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Otira zig zag and viaduct *PHOTO ALBUM*
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Description1999 – OTIRA VIADUCT OPENS WITH THE ZIG ZAG FADING INTO HISTORY.Map[1] ContributorTony Kokshoorn
Shown in this image
EventOtira zig zag and viaduct
From Facebook
CommentsWayne Cannan
They ruined it
Gail Callaghan
Sad, because I had to suffer car sickness every school holidays on our trip from Dunedin to Te Kinga and now others don’t get to experience it
Lee Henderson
I have video footage of this. It was incredible watching it grow. Shame it didnt go past Candys bend as James Wylde, surveyor suggested to Westland DC in a letter.
Tony Price
Loved driving the zigzag
Cecily Woolhouse
And we drove over that regularly and thought nothing of it, fun times,
Stephen Reed
The Zig Zag was the highlight of my journey to the Coast. I drove over it quite a few times.
Sandra Wickes
Geez this make me feel really old now
Alan Smith
Drive over it a lot of time back in my young days ? trucking
Paul Thistoll
Miss the view not the drive
Caroline Horwood
Oh boy...used to tow my.horse over it and back. One night ...dark and very wet...drive shaft dropped out of the old landcruiser )so no gears or brakes)....fortunately Ged was driving and we managed to get to the bottom...not nice...thank goodness no one was coming up cause we flew and needed ALL the road. Was a 1960s landcruiser big heavy beast that helped too...those were the days!!!!
Robert Porter
Walked it a couple of times when I was a kid when I was in the boys brigade
Maxine Helmling
I remember going with my dad about 1967 in a mini loaded up it had been raining bad and the road became mud the car sunk and I had to help push it out and through. I was about 14 at the time
June Williams
I distinctly remember sometimes the car jumping sideways around corrugated corners.
Stephen Haworth
I have a distinct memory of Ash Hamilton driving an old Leyland bus up the zig zag for a Westland High School trip to the Arthurs pass DOC lodge and the bus sliding backwards on the ice.
He must have done a great job, as I’m still here
Greg Hine
I hate the viaduct. It absolutely gives me the s**ts. I’d take the zig zag back in a heartbeat! Loved it!
Rick McCaughan
And it still hasn't slipped but still a great asset .future proving .
Andrew Boyes
Good on you Tony Kokshoorn for documenting all these Coast icons before they're lost to human memory. Kudos to you Sir
Kevin O'Regan
Great photos the old and the new. The many photos of trucks going now across the viaduct way are best testimony ever.
Wayne Marshall
They should have left the zigzag as a walking track... But i have great memories driving down and up the zigzag
Ngalla Herdman
I can just remember it bringing an old house truck to move to the coast when i was a kid
Helena Jefferys
Raeone Wallace Amy Symmers the zig zag
Janette Howard
That was the best part of Otira Gorge
Gillian Tilson
The zig zag was good in its day but the viaduct is great. New technology does sometimes make things
Murray Brown
I used to drive Newmans Tour Coaches up and down the Zig Zag in all weathers.
1981 - 1986
Rain,hail or snow go.
Fit snow chains, I often wonder now what the overseas passengers were thinking.
Finger nails gripping the arm rests.
Now- nzta shut the roads at the first thought of snow cause we are now shit drivers..
Bevan Grooby
Much easier to get fuel tankers down now than the old Zig Zag,number of times got diverted thru the Rahu.
Malcolm Broad
Been through there many on a motorbike all seasons,,great ride.
Hazel Oldham
Hate them both
Merv Nicolle
Up to a few years ago I still walked the old zig zag doing weed control,mostly gorse and broom.
Tony McCabe
I hated this as a kid. Shingle road and mostly one lane
Jessie Guy
That zig zag road was so so scary and makes the viaduct a dream. Thanks for the comparisonChristine Farrell
Up there many times with rosary beads in bag !!
Gail Callaghan
Sad, because I had to suffer car sickness every school holidays on our trip from Dunedin to Te Kinga and now others don’t get to experience it
Shane Robert Neighbours
Gail Callaghan theres still the takaka hill
Noeline Pullan
Gail Callaghan yep the vomit after the winding road Thank goodness I grew out of that in my 20s
Wayne Cannan
They ruined it
Lee Henderson
I have video footage of this. It was incredible watching it grow. Shame it didnt go past Candys bend as James Wylde, surveyor suggested to Westland DC in a letter.
Tony Price
Loved driving the zigzag
Cecily Woolhouse
And we drove over that regularly and thought nothing of it, fun times, ❤️
Stephen Reed
The Zig Zag was the highlight of my journey to the Coast. I drove over it quite a few times.
Sandra Wickes
Geez this make me feel really old now ???
Shawdy Smith
Sandra Wickes wixy you are old ?
Alan Smith
Drive over it a lot of time back in my young days ? trucking
Paul Thistoll
Miss the view not the drive
Caroline Horwood
Oh boy...used to tow my.horse over it and back. One night ...dark and very wet...drive shaft dropped out of the old landcruiser )so no gears or brakes)....fortunately Ged was driving and we managed to get to the bottom...not nice...thank goodness no one was coming up cause we flew and needed ALL the road. Was a 1960s landcruiser big heavy beast that helped too...those were the days!!!!
Robert Porter
Walked it a couple of times when I was a kid when I was in the boys brigade
Maxine Helmling
I remember going with my dad about 1967 in a mini loaded up it had been raining bad and the road became mud the car sunk and I had to help push it out and through. I was about 14 at the time
June Williams
I distinctly remember sometimes the car jumping sideways around corrugated corners.
Stephen Haworth
I have a distinct memory of Ash Hamilton driving an old Leyland bus up the zig zag for a Westland High School trip to the Arthurs pass DOC lodge and the bus sliding backwards on the ice.
He must have done a great job, as I’m still here
Greg Hine
I hate the viaduct. It absolutely gives me the s**ts. I’d take the zig zag back in a heartbeat! Loved it! ??❤️??❤️
Rick McCaughan
And it still hasn't slipped but still a great asset .future proving .
Andrew Boyes
Good on you Tony Kokshoorn for documenting all these Coast icons before they're lost to human memory. Kudos to you Sir
Kevin O'Regan
Great photos the old and the new. The many photos of trucks going now across the viaduct way are best testimony ever.
Wayne Marshall
They should have left the zigzag as a walking track... But i have great memories driving down and up the zigzag
Ngalla Herdman
I can just remember it bringing an old house truck to move to the coast when i was a kid
Helena Jefferys
Raeone Wallace Amy Symmers the zig zag ???
Janette Howard
That was the best part of Otira Gorge
Gillian Tilson
The zig zag was good in its day but the viaduct is great. New technology does sometimes make things better
Murray Brown
I used to drive Newmans Tour Coaches up and down the Zig Zag in all weathers.
1981 - 1986
Rain,hail or snow go.
Fit snow chains, I often wonder now what the overseas passengers were thinking.
Finger nails gripping the arm rests.??
Now- nzta shut the roads at the first thought of snow cause we are now shit drivers..?
Bevan Grooby
Much easier to get fuel tankers down now than the old Zig Zag,number of times got diverted thru the Rahu.
Malcolm Broad
Been through there many on a motorbike all seasons,,great ride.
Hazel Oldham
Hate them both
Merv Nicolle
Up to a few years ago I still walked the old zig zag doing weed control,mostly gorse and broom.
Tony McCabe
I hated this as a kid. Shingle road and mostly one lane
Jessie Guy
That zig zag road was so so scary and makes the viaduct a dream. Thanks for the comparison
Wjohn Sweney
I've biked the zigger zagger both ways in the rain
Clare O'Leary
wow - my great grandfather was a carrier, coachman from Ahaura. imagine the journey with horses and carriages! Adolphus Davis Brooks.? originally from Gibraltar. First hubby of Mary OConnor who later ran the general store in Ahaura with her second husband after Afolphus died of pneumonia!
Megan Rob Kennedy
I remember travelling over that road I was only young but it was freeky as hell and beautiful at the same time I remember a couple of times we had to follow trucks because it was to dark at times
Connor Smith
Tony Kokshoorn in your last pic, how were you able to work the old Zig Zag road when it's completely covered by nature?
Ted Gordon
Drove a few uses over the zigzag when I worked for Ritchies
Yolanne Kennedy
I drove this only once when I was in the army in the early 90’s in a unimog
Rach Turner
Oh wow amazing photos, I remember the zig zag when heading over to see family on the Coast to Coast shuttle...and I remember absolutely shitting myself as a kid every time ??
Tony Kokshoorn
Author
Even in 1970, when I was licensed to drive at the age of 15,
the highway had to be forded twice over creeks between
Arthur’s Pass and Klondyke. It was essential to top up the
vehicle’s water and oil before motoring to Christchurch
via the zig-zag road over the pass. Dozens of dead possums always littered the road during the journey over the
hill as we called it. There were no speed cameras and most
of the road was tar sealed.
On one occasion I abandoned my white car halfway up
the zig zag during a snow storm because a snow chain
slipped off the wheel, rupturing the brake oil pipe. Heavy
snow covered the car that night. The next morning the
road contractors clearing the pass completely demolished
the side of my vehicle as they graded down the zig zag.
In 2010, the highway with the Otira Viaduct is an excellent road. The only bad stretch between Arthur’s Pass
and Klondyke will be straightened by the NZ Transport
Otira Agency over the next few years.
Annette Maw
Was pleased to see the old road go.
Donna O'Malley
Danny OMalley
Daphne Sharon OMalley when the Cadillacs brakes were overheating!
Skip Cairns
Bit like Labour
Justine Giddy
Drove down the zig zag in the 1970's in a Morris Minor with no foot brake. Just low gear and the handbrake. A bit of a hoot but we made it. Motoring exciting in those days. Also broke down halfway up the zig zag in an old Bedford Truck loaded up with shist rock. That time no handbrake. Just backed it into the bank, blocked the road and waited for help from the MOW Camp. Pete .
Ken Johns
For God sake it was the only way to go on that road in.that time.Ok a car was s..t.Try a 12mtr coach on ice fully loaded.It was the one to stay away from if you did not know it.But all that thought better always found to late.
Rod Berry
I owned a 1931 Ford Model A back in the fifties. On my Christchurch journeys, traversing up and down the corograted gravel zig zag, would bounce vehicles sideways into a slide, around corners. I termed it as the Goat Track. Shrills and thrills back then.
Roger Sullivan
Some quite dramatic people when thay really didn't know any different it was a road and that was life then
Janette Howard
That was the best part of Otira Gorge
Rose Henham
Love the ZigZag
John Lester
Great engineering.Only useful until the next Alpine Fault movement,when the valley will once again be filled by the slip.
Wayne Nicholson
The Zig Zag doesnt look anywhere as steep as it was in this photo. A real challenge in old or fully laden cars. We had to get out and walk more than once !
Reply
Ngalla Herdman
I can just remember it bringing an old house truck to move to the coast when i was a kid
Lesley Parker Butland
I was absolutely terrified travelling over the old road
Marie Tern
Travelling over in a Ford Prefect during the 60’s was no joke. Numerous stops to cool the boiling radiator and edging past slips where part of the road had disappeared. Us kids preferred to get out and walk
Gail Callaghan
Sad, because I had to suffer car sickness every school holidays on our trip from Dunedin to Te Kinga and now others don’t get to experience it
Murray Brown
I used to drive Newmans Tour Coaches up and down the Zig Zag in all weathers.
1981 - 1986
Rain,hail or snow we go.
Fit snow chains, I often wonder now what the overseas passengers were thinking.
Finger nails gripping the arm rests.??
Now- nzta shut the roads at the first thought of snow cause we are now shit drivers..?
Christine Farrell
Up there many times with rosary beads in bag !!
Lloyd Manson
Driven the old road many times, so glad that it fantastic to drive up and down the new way.
Many thanks to the guys that built the new road.
Chris McNeill
nice one,drove a furniture truck through the old road.bit of a mission.would of been better if it had power steering.thanks
Arlene Hutcheon
I just held on tight, going down the zig-zag. Either my Mum or Dad was driving.
Michael Tarawhai Hingston
U can still see some of the old road when u stop at top
Dave Steers
Coming down zig zag driving a 45seater bus was fun. Skid bar srapping the corners.
Bert Chandler
I suppose a tunnel somehow was the next option.?
Carol McMillan
Can remember going over in the fifties with my dad. We would take some sacks of coal over to get wheel grip and bring back stock for his shop. Coal left in ChCh for relatives. Gravel road back then. Also remember it being so foggy up the top that dad had to get out to see where the road was as it was just like
gravel everywhere .
Tom Williams
I remember in the fiftys our old car kept jumping out of 1st gear going up the zigzag, the Oldman told us kids to walk to the top and he turned the car around and backed up to the top,
Robert Mathewson
Was fun in a bus.
Bevan Grooby
Much easier to get fuel tankers down now than the old Zig Zag,number of times got diverted thru the Rahu.
Dave Lyes
Great set of photos. First Ive seen like this. Cheers.
Kay Bruce
Can't say I miss it.
Linda Hawken
The ziz zag was often closed by rock-fall. I think the viaduct is a massive improvement.
Glenn Livingstone
Great to have these photos Tony
Catherine Hambleton
Can remember doing a trip to chch with cousins in 1985, and uncle driving like bat out of hell up the zig zags and swearing id never get in car with him again. Lol. Don't remember much of trip back to Greymouth. Suspect there was an anti nausea pill involved that made us all sleepy.
John Armstrong
I see the viaduct when I go to my wife's office here in Auckland a photo of the opening ceremony built by McConnell Dowl
LorraineRob Williams
Otira signals.many times right behind the grader inup to 12 inches or more of snow.at times we were ahead of the grader depending on snow .First trip over in mk1 zephyr and sat at top and watched cars coming up before attempting the descent 1968.
SNOW.AT
SNOW ARCHITEKTUR » Architekt:innen in Innsbruck & Moosburg
SNOW ARCHITEKTUR » Architekt:innen in Innsbruck & Moosburg
Tania Newman
I miss the zigzag. Learnt to drive on it lol. The viaduct is quite the marvel though. I remember going inside it whilst it was being built, as did most people in the Malvern district
Buzz Terrey
Otira bridge gang many many times
Greg Hine
I hate the viaduct. It absolutely gives me the s**ts. I’d take the zig zag back in a heartbeat! Loved it! ??❤️??❤️
Linda Rutherford
Mavis Scott Catriona Pickering Shelley McArthur
Steve Jones
Still remember the first time I drove over there in my pb vauxhall 1970,s
Nicholas Alberts
Loved the Zig Zag
Jessie Guy
That zig zag road was so so scary and makes the viaduct a dream. Thanks for the comparison
Tony McCabe
I hated this as a kid. Shingle road and mostly one lane
Merv Nicolle
Up to a few years ago I still walked the old zig zag doing weed control,mostly gorse and broom.
Hazel Oldham
Hate them both
Malcolm Broad
Been through there many on a motorbike all seasons,,great ride.
Stephen Haworth
I have a distinct memory of Ash Hamilton driving an old Leyland bus up the zig zag for a Westland High School trip to the Arthurs pass DOC lodge and the bus sliding backwards on the ice.
He must have done a great job, as I’m still here
Gillian Tilson
The zig zag was good in its day but the viaduct is great. New technology does sometimes make things better
Helena Jefferys
Raeone Wallace Amy Symmers the zig zag ???
Caroline Horwood
Oh boy...used to tow my.horse over it and back. One night ...dark and very wet...drive shaft dropped out of the old landcruiser )so no gears or brakes)....fortunately Ged was driving and we managed to get to the bottom...not nice...thank goodness no one was coming up cause we flew and needed ALL the road. Was a 1960s landcruiser big heavy beast that helped too...those were the days!!!!
Wayne Marshall
They should have left the zigzag as a walking track... But i have great memories driving down and up the zigzag
Sandra Wickes
Geez this make me feel really old now ???
Stephen Reed
The Zig Zag was the highlight of my journey to the Coast. I drove over it quite a few times.
Kevin O'Regan
Great photos the old and the new. The many photos of trucks going now across the viaduct way are best testimony ever.
Andrew Boyes
Good on you Tony Kokshoorn for documenting all these Coast icons before they're lost to human memory. Kudos to you Sir
Rick McCaughan
And it still hasn't slipped but still a great asset .future proving .
June Williams
I distinctly remember sometimes the car jumping sideways around corrugated corners.
Maxine Helmling
I remember going with my dad about 1967 in a mini loaded up it had been raining bad and the road became mud the car sunk and I had to help push it out and through. I was about 14 at the time
Robert Porter
Walked it a couple of times when I was a kid when I was in the boys brigade
Paul Thistoll
Miss the view not the drive
Alan Smith
Drive over it a lot of time back in my young days ? trucking
Cecily Woolhouse
And we drove over that regularly and thought nothing of it, fun times, ❤️
Tony Price
Loved driving the zigzag
Lee Henderson
I have video footage of this. It was incredible watching it grow. Shame it didnt go past Candys bend as James Wylde, surveyor suggested to Westland DC in a letter.
Wayne Cannan
They ruined it
Karin Carter
Many a midnight run over the ole Otira from Hoki to ch-Ch for a snack haha - she was a challenge
Ken Johns
For God sake it was the only way to go on that road in.that time.Ok a car was s..t.Try a 12mtr coach on ice fully loaded.It was the one to stay away from if you did not know it.But all that thought better always found to late.
Tess Pope
We went over this yesterday and tried to spot the entrance is there still a track?
Fiona McCloy Elwood
Kevin Collins
Jane Andrews
I remember the zig zags, didn’t seem that long ago ?
Valerie Bowater
It's so interesting reading others 'exciting' moments on the zig zag. Must say I loved the challenge - made real drivers out of the motoring public
Ken Baird
Traveled that way many times it was a interesting experience
Wjohn Sweney
I've biked the zigger zagger both ways in the rain
Brian McIntyre
When you see that shingle slide that the old road went across, we were never going to win
They ruined it
Gail Callaghan
Sad, because I had to suffer car sickness every school holidays on our trip from Dunedin to Te Kinga and now others don’t get to experience it
Lee Henderson
I have video footage of this. It was incredible watching it grow. Shame it didnt go past Candys bend as James Wylde, surveyor suggested to Westland DC in a letter.
Tony Price
Loved driving the zigzag
Cecily Woolhouse
And we drove over that regularly and thought nothing of it, fun times,
Stephen Reed
The Zig Zag was the highlight of my journey to the Coast. I drove over it quite a few times.
Sandra Wickes
Geez this make me feel really old now
Alan Smith
Drive over it a lot of time back in my young days ? trucking
Paul Thistoll
Miss the view not the drive
Caroline Horwood
Oh boy...used to tow my.horse over it and back. One night ...dark and very wet...drive shaft dropped out of the old landcruiser )so no gears or brakes)....fortunately Ged was driving and we managed to get to the bottom...not nice...thank goodness no one was coming up cause we flew and needed ALL the road. Was a 1960s landcruiser big heavy beast that helped too...those were the days!!!!
Robert Porter
Walked it a couple of times when I was a kid when I was in the boys brigade
Maxine Helmling
I remember going with my dad about 1967 in a mini loaded up it had been raining bad and the road became mud the car sunk and I had to help push it out and through. I was about 14 at the time
June Williams
I distinctly remember sometimes the car jumping sideways around corrugated corners.
Stephen Haworth
I have a distinct memory of Ash Hamilton driving an old Leyland bus up the zig zag for a Westland High School trip to the Arthurs pass DOC lodge and the bus sliding backwards on the ice.
He must have done a great job, as I’m still here
Greg Hine
I hate the viaduct. It absolutely gives me the s**ts. I’d take the zig zag back in a heartbeat! Loved it!
Rick McCaughan
And it still hasn't slipped but still a great asset .future proving .
Andrew Boyes
Good on you Tony Kokshoorn for documenting all these Coast icons before they're lost to human memory. Kudos to you Sir
Kevin O'Regan
Great photos the old and the new. The many photos of trucks going now across the viaduct way are best testimony ever.
Wayne Marshall
They should have left the zigzag as a walking track... But i have great memories driving down and up the zigzag
Ngalla Herdman
I can just remember it bringing an old house truck to move to the coast when i was a kid
Helena Jefferys
Raeone Wallace Amy Symmers the zig zag
Janette Howard
That was the best part of Otira Gorge
Gillian Tilson
The zig zag was good in its day but the viaduct is great. New technology does sometimes make things
Murray Brown
I used to drive Newmans Tour Coaches up and down the Zig Zag in all weathers.
1981 - 1986
Rain,hail or snow go.
Fit snow chains, I often wonder now what the overseas passengers were thinking.
Finger nails gripping the arm rests.
Now- nzta shut the roads at the first thought of snow cause we are now shit drivers..
Bevan Grooby
Much easier to get fuel tankers down now than the old Zig Zag,number of times got diverted thru the Rahu.
Malcolm Broad
Been through there many on a motorbike all seasons,,great ride.
Hazel Oldham
Hate them both
Merv Nicolle
Up to a few years ago I still walked the old zig zag doing weed control,mostly gorse and broom.
Tony McCabe
I hated this as a kid. Shingle road and mostly one lane
Jessie Guy
That zig zag road was so so scary and makes the viaduct a dream. Thanks for the comparisonChristine Farrell
Up there many times with rosary beads in bag !!
Gail Callaghan
Sad, because I had to suffer car sickness every school holidays on our trip from Dunedin to Te Kinga and now others don’t get to experience it
Shane Robert Neighbours
Gail Callaghan theres still the takaka hill
Noeline Pullan
Gail Callaghan yep the vomit after the winding road Thank goodness I grew out of that in my 20s
Wayne Cannan
They ruined it
Lee Henderson
I have video footage of this. It was incredible watching it grow. Shame it didnt go past Candys bend as James Wylde, surveyor suggested to Westland DC in a letter.
Tony Price
Loved driving the zigzag
Cecily Woolhouse
And we drove over that regularly and thought nothing of it, fun times, ❤️
Stephen Reed
The Zig Zag was the highlight of my journey to the Coast. I drove over it quite a few times.
Sandra Wickes
Geez this make me feel really old now ???
Shawdy Smith
Sandra Wickes wixy you are old ?
Alan Smith
Drive over it a lot of time back in my young days ? trucking
Paul Thistoll
Miss the view not the drive
Caroline Horwood
Oh boy...used to tow my.horse over it and back. One night ...dark and very wet...drive shaft dropped out of the old landcruiser )so no gears or brakes)....fortunately Ged was driving and we managed to get to the bottom...not nice...thank goodness no one was coming up cause we flew and needed ALL the road. Was a 1960s landcruiser big heavy beast that helped too...those were the days!!!!
Robert Porter
Walked it a couple of times when I was a kid when I was in the boys brigade
Maxine Helmling
I remember going with my dad about 1967 in a mini loaded up it had been raining bad and the road became mud the car sunk and I had to help push it out and through. I was about 14 at the time
June Williams
I distinctly remember sometimes the car jumping sideways around corrugated corners.
Stephen Haworth
I have a distinct memory of Ash Hamilton driving an old Leyland bus up the zig zag for a Westland High School trip to the Arthurs pass DOC lodge and the bus sliding backwards on the ice.
He must have done a great job, as I’m still here
Greg Hine
I hate the viaduct. It absolutely gives me the s**ts. I’d take the zig zag back in a heartbeat! Loved it! ??❤️??❤️
Rick McCaughan
And it still hasn't slipped but still a great asset .future proving .
Andrew Boyes
Good on you Tony Kokshoorn for documenting all these Coast icons before they're lost to human memory. Kudos to you Sir
Kevin O'Regan
Great photos the old and the new. The many photos of trucks going now across the viaduct way are best testimony ever.
Wayne Marshall
They should have left the zigzag as a walking track... But i have great memories driving down and up the zigzag
Ngalla Herdman
I can just remember it bringing an old house truck to move to the coast when i was a kid
Helena Jefferys
Raeone Wallace Amy Symmers the zig zag ???
Janette Howard
That was the best part of Otira Gorge
Gillian Tilson
The zig zag was good in its day but the viaduct is great. New technology does sometimes make things better
Murray Brown
I used to drive Newmans Tour Coaches up and down the Zig Zag in all weathers.
1981 - 1986
Rain,hail or snow go.
Fit snow chains, I often wonder now what the overseas passengers were thinking.
Finger nails gripping the arm rests.??
Now- nzta shut the roads at the first thought of snow cause we are now shit drivers..?
Bevan Grooby
Much easier to get fuel tankers down now than the old Zig Zag,number of times got diverted thru the Rahu.
Malcolm Broad
Been through there many on a motorbike all seasons,,great ride.
Hazel Oldham
Hate them both
Merv Nicolle
Up to a few years ago I still walked the old zig zag doing weed control,mostly gorse and broom.
Tony McCabe
I hated this as a kid. Shingle road and mostly one lane
Jessie Guy
That zig zag road was so so scary and makes the viaduct a dream. Thanks for the comparison
Wjohn Sweney
I've biked the zigger zagger both ways in the rain
Clare O'Leary
wow - my great grandfather was a carrier, coachman from Ahaura. imagine the journey with horses and carriages! Adolphus Davis Brooks.? originally from Gibraltar. First hubby of Mary OConnor who later ran the general store in Ahaura with her second husband after Afolphus died of pneumonia!
Megan Rob Kennedy
I remember travelling over that road I was only young but it was freeky as hell and beautiful at the same time I remember a couple of times we had to follow trucks because it was to dark at times
Connor Smith
Tony Kokshoorn in your last pic, how were you able to work the old Zig Zag road when it's completely covered by nature?
Ted Gordon
Drove a few uses over the zigzag when I worked for Ritchies
Yolanne Kennedy
I drove this only once when I was in the army in the early 90’s in a unimog
Rach Turner
Oh wow amazing photos, I remember the zig zag when heading over to see family on the Coast to Coast shuttle...and I remember absolutely shitting myself as a kid every time ??
Tony Kokshoorn
Author
Even in 1970, when I was licensed to drive at the age of 15,
the highway had to be forded twice over creeks between
Arthur’s Pass and Klondyke. It was essential to top up the
vehicle’s water and oil before motoring to Christchurch
via the zig-zag road over the pass. Dozens of dead possums always littered the road during the journey over the
hill as we called it. There were no speed cameras and most
of the road was tar sealed.
On one occasion I abandoned my white car halfway up
the zig zag during a snow storm because a snow chain
slipped off the wheel, rupturing the brake oil pipe. Heavy
snow covered the car that night. The next morning the
road contractors clearing the pass completely demolished
the side of my vehicle as they graded down the zig zag.
In 2010, the highway with the Otira Viaduct is an excellent road. The only bad stretch between Arthur’s Pass
and Klondyke will be straightened by the NZ Transport
Otira Agency over the next few years.
Annette Maw
Was pleased to see the old road go.
Donna O'Malley
Danny OMalley
Daphne Sharon OMalley when the Cadillacs brakes were overheating!
Skip Cairns
Bit like Labour
Justine Giddy
Drove down the zig zag in the 1970's in a Morris Minor with no foot brake. Just low gear and the handbrake. A bit of a hoot but we made it. Motoring exciting in those days. Also broke down halfway up the zig zag in an old Bedford Truck loaded up with shist rock. That time no handbrake. Just backed it into the bank, blocked the road and waited for help from the MOW Camp. Pete .
Ken Johns
For God sake it was the only way to go on that road in.that time.Ok a car was s..t.Try a 12mtr coach on ice fully loaded.It was the one to stay away from if you did not know it.But all that thought better always found to late.
Rod Berry
I owned a 1931 Ford Model A back in the fifties. On my Christchurch journeys, traversing up and down the corograted gravel zig zag, would bounce vehicles sideways into a slide, around corners. I termed it as the Goat Track. Shrills and thrills back then.
Roger Sullivan
Some quite dramatic people when thay really didn't know any different it was a road and that was life then
Janette Howard
That was the best part of Otira Gorge
Rose Henham
Love the ZigZag
John Lester
Great engineering.Only useful until the next Alpine Fault movement,when the valley will once again be filled by the slip.
Wayne Nicholson
The Zig Zag doesnt look anywhere as steep as it was in this photo. A real challenge in old or fully laden cars. We had to get out and walk more than once !
Reply
Ngalla Herdman
I can just remember it bringing an old house truck to move to the coast when i was a kid
Lesley Parker Butland
I was absolutely terrified travelling over the old road
Marie Tern
Travelling over in a Ford Prefect during the 60’s was no joke. Numerous stops to cool the boiling radiator and edging past slips where part of the road had disappeared. Us kids preferred to get out and walk
Gail Callaghan
Sad, because I had to suffer car sickness every school holidays on our trip from Dunedin to Te Kinga and now others don’t get to experience it
Murray Brown
I used to drive Newmans Tour Coaches up and down the Zig Zag in all weathers.
1981 - 1986
Rain,hail or snow we go.
Fit snow chains, I often wonder now what the overseas passengers were thinking.
Finger nails gripping the arm rests.??
Now- nzta shut the roads at the first thought of snow cause we are now shit drivers..?
Christine Farrell
Up there many times with rosary beads in bag !!
Lloyd Manson
Driven the old road many times, so glad that it fantastic to drive up and down the new way.
Many thanks to the guys that built the new road.
Chris McNeill
nice one,drove a furniture truck through the old road.bit of a mission.would of been better if it had power steering.thanks
Arlene Hutcheon
I just held on tight, going down the zig-zag. Either my Mum or Dad was driving.
Michael Tarawhai Hingston
U can still see some of the old road when u stop at top
Dave Steers
Coming down zig zag driving a 45seater bus was fun. Skid bar srapping the corners.
Bert Chandler
I suppose a tunnel somehow was the next option.?
Carol McMillan
Can remember going over in the fifties with my dad. We would take some sacks of coal over to get wheel grip and bring back stock for his shop. Coal left in ChCh for relatives. Gravel road back then. Also remember it being so foggy up the top that dad had to get out to see where the road was as it was just like
gravel everywhere .
Tom Williams
I remember in the fiftys our old car kept jumping out of 1st gear going up the zigzag, the Oldman told us kids to walk to the top and he turned the car around and backed up to the top,
Robert Mathewson
Was fun in a bus.
Bevan Grooby
Much easier to get fuel tankers down now than the old Zig Zag,number of times got diverted thru the Rahu.
Dave Lyes
Great set of photos. First Ive seen like this. Cheers.
Kay Bruce
Can't say I miss it.
Linda Hawken
The ziz zag was often closed by rock-fall. I think the viaduct is a massive improvement.
Glenn Livingstone
Great to have these photos Tony
Catherine Hambleton
Can remember doing a trip to chch with cousins in 1985, and uncle driving like bat out of hell up the zig zags and swearing id never get in car with him again. Lol. Don't remember much of trip back to Greymouth. Suspect there was an anti nausea pill involved that made us all sleepy.
John Armstrong
I see the viaduct when I go to my wife's office here in Auckland a photo of the opening ceremony built by McConnell Dowl
LorraineRob Williams
Otira signals.many times right behind the grader inup to 12 inches or more of snow.at times we were ahead of the grader depending on snow .First trip over in mk1 zephyr and sat at top and watched cars coming up before attempting the descent 1968.
SNOW.AT
SNOW ARCHITEKTUR » Architekt:innen in Innsbruck & Moosburg
SNOW ARCHITEKTUR » Architekt:innen in Innsbruck & Moosburg
Tania Newman
I miss the zigzag. Learnt to drive on it lol. The viaduct is quite the marvel though. I remember going inside it whilst it was being built, as did most people in the Malvern district
Buzz Terrey
Otira bridge gang many many times
Greg Hine
I hate the viaduct. It absolutely gives me the s**ts. I’d take the zig zag back in a heartbeat! Loved it! ??❤️??❤️
Linda Rutherford
Mavis Scott Catriona Pickering Shelley McArthur
Steve Jones
Still remember the first time I drove over there in my pb vauxhall 1970,s
Nicholas Alberts
Loved the Zig Zag
Jessie Guy
That zig zag road was so so scary and makes the viaduct a dream. Thanks for the comparison
Tony McCabe
I hated this as a kid. Shingle road and mostly one lane
Merv Nicolle
Up to a few years ago I still walked the old zig zag doing weed control,mostly gorse and broom.
Hazel Oldham
Hate them both
Malcolm Broad
Been through there many on a motorbike all seasons,,great ride.
Stephen Haworth
I have a distinct memory of Ash Hamilton driving an old Leyland bus up the zig zag for a Westland High School trip to the Arthurs pass DOC lodge and the bus sliding backwards on the ice.
He must have done a great job, as I’m still here
Gillian Tilson
The zig zag was good in its day but the viaduct is great. New technology does sometimes make things better
Helena Jefferys
Raeone Wallace Amy Symmers the zig zag ???
Caroline Horwood
Oh boy...used to tow my.horse over it and back. One night ...dark and very wet...drive shaft dropped out of the old landcruiser )so no gears or brakes)....fortunately Ged was driving and we managed to get to the bottom...not nice...thank goodness no one was coming up cause we flew and needed ALL the road. Was a 1960s landcruiser big heavy beast that helped too...those were the days!!!!
Wayne Marshall
They should have left the zigzag as a walking track... But i have great memories driving down and up the zigzag
Sandra Wickes
Geez this make me feel really old now ???
Stephen Reed
The Zig Zag was the highlight of my journey to the Coast. I drove over it quite a few times.
Kevin O'Regan
Great photos the old and the new. The many photos of trucks going now across the viaduct way are best testimony ever.
Andrew Boyes
Good on you Tony Kokshoorn for documenting all these Coast icons before they're lost to human memory. Kudos to you Sir
Rick McCaughan
And it still hasn't slipped but still a great asset .future proving .
June Williams
I distinctly remember sometimes the car jumping sideways around corrugated corners.
Maxine Helmling
I remember going with my dad about 1967 in a mini loaded up it had been raining bad and the road became mud the car sunk and I had to help push it out and through. I was about 14 at the time
Robert Porter
Walked it a couple of times when I was a kid when I was in the boys brigade
Paul Thistoll
Miss the view not the drive
Alan Smith
Drive over it a lot of time back in my young days ? trucking
Cecily Woolhouse
And we drove over that regularly and thought nothing of it, fun times, ❤️
Tony Price
Loved driving the zigzag
Lee Henderson
I have video footage of this. It was incredible watching it grow. Shame it didnt go past Candys bend as James Wylde, surveyor suggested to Westland DC in a letter.
Wayne Cannan
They ruined it
Karin Carter
Many a midnight run over the ole Otira from Hoki to ch-Ch for a snack haha - she was a challenge
Ken Johns
For God sake it was the only way to go on that road in.that time.Ok a car was s..t.Try a 12mtr coach on ice fully loaded.It was the one to stay away from if you did not know it.But all that thought better always found to late.
Tess Pope
We went over this yesterday and tried to spot the entrance is there still a track?
Fiona McCloy Elwood
Kevin Collins
Jane Andrews
I remember the zig zags, didn’t seem that long ago ?
Valerie Bowater
It's so interesting reading others 'exciting' moments on the zig zag. Must say I loved the challenge - made real drivers out of the motoring public
Ken Baird
Traveled that way many times it was a interesting experience
Wjohn Sweney
I've biked the zigger zagger both ways in the rain
Brian McIntyre
When you see that shingle slide that the old road went across, we were never going to win
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West Coast New Zealand History (10th Jul 2025). Otira zig zag and viaduct *PHOTO ALBUM*. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 21st Mar 2026 16:25, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/34927