Length:

228 km

Termini:

Eastern: Landing Rd (unnumbered) and Hinemoa St (unnumbered), Whakatāne

Western: SH3, Te Kūiti

Miscellaneous:

Route includes: Waitete Road, Ellis Road, Scott Road, Mitchell Road, Whakamaru Road, Ongaroto Road, Hemo Road, Sala Street, Te Ngae Road and Hongis Track

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Te Kūiti, Benneydale, Whakamaru, Mangakino, Whakamaru, Ātiamuri, Upper Ātiamuri, Whakarewarewa, Rotorua, Te Ngae, Lynmore, Lake Ōkataina, Lake Rotoehu, Lake Rotomā, Kawerau, Te Teko, Awakeri, Pāroa and Whakatāne

Current:

30

Former:

2

5

Multiplexed with:

1

2

5

32

34

General Information:

Linking the Waikato region and Bay of Plenty region on New Zealand' North Island, State Highway 30 is one of 2 key routes between Rotorua and Tauranga and is the key heavy vehicle route for freight. ¹ SH30 is also popular with tourists accessing tourist attractions dotted along the route. State Highway 30 passes through rugged terrain, forests, rural / farmland areas, residential, commercial and industrial zones.

SH1, for 6 km, between Ātiamuri and Upper Ātiamuri

SH2, for 1 km, at Awakeri

SH5, for 1 km, at Rotorua

SH32, for 1 km, at Whakamaru

SH34, for 220 m, at Putauaki

Thermal Explorer Highway, for 1 km, at Rotorua

Pacific Coast Highway, for 4 km, between Paroa and Whakatāne

July 2013: Rock face stabilisation works along a 400 metre-long section on SH30 at Ruato Bay. The work involved drilling and bolting the rock columns together, and then covering the rock face with a steel wire mesh. ²

18 February 2020: Work commenced on road upgrades along Te Ngae Road in Lynmore. Works included the upgrade of the Tarawera roundabout to a signalised intersection and the four-laning of a section of the highway between Allen Mills and Iles roads, 3.5 km of new shared paths, overhead powerlines relocated underground, and installation of new water mains. ³

28 September 2020: Work commenced on replacement of the timber deck on the one-lane bridge over the Mōkau River. ⁴

27 January 2021: Shoulder widening and sealing works on State Highway 30 in Kapenga between Bryce Road and the intersection with State Highway 5. ⁵

February 2021: Work started on strengthening and rebuilding three sections of road between Nicholson Road and State Highway 1 at Ātiamuri. ⁶

23 July 2021: Activation of traffic signals at the corner of Te Ngae Road (SH30), Marino Road and Tarawera Road. ⁷

25 July 2021: Work commenced on widening the footpath on the southern side of the Puarenga Bridge to join with the shared path at either end of the bridge. ⁸

February 2022: Stage 1 of an upgrade project was completed from Sala Street to Iles Road. ⁹

July 2022: Culvert replacement and surface repairs between Te Kūiti and Kōpaki Road, Kōpaki. ¹⁰

03 October 2022: Speed limits changed through Rotorua, Whakarewarewa, Ngāpuna and Lynmore. ¹¹

2022: Upgrade work commenced on intersection improvements and upgrades to four lanes from Iles Road to Basley Road. The work included wider shared paths and on-road cycle lanes. ⁹

November 2023: Completion of a new roundabout at the SH30 / SH33 intersection (Te Ngae Junction) and a right-turn lane at the corner of SH30 and Rangiteaorere Road intersection in Tikitere. ¹²

February 2025: Work commenced on intersection upgrades including installation of traffic signals at the corner of Te Ngae Road (SH30) and Wharenui Road, Ōwhata. ⁹

August 2025: Activation of traffic signals at the corner of Te Ngae Road (SH30) and Wharenui Road, Ōwhata. ¹

Te Kūiti to Whakatāne

Intersection Direction Sign:

AD sign at Te Kūiti, approaching Rora St and Lawrence St, March 2025.

Image © Krysten Pratt

Advance Direction Sign:

AD sign near Waipa River at Ōtorohanga, approaching Te Kānawa St (SH39), March 2025.

Image © Krysten Pratt