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Looking across to the old zig-zag road, Otira Gorge 1959.
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DescriptionIt is hard to believe that we happily drove over this road before the viaduct.
Whites Aviation/ Alexander Turnbull LibraryPhotographerWhites AviationDate of Photo1959Map[1] ContributorMaye Dunn
Whites Aviation/ Alexander Turnbull LibraryPhotographerWhites AviationDate of Photo1959Map[1] ContributorMaye Dunn
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Location (city or town)Otira Gorge
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Category TagRoads
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Date Created30th May 2019CommentsJessie Guy - Incredible and scary, thank goodness for the viaduct.
Sandy Brears - we used to chug over that road in a wee Ford Prefect.
Reg Barlow - It was the best part of the trip.
John Nancekivell - I used to drive heavy trucks over, but it used to give me the shits a bit.
Glenice Hansen - Drove over many times Was always pleased.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - I remember it vividly....scary mary.
Glenice Hansen - To get to Arthurs Pass.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Then you felt partially safe lol.
Ann Clark - Loved the west coast different world.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Same, both my parents are from there, spent so much time with my cousins and both sets of Grandparents,,,Ngahere and Nelsons Creek...big excursions into Greymouth with Gran to go shopping....so many happy memories,,,I could write a book.
Ann Clark - Carrie-Ann Gibson, my sister lived in Otira loved it.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Ann Clark, we always stopped at Otira lol was just an essential part of the trip.
Ann Clark - Carrie-Ann Gibson, had a ride up front of a steam train and put coal in the fire.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Last time we went, we had to leave Otira and go back due to snow, I was so happy lol.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Ann Clark, in the good old days, probably wouldn't be allowed to do that these days, restrictions and all.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - My Grandad used to let me take the 4wheel motorbike and big labrador up to Ngahere post office to get the mail, these days he'd be in the shit for that lol.
John Nancekivell - Carrie-Ann Gibson they have a great little pub and camp ground at Nelson Creek.
Lee Henderson - Our bus broke its wing mirror due to Otira River taking out half of the road...was scary.
Phyllis Aberhart - I drove over it in the early 80's for a couple of months when my father was very ill in Grey Hospital. Then didn't drive it for about 10 yrs. I think during that time it deteriorated a fair bit plus I think trucks got bigger. I met one of them on one of the hairpin bends I nearly had to change my knickers.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Hilarious!
Kevin Fleming - Lovely trip especially to stop at the top to watch the Kea.
Rose Henham - The viaduct has taken a lot fun out of the trip!
Barry Fischer - Was interesting on the motorbike on that old section. Always a few rocks and fallen shingle to manoeuvre through.
Val Shaw - Hated it.
Debz Muston - I used to love driving over it. Was sad when they put the viaduct in.
Wendy Cross - Some horror stories could be told about this road, especially in the winter time, putting chains on and off, snow, ice you name it, it had it.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Yes it was fricking scary.
Rose Weiler - I hated it.
KevinSharyn Peters - Wow that looks amazing great road not so much fun now.
John Nancekivell - I remember when as a kid, going to ch-ch was 5.6hr trip, we had to ford a lot of creeks and negotiate narrow bridges, it was gravel all the way from Kumara to Springfield, there were no, or few barriers on passes or corners like today, I don't think many drivers would cope with the conditions today.
Dianne Blythe - Don’t know about the happily bit, I hated it.
Mark Thomas - Some vehicles had to reverse up onto the zigzag.
John Nancekivell - Mark Thomas they sure did, not enough power in the old cars.
John White - John Nancekivell, and gravity fed fuel systems in pre 1955 vehicles also meant reversing was the only way to keep fuel getting to the carburetor.
Malcolm Hills - Dawn Hills this was the old road.
John Morgan - Great old road. Never felt scared driving over as long as brakes worked. No sense of adventure now. Going too slow to worry. Only down hill traffic refusing to back up a danger.
John Hunt - My family did this travel many times. On the zig zag the pot holes were huge on many corners. Those roads need your best skills to drive them. Down hill traffic gave way to uphill but as always we had to deal with drivers who never complied which made life interesting. Hill starts with loose shingle tested your skills. Fond memories thou.
Graham Porter - Been driving over that road since 1983.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - I was scared but too young to know, then I grew up and yeah um!!????
David Carty - Used to have to stop at candy's bend to move the rocks off the road before they built the rock shuit under the road, this was about 1956-58!!n
Carrie-Ann Gibson - My Grandad always talked about Candys Bend!
John Morgan - Drove over it first time in 1957.
Kathleen Power - Love it.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Yeah its a love or hate relationship lol.
Katarina Leaf-Dobbs - Carrie-Ann Gibson, the first time I went over to Otira (circa 1970's) was in a bus lol. Scared the bejeebers out of me. Never been car sick before that lol.
Kathleen Power - Carrie-Ann Gibson quite a few trips over that Rd late 60's right though to now. Miss the railcar that was also brilliant.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Katarina Leaf-Dobbs, we went over for my Grandads funeral and yeah my niece spewed all the way.
Kathleen Power - Carrie-Ann Gibson, never bussed that road - don't think I would liked that. Got caught in snow trying to get home with two babies had to be rescued.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Kathleen Power too true, bit more drama than one needs.
Kathleen Power - Carrie-Ann Gibson ministry of works then rescued us and took us back to there place they where staying looked after us with hot food a place to stay. Was one of the very special times I remember.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Hmmm I'm feeling like a Greymouth trip now lol bringing back memories.
Clare McDonnell - Remember Dad stopping and putting gear into first.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Yep I remember Grandad doing that too, but he always acted like he was in control...hmmm and he taught me how to drive on the bush West Coast roads, I wonder if that makes me a good driver? he had a pillow on my seat and i remember saying Grandad why are the gears on the steering wheel?
Stace Maree Kemp - Jessika Greene, another view of the road I was telling you about.
Mark Merriman - I loved it, always an occasion.
Aaron Frater - As a kid, my step dad had a cottage in Otira, I used to do this drive a lot too. .. as a passenger of course.
Debbie Ansett - Wow I bought a Morris 1000 in Christchurch and drove it home to Greymouth. Never thought twice about it.
Louise Lockie - Debbie Ansett, those old Morris cars were great in the low gears. Perfect for steep mountain roads.
Kathleen Power - Austin A30 got a hole in sump through Jacksons.
John Hunt - Sometimes cars passing in narrow spots you could drop into the water table or in winter slide in due to ice and snow. Father was stuck all night once in winter. You had to wait for roadman to pull you out. Rough as it was for most of us it was fine as we did certainly drive to the conditions.
Theresa Boon - Been on that road a few times.
Charles Carson - Got stuck at the lookout during 1996 earthquake. That was scariest situation I'd ever been in. Everyone there thought we would be killed for sure.
Bob Laing - The first time I went over Arthur’s Pass I was hitch hiking NZ and I saw how spectacular the place was I decided to walk over the Pass. A day or two ago, about 1967.
Deb Hoare - What a photo! Scary!!!
Sharyn Lodge - Well, I wouldn't exactly say "happily".
Graeme Jackson - NZ Road Service buses engines would boil over on the climb up,then a three point turn on some corners. My mother reversed down the zigzag when I was a kid because the auto crapped out.
Great memories of this section.
Barb Rodway - Graeme Jackson, OMG your Mum was a clever driver to attempt that move. I’m impressed.
Graeme Jackson - Lol, so we're we. In a Valiant Regal stationwagon full of kids.
Barb Rodway - Yes. It does make it hard to believe.
Peter Bradley - Remember in the late 80’s racing over the zig zag and getting to the bottom with all 4 brakes smoking in the Torana, was a fantastic bit of road to drive.
Fergus Bryant - My Dad let me drive over before they even sealed the road.
June Williams - I remember it well. In the 60's, our car used to go sideways sometimes over the corrugations. Great fun.
Ann Bradley - I often look up there when crossing the Viaduct and wonder ‘what were we thinking?’ I guess we just didn’t realise there wasn’t much holding the road up!
Trish Stikkelman - Had to drive brother in Holden to Coast from Christchurch over this. Felt back wheel in midair a couple of times. Much better coming other way...hahaha.
Jeremy Blyth - I remember the corrugated surface knocking Dads car out of gear on the zig zag before the top.
Sandy Brears - we used to chug over that road in a wee Ford Prefect.
Reg Barlow - It was the best part of the trip.
John Nancekivell - I used to drive heavy trucks over, but it used to give me the shits a bit.
Glenice Hansen - Drove over many times Was always pleased.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - I remember it vividly....scary mary.
Glenice Hansen - To get to Arthurs Pass.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Then you felt partially safe lol.
Ann Clark - Loved the west coast different world.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Same, both my parents are from there, spent so much time with my cousins and both sets of Grandparents,,,Ngahere and Nelsons Creek...big excursions into Greymouth with Gran to go shopping....so many happy memories,,,I could write a book.
Ann Clark - Carrie-Ann Gibson, my sister lived in Otira loved it.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Ann Clark, we always stopped at Otira lol was just an essential part of the trip.
Ann Clark - Carrie-Ann Gibson, had a ride up front of a steam train and put coal in the fire.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Last time we went, we had to leave Otira and go back due to snow, I was so happy lol.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Ann Clark, in the good old days, probably wouldn't be allowed to do that these days, restrictions and all.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - My Grandad used to let me take the 4wheel motorbike and big labrador up to Ngahere post office to get the mail, these days he'd be in the shit for that lol.
John Nancekivell - Carrie-Ann Gibson they have a great little pub and camp ground at Nelson Creek.
Lee Henderson - Our bus broke its wing mirror due to Otira River taking out half of the road...was scary.
Phyllis Aberhart - I drove over it in the early 80's for a couple of months when my father was very ill in Grey Hospital. Then didn't drive it for about 10 yrs. I think during that time it deteriorated a fair bit plus I think trucks got bigger. I met one of them on one of the hairpin bends I nearly had to change my knickers.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Hilarious!
Kevin Fleming - Lovely trip especially to stop at the top to watch the Kea.
Rose Henham - The viaduct has taken a lot fun out of the trip!
Barry Fischer - Was interesting on the motorbike on that old section. Always a few rocks and fallen shingle to manoeuvre through.
Val Shaw - Hated it.
Debz Muston - I used to love driving over it. Was sad when they put the viaduct in.
Wendy Cross - Some horror stories could be told about this road, especially in the winter time, putting chains on and off, snow, ice you name it, it had it.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Yes it was fricking scary.
Rose Weiler - I hated it.
KevinSharyn Peters - Wow that looks amazing great road not so much fun now.
John Nancekivell - I remember when as a kid, going to ch-ch was 5.6hr trip, we had to ford a lot of creeks and negotiate narrow bridges, it was gravel all the way from Kumara to Springfield, there were no, or few barriers on passes or corners like today, I don't think many drivers would cope with the conditions today.
Dianne Blythe - Don’t know about the happily bit, I hated it.
Mark Thomas - Some vehicles had to reverse up onto the zigzag.
John Nancekivell - Mark Thomas they sure did, not enough power in the old cars.
John White - John Nancekivell, and gravity fed fuel systems in pre 1955 vehicles also meant reversing was the only way to keep fuel getting to the carburetor.
Malcolm Hills - Dawn Hills this was the old road.
John Morgan - Great old road. Never felt scared driving over as long as brakes worked. No sense of adventure now. Going too slow to worry. Only down hill traffic refusing to back up a danger.
John Hunt - My family did this travel many times. On the zig zag the pot holes were huge on many corners. Those roads need your best skills to drive them. Down hill traffic gave way to uphill but as always we had to deal with drivers who never complied which made life interesting. Hill starts with loose shingle tested your skills. Fond memories thou.
Graham Porter - Been driving over that road since 1983.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - I was scared but too young to know, then I grew up and yeah um!!????
David Carty - Used to have to stop at candy's bend to move the rocks off the road before they built the rock shuit under the road, this was about 1956-58!!n
Carrie-Ann Gibson - My Grandad always talked about Candys Bend!
John Morgan - Drove over it first time in 1957.
Kathleen Power - Love it.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Yeah its a love or hate relationship lol.
Katarina Leaf-Dobbs - Carrie-Ann Gibson, the first time I went over to Otira (circa 1970's) was in a bus lol. Scared the bejeebers out of me. Never been car sick before that lol.
Kathleen Power - Carrie-Ann Gibson quite a few trips over that Rd late 60's right though to now. Miss the railcar that was also brilliant.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Katarina Leaf-Dobbs, we went over for my Grandads funeral and yeah my niece spewed all the way.
Kathleen Power - Carrie-Ann Gibson, never bussed that road - don't think I would liked that. Got caught in snow trying to get home with two babies had to be rescued.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Kathleen Power too true, bit more drama than one needs.
Kathleen Power - Carrie-Ann Gibson ministry of works then rescued us and took us back to there place they where staying looked after us with hot food a place to stay. Was one of the very special times I remember.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Hmmm I'm feeling like a Greymouth trip now lol bringing back memories.
Clare McDonnell - Remember Dad stopping and putting gear into first.
Carrie-Ann Gibson - Yep I remember Grandad doing that too, but he always acted like he was in control...hmmm and he taught me how to drive on the bush West Coast roads, I wonder if that makes me a good driver? he had a pillow on my seat and i remember saying Grandad why are the gears on the steering wheel?
Stace Maree Kemp - Jessika Greene, another view of the road I was telling you about.
Mark Merriman - I loved it, always an occasion.
Aaron Frater - As a kid, my step dad had a cottage in Otira, I used to do this drive a lot too. .. as a passenger of course.
Debbie Ansett - Wow I bought a Morris 1000 in Christchurch and drove it home to Greymouth. Never thought twice about it.
Louise Lockie - Debbie Ansett, those old Morris cars were great in the low gears. Perfect for steep mountain roads.
Kathleen Power - Austin A30 got a hole in sump through Jacksons.
John Hunt - Sometimes cars passing in narrow spots you could drop into the water table or in winter slide in due to ice and snow. Father was stuck all night once in winter. You had to wait for roadman to pull you out. Rough as it was for most of us it was fine as we did certainly drive to the conditions.
Theresa Boon - Been on that road a few times.
Charles Carson - Got stuck at the lookout during 1996 earthquake. That was scariest situation I'd ever been in. Everyone there thought we would be killed for sure.
Bob Laing - The first time I went over Arthur’s Pass I was hitch hiking NZ and I saw how spectacular the place was I decided to walk over the Pass. A day or two ago, about 1967.
Deb Hoare - What a photo! Scary!!!
Sharyn Lodge - Well, I wouldn't exactly say "happily".
Graeme Jackson - NZ Road Service buses engines would boil over on the climb up,then a three point turn on some corners. My mother reversed down the zigzag when I was a kid because the auto crapped out.
Great memories of this section.
Barb Rodway - Graeme Jackson, OMG your Mum was a clever driver to attempt that move. I’m impressed.
Graeme Jackson - Lol, so we're we. In a Valiant Regal stationwagon full of kids.
Barb Rodway - Yes. It does make it hard to believe.
Peter Bradley - Remember in the late 80’s racing over the zig zag and getting to the bottom with all 4 brakes smoking in the Torana, was a fantastic bit of road to drive.
Fergus Bryant - My Dad let me drive over before they even sealed the road.
June Williams - I remember it well. In the 60's, our car used to go sideways sometimes over the corrugations. Great fun.
Ann Bradley - I often look up there when crossing the Viaduct and wonder ‘what were we thinking?’ I guess we just didn’t realise there wasn’t much holding the road up!
Trish Stikkelman - Had to drive brother in Holden to Coast from Christchurch over this. Felt back wheel in midair a couple of times. Much better coming other way...hahaha.
Jeremy Blyth - I remember the corrugated surface knocking Dads car out of gear on the zig zag before the top.
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West Coast New Zealand History (7th Jun 2021). Looking across to the old zig-zag road, Otira Gorge 1959.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 24th Apr 2026 23:23, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/25398