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The Otira Gorge from the Zig Zag, pre the Viaduct.1984. ALBUM
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DescriptionThe Otira Gorge from the Zig Zag, pre the Viaduct, in 1984.
Date of Photo1984Map[1] Contributor Geoffrey Bell
Date of Photo1984Map[1] Contributor Geoffrey Bell
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Location (city or town)Otira GorgeEventThe Otira Gorge from the Zig Zag, pre the Viaduct.1984.
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Date Created9th February 2022CommentsArthur Bass
Slipped my way up and down the Zig Zag in the winter back in the late 70's.
Louise Lockie
Gorgeous photo with the rata.
Curtis Parker
Iconic Trip our family used to make from the west coast to christchurch one of the most dangerous roads in new Zealand at the time but beautiful part of the country hands down and our checky kea's you can see close up
Raewyn Louttit
Beautiful
Arlene Hutcheon
My parents, and brother and sisters travelled that road many a time. Still scary...
Mel Higson
Hated that bloody staircase, scared the shit out of me.
Anna Wright
Beautiful rata. Travelled that road many times in the 60.s when we were kids.
Lesley Parker Butland
I hated that road In fact I was terrified until the Otira
Michael Craig Knipe
Don't you wish you were into photography back in the zigzag days Ann Knipe
Ann Knipe
I was to busy driving you kids over the darn zig zag.
Michael Craig Knipe
Ann was a great bit of road, was great fun in the transwest days
Blair Johnston
The best past of the trip between christchurch and the coast,
Colin Harman
I wonder how many of the Rata are still there today after the possums had their go
Trish Rennie
Had some scary trips over there in the fog,snow n ice and extreme rain in a manual car way back. So very easy now with the road conditions and auto cars...
Christina Mitchell
That hairpin bend almost at the top was a 50+ point turn for our 10.5m long fixed wheelbase house truck to get round that bend. Hubby did it well. I wouldn't have attempted it ever.
Kay Mangan
Love the rata when it’s out
Bev Johnston
A lovely trip on a good day and the Rata was stunning
Anne Conaghan
Beautiful rata and I love the kea ,,so naughty and funny ,In the 1960's we often travelled the Otira in a 1954 hillman ,,4 young children in the back ,,no seatbelts!!! We never thought of it being dangerous
Nicola Carson
So beautiful, thank you for sharing this.
Denise Scott
I used to give my toddlers a snack box to keep them quiet when we started on the Zig Zag so I could get on with being scared. Thank goodness for the viaduct now.
Wayne McTague
Well remember driving home to Christchurch in our Ford Econovan in the early "90's towing a trailer full of camping gear and struggling to get up the last climb. Had to back into a layby, offload the trailer, let the clutch cool down, go over the top and drop off the wife, kids and gear in the van then return to collect the trailer and take a running jump at it in first gear. As we were backing down on to the layby we had to throw a blanket over the kids, they were so terrified of the drops on all sides and behind us. Great times
Greg Hine
Wayne McTague Try doing it on a Honda 50 stepthru! good times
Janice Saurausrex
Driving through there in a 3speed Daihatsu with two humans and it wasn’t going to make it on its own so my brothers following behind and I signaled him and he nudged us up with his Holden....legend
Robert McMillan
Great drive, loved it and the Rata looks fantastic. Can't get Rata Honey in the UK got one jar in the fridge being strictly rationed!
Kathryn Ward
Robert McMillan haha, lovely honey
Adele Laugesen
Christian Laugesen
John Morgan
A great road. All shingle in 1950s when I first drove it in 1931 Plymouth 4. Never faulted. Shingle for many years after. Travelled on it regularly since. Viaduct easy but not as adventurous.
Alan Smith
That's the best corner lol
Phil Norton
Not at night going uphill in the fog in a 1962 rather unreliable pale green Morris Minor 1000..with a faulty ( no not Basil Fawlty ) fuel pump ..l had to hang out the window while driving pulling a piece of string to make the pump work...not sure what Wendy did ..maybe she drove??
Robert Porter
Use to be fun going over there
Jeanie Nicol
Many a hair raising trip was had , travelling over the hill .
Rauma McIlwraith
Yep the Rata is beautiful Peter Morgan
Best part of the ride especially on a bike
Rick McCaughan
Peter Morgan didn't you fall off once in the snow but you survived me Ole mate
Jeff Louwman
remember that bit of road well & in all sort of weather
BiggShannon Winiata
I still truck on thru their.awsum drive.summer or winter
Bryce Smith
Travelled it often onway to Dunedin
Trevor Keith Scott
MY HOME my heart is still in Otira, talked to Tui, Kea, Fantails and up on the tops had a good chat with God a few times. Still love the place.
Arthur Bass
Trevor Keith Scott it sure was a great social place when the Village was alive and humming.
Barry Nuttridge
Brilliant ride on the Beezer lightning
Ian Murch
Went over this road many times in the 1930s
Helen Green
First time I drove over gorge was in the dark with two children in the car in a little Ford Anglia!
Slipped my way up and down the Zig Zag in the winter back in the late 70's.
Louise Lockie
Gorgeous photo with the rata.
Curtis Parker
Iconic Trip our family used to make from the west coast to christchurch one of the most dangerous roads in new Zealand at the time but beautiful part of the country hands down and our checky kea's you can see close up
Raewyn Louttit
Beautiful
Arlene Hutcheon
My parents, and brother and sisters travelled that road many a time. Still scary...
Mel Higson
Hated that bloody staircase, scared the shit out of me.
Anna Wright
Beautiful rata. Travelled that road many times in the 60.s when we were kids.
Lesley Parker Butland
I hated that road In fact I was terrified until the Otira
Michael Craig Knipe
Don't you wish you were into photography back in the zigzag days Ann Knipe
Ann Knipe
I was to busy driving you kids over the darn zig zag.
Michael Craig Knipe
Ann was a great bit of road, was great fun in the transwest days
Blair Johnston
The best past of the trip between christchurch and the coast,
Colin Harman
I wonder how many of the Rata are still there today after the possums had their go
Trish Rennie
Had some scary trips over there in the fog,snow n ice and extreme rain in a manual car way back. So very easy now with the road conditions and auto cars...
Christina Mitchell
That hairpin bend almost at the top was a 50+ point turn for our 10.5m long fixed wheelbase house truck to get round that bend. Hubby did it well. I wouldn't have attempted it ever.
Kay Mangan
Love the rata when it’s out
Bev Johnston
A lovely trip on a good day and the Rata was stunning
Anne Conaghan
Beautiful rata and I love the kea ,,so naughty and funny ,In the 1960's we often travelled the Otira in a 1954 hillman ,,4 young children in the back ,,no seatbelts!!! We never thought of it being dangerous
Nicola Carson
So beautiful, thank you for sharing this.
Denise Scott
I used to give my toddlers a snack box to keep them quiet when we started on the Zig Zag so I could get on with being scared. Thank goodness for the viaduct now.
Wayne McTague
Well remember driving home to Christchurch in our Ford Econovan in the early "90's towing a trailer full of camping gear and struggling to get up the last climb. Had to back into a layby, offload the trailer, let the clutch cool down, go over the top and drop off the wife, kids and gear in the van then return to collect the trailer and take a running jump at it in first gear. As we were backing down on to the layby we had to throw a blanket over the kids, they were so terrified of the drops on all sides and behind us. Great times
Greg Hine
Wayne McTague Try doing it on a Honda 50 stepthru! good times
Janice Saurausrex
Driving through there in a 3speed Daihatsu with two humans and it wasn’t going to make it on its own so my brothers following behind and I signaled him and he nudged us up with his Holden....legend
Robert McMillan
Great drive, loved it and the Rata looks fantastic. Can't get Rata Honey in the UK got one jar in the fridge being strictly rationed!
Kathryn Ward
Robert McMillan haha, lovely honey
Adele Laugesen
Christian Laugesen
John Morgan
A great road. All shingle in 1950s when I first drove it in 1931 Plymouth 4. Never faulted. Shingle for many years after. Travelled on it regularly since. Viaduct easy but not as adventurous.
Alan Smith
That's the best corner lol
Phil Norton
Not at night going uphill in the fog in a 1962 rather unreliable pale green Morris Minor 1000..with a faulty ( no not Basil Fawlty ) fuel pump ..l had to hang out the window while driving pulling a piece of string to make the pump work...not sure what Wendy did ..maybe she drove??
Robert Porter
Use to be fun going over there
Jeanie Nicol
Many a hair raising trip was had , travelling over the hill .
Rauma McIlwraith
Yep the Rata is beautiful Peter Morgan
Best part of the ride especially on a bike
Rick McCaughan
Peter Morgan didn't you fall off once in the snow but you survived me Ole mate
Jeff Louwman
remember that bit of road well & in all sort of weather
BiggShannon Winiata
I still truck on thru their.awsum drive.summer or winter
Bryce Smith
Travelled it often onway to Dunedin
Trevor Keith Scott
MY HOME my heart is still in Otira, talked to Tui, Kea, Fantails and up on the tops had a good chat with God a few times. Still love the place.
Arthur Bass
Trevor Keith Scott it sure was a great social place when the Village was alive and humming.
Barry Nuttridge
Brilliant ride on the Beezer lightning
Ian Murch
Went over this road many times in the 1930s
Helen Green
First time I drove over gorge was in the dark with two children in the car in a little Ford Anglia!
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West Coast New Zealand History (13th Feb 2022). The Otira Gorge from the Zig Zag, pre the Viaduct.1984. ALBUM . In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 6th Apr 2026 22:06, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/30637