Desert Road
 

We will be driving from Auckland to Wellington in July this year. I understand that the section of the main highway called the "Desert Road" is sometimes closed due to snow and ice during winter. If it is, are there many alternative routes? <BR> <BR>Thanks <BR>Ned

AUCKLAND TOWELLINGTON via TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK <BR>Hi Ned <BR> <BR>I have just, as in an hour ago, arrived back from the dessert Rd area. Yes it has been snow for most of this week, and yes the Dessert Rd can be closed during the winter. <BR> <BR>The route I always go from Auckland to Wellington is Highway 4 via Hamilton, Te Kuiti, Tamaranui, Ohakune and rejoin State Highway 1 at Waiouri?. It is an interest drive and an excellent highway. We have a holiday home at National Park village which is half way between Auckland and Wellington. <BR> <BR>If you have time it is a great place to stop for a couple of days as you are at the world heritage park of Tongariro National Park. You can walk and ski on a live volcano, great trout fishing and the scenery is awesome - snow covered peaks and moonscape landscapes. They flimed a lot of the Lord of the Rings in the Park. For a bit more information checkout our home site http://mysite.xtra.co.nz There is a great information centre just above the Grand Chateau and a new regional web site that has just come on line - search for Ruapehu. <BR> <BR>Drive by all means but if you miss National Park then you will have missed one of the best eco-tourIst spot in NZ

Desert Road again <BR> <BR>Hi Ned <BR>Sorry I did not complet that URL - a night. It is http://mysite.xtra.co.nz/~SkiChalet <BR> <BR>I should add that I taught down there one winter and the Desert Rd was not closed that much but it can be dangerous - go via National Park - safer and better.

Ned, there are many alternate routes to take if the Desert Road is closed. The road only closes in extreme weather and is well publicized and patrolled, if the road is closed you can get through via Napier, or Taranaki or many smaller roads.

Thanks Kerry & Holly. I feel much better now. Thanks also for the URL site Kerry