving tourist and camper traffic
- Fog and low cloud near the summit
Sources
“The zig-zagging highway isn't scary, but it is a very steep and winding road with 257 corners, some almost 320-degree hairpins.”
Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked
Driving the Takaka Hill: quick answers
How long does it take to drive the Takaka Hill?
Takaka Hill runs 35.0 miles (56 km) and takes about 1 h 21 min to drive without stops.
How difficult is the Takaka Hill to drive?
We rate it demanding: 257 corners including 4 hairpins, a maximum gradient of 11%, and a tightness of 8 out of 10.
When is the best time to drive the Takaka Hill?
Summer and Autumn and Spring are best.
Nearby roads
The closest great drives to Takaka Hill.
Takaka Hill
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